Imitating Christ‘s Humility and Love
John 13:1–20 – That You May Believe
Third Sunday in Eastertide – May 4, 2025 (am)
The Humility and Love of Jesus Demand Our Imitation
Introduction: Over the years, I have heard several times in conversation how difficult the work of a nurse or caretaker is. Depending on how weak or physically disabled a person is, nurses may even have to change their diapers. They have to help some take a bath and change their clothes. Caretakers have to deal with stench and ingratitude in extreme cases. Some people who need their care insult them and are unpleasant as human beings. Nevertheless, they are helped with patience and love.
When my father was about to die, he was transferred to hospice. I arrived three days before his death and was able to see the love and dedication with which the staff cared for my father in his last days here on earth. This hospice was run by a committed Christian. The staff were chosen Christians. They felt called to this ministry. For them, this service was a vocation and not a profession.
But I have heard from other caretakers that there are people who do not perform this service with love and patience. They can even be mean in their dealings with patients. They have no business working as a caretaker.
But if we are being honest this morning, how many of us want to serve Jesus by working as a nurse or caretaker? I've heard Christians say: "There is no way that I couldn't do that job".
Transition: It takes a lot of humility and love to serve other people, especially if they are ungrateful. But Jesus has called us to walk in his footsteps. In John 13 we will see that Jesus has called us to a life of humble service.
Scripture reading: John 13:1-17
I. The question regarding the Passover meal
This meal with the disciples is not just any meal, as it may appear. According to Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16 and Luke 22:14-15, it is not a supper, but the supper where the Passover lamb is eaten.
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me-- one who is eating with me." (Mk. 14:12-18 NIVO)
Here we read "the Passover meal" three times. We also read that this meal includes the Passover lamb. This meal is the same meal that takes place in John 13, because we read in Mark 14:18 that Jesus prophesies Judas' betrayal in connection with this meal. This is also the case in John 13. Peter's denial of Christ is also prophesied in all four Gospels in connection with this meal.
So, this is not just any meal, but the Passover meal. In all four Gospels, this supper takes place on Thursday evening, before Jesus is handed over by Judas later that night.
The question that arises here is: If Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with a Passover lamb that evening, how can John say later in chapters 18 and 19 that the Passover is still to be celebrated by the Jews?
28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. (Jn. 18:28 NIVO)
It is now early in the morning on Friday and they had not yet eaten the Passover meal. In John 19:13-15 we also see that the Jews had not yet celebrated the Passover.
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. (Jn. 19:13-15 NIVO)
Here it is already midday on Friday: the sixth hour. The Jews who had handed Jesus over to Pilate had not yet eaten the Passover meal, because Friday was the preparation day for the Passover.
It is also clear from John's timing that Jesus died at the exact time when the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. It was God's sovereign intention that Jesus should die on the cross at the exact time that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered.
The following question arises: How could Jesus eat the Passover meal with his disciples on Thursday, and then die on Friday while the Passover lambs are being slaughtered?
Pastor John MacArthur gives a plausible explanation for this. I would like to quote his answer from his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew:
The answer lies in a difference between the Jews in the way they calculated the beginning and end of the days. From Josephus, the Mishnah and other ancient Jewish sources, we learn that the Jews in northern Palestine reckoned the days from sunrise to sunrise. This area included the region of Galilee, where Jesus and all the disciples except Judas grew up. Apparently most, if not all, of the Pharisees used this system of reckoning. But the Jews in the southern part, which was in Jerusalem, reckoned the days from sundown to sundown. Since all the priests necessarily lived in or near Jerusalem, as did most of the Sadducees, these groups followed the southern scheme.
This deviation undoubtedly caused confusion at times, but it also had some practical advantages. During Passover, for example, the festival could legally be celebrated on two consecutive days, so that the sacrifices in the temple lasted a total of four hours instead of two. This separation of days may also have had the effect of reducing regional and religious disputes between the two groups.
On this basis, the apparent contradictions in the Gospel accounts can be easily explained. As Galileans, Jesus and his disciples believed that the Passover day began at sunrise on Thursday and ended at sunrise on Friday. The Jewish leaders who arrested and tried Jesus were mostly priests and Sadducees and believed that the Passover day began at sundown on Thursday and ended at sundown on Friday. According to this option, established by God's sovereign providence, Jesus could legally celebrate the last Passover meal with his disciples and still be sacrificed on the Passover day. (John MacArthur: New Testament Commentary on Matthew; page 145)
Transition: I also see the sovereignty of God in this matter, because Jesus wanted to celebrate the Passover meal with his disciples one last time.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." (Lk. 22:14-16 NIVO
One reason Jesus wanted to celebrate the Passover with his disciples before he suffered is that Jesus intended to transform the Passover meal into the Lord's Supper. It was necessary for Christ to make it clear to the Apostles that He is the Passover Lamb. The Passover was simply a foreshadowing of what God would accomplish through Jesus on the Cross.
The contrast between the heart attitude of Jesus and the heart attitude of his disciples is drastic. Luke reports this contrast:
24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. (Lk. 22:24 NIVO)
While Jesus longed in his heart for fellowship with his disciples, because he will soon leave this world, the disciples were only thinking about who will be the greatest in the kingdom.
II. The Disciples want to rule with Christ: The dispute between the disciples about which of them will be the greatest in the kingdom of God.
It is interesting that John makes no mention of this dispute between Jesus' disciples.
But John does not need to mention this argument. For it is already during the evening meal that Jesus gets up and washes their feet. Everything was available in the room for the washing of their feet before the evening meal began. The disciples had seen the water jug and the basin and the long linen cloth. But not one of them was moved to take on the role of the lowest servant and wash the feet of his friends.
They came from Bethany to Jerusalem. They only wore sandals. Their feet needed to be washed. But none of them wanted to take on this lowliest of tasks.
A passage from the Old Testament makes it clear how menial this task was:
40 And David's servants came to Abigail in Carmel and said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you as his wife. 41 Then she arose and bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is ready to serve my master's servants and to wash their feet. (1Sam. 25:40-41 ELB)
Abigail was even prepared to wash the feet of her husband's servants. This task demands a great deal of humility.
In his commentary on the Gospel of John, William Hendriksen described the situation in the Upper Room very well:
But there was no servant here in the Upper Room. Therefore, one of the disciples would have had to take on this task. But no one was willing. These men were too proud. A few moments ago they had been arguing (probably in connection with the order in which they would recline around the table) about the question of greatness (Luke 22:24). And this was not the first time they had argued about it. The question: "Who is the greatest among us?" seems to have preoccupied them time and again. They were not aware of the fact that greatness is measured by the standard of service.
Everything was ready in the Upper Room. Here stood the jug and the washbasin, and there lay the long linen cloth. There was water in the jug. But no one moved. Each disciple hoped that someone else would make the first move. (William Hendriksen: New Testament Commentary: John; page 228) Translated by www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
As already pointed out, it was during the Lord's Supper that Jesus got up to wash the disciples' feet.
So, Jesus waited a long time. The time to wash their feet was long past. And while the disciples were thinking about which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus stood up and showed them not only his humility, but his love!
Transition: John 13:1 is introductory to the foot washing, but also to everything Jesus does and says from Thursday evening up to and including his crucifixion. Jesus knows that his hour has now come, not only to die as the Lamb of God, but also to leave this world. In John 13-17, Jesus teaches his disciples and prays for those whom the Father has given him and for those who will later believe in him. All this proves the greatness of his love for "his own".
And one of the ways he shows his disciples his love is by getting up at dinner and doing the most menial task among them. A task that none of them wanted to do.
III. The Ruler desires to serve: The humility and love of Jesus:
ESV John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
KJV John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
NAS John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
NIV John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
NIVO John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The last part of this verse magnifies the love of Jesus. He loved "his own who were in the world" to the end. This statement "to the end" is translated by some translators in the sense of "completion". What does “to the end” mean here?
The Greek word "telos" can also mean completion. This is how the German Zurcher translation renders this phrase. The Greek lexicons by Friberg and Gingrich give the possible meaning of "completely" or "to the utmost" for John 13:1. [1]
It is my conviction that John means with this expression that Jesus loved his disciples “to the utmost” or “completely”. Jesus has already loved those whom the Father has given him. And now, through the washing of their feet, which is a foreshadowing of the cross, he demonstrates the greatness of his love. Jesus did not just love them until the end of his earthly ministry. Rather, he loved them "to the uttermost"!
This means that the washing of the feet is a powerful expression of Jesus' love. For his humility emphasizes his love! For if the lowest of the slaves had washed their feet, they would have thought nothing of it. But now Jesus stands up, takes off his outer garments, ties the long linen cloth around him and begins to wash their feet.
The disciples really seem to be speechless. Only Peter addresses our Lord. Peter was filled with his unworthiness to have his feet washed by Jesus. Peter’s response here reminds me of what John the Baptist said about Jesus"... before whom I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal" (John 1:27).
Peter tries to stop Jesus from washing his feet. Let’s read the verses 7 through 10.
7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." (Jn. 13:7-10 NIVO)
Jesus tells Peter that he will later understand what Jesus was doing at that moment. But Peter told Jesus that he would not allow Jesus to wash his feet. Because the foot washing was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion, Jesus told him that Peter would have no part in Jesus if his feet were not washed by Jesus.
In typical Peter fashion, he responds with: "If that is the case, then wash also my head and hands as well.”
Jesus explains to him that those who are already clean only need to have their feet washed. What Jesus means by this can be understood in the next verses:
...and you are clean, but not all of you. 11 For he knew the one who delivered him; therefore he said, 'You are not all clean. (Jn. 13:10-11 ELB)
We have a further explanation of this in John 15:3:
3 You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (Jn. 15:1-3 ELB)
Peter and the other disciples were already clean because they had already believed Jesus' words. However, Jesus makes it clear that Judas is not clean because he has not accepted Jesus' teaching.
Transition: When we read John 13:13-17, we see what Jesus wanted to achieve in the lives of his apostles through his self-humiliation.
IV. The humility and love of Jesus should be imitated:
13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (Jn. 13:13-17 NIVO)
Jesus humbled himself in order to perform this lowliest of tasks. His self-humiliation in order to perform the most menial task of the time not only emphasized the greatness of his love for "his own", but it also set an example for us so that pride might be destroyed in us and that we too might serve others with the same humility and love. Verse 15 here contains God’s goal in our lives through this story of Christ’s humble love.
Jesus told the apostles that no servant is greater than his master. So, if Jesus humbled himself so much, who are we to refuse to imitate Christ.
Friends, this example of Jesus was not only for his disciples, who later became apostles of Jesus Christ. This example of Jesus is for all those who are referred to as "his own in this world". For in John 17, Jesus prayed not only for those who had already been given to him by the Father, but also for all those who would come to faith in Jesus through them.
John 13-17 is written to all of God's children so that we know how we should think and act until Jesus returns.
The final word: 17 If you know this, blessed are you if you do it!
We are not allowed to show favoritism. And service begins at home. We should also be actively serving in the church, even if we are doing work for which we receive no recognition.
Friends, we must take Jesus as our role model. We must imitate the humility and love of Jesus. Otherwise our confession of Jesus is empty. Jesus came to serve and to lay down his life as a ransom for us humans.
The apostles took this lesson to heart:
9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. (1 Cor. 4:9-13 NIVO)
The apostles took Jesus' rebuke at the Lord's Supper to heart. What about you?
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[1] Friberg, Analytical Greek Lexicon
[Fri] τέλος, ους, τό (1) as an action achievement, carrying out, fulfillment (LU 22.37); (2) as a closing act end, termination, cessation (2C 3.13; 1P 4.7), opposite ἀρχή (beginning); (3) as a goal toward which movement is being directed outcome, end (result), purpose (1T 1.5); (4) as civic payment of what is owed tribute, tax, customs (duties) (RO 13.7); (5) in adverbial expressions; (a) accusative τὸ τ. finally (1P 3.8); (b) εἰς τ., with either a temporal or quantitative sense according to the context to the end (MK 13.13), finally, at last (possibly 1TH 2.16), in full measure, fully, completely (JN 13.1; possibly 1TH 2.16); (c) with ἕως, μέχρι, ἄχρι(ς) to the end, to the last or fully, altogether, depending on the context
τέλος N-NN-S τέλος
τέλος N-AN-S τέλος
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Gingrich, Greek NT Lexicon (GIN)
[GING] τέλος
τέλος, ους, τό-1. end-a. in the sense termination, cessation, conclusion Mk 3:26; 13:7; Lk 1:33; 22:37; Ro 10:4; Hb 7:3; 1 Pt 4:7; probably 1 Cor 10:11 (see 2 below).-b. end, goal, outcome Mt 26:58; Ro 6:21f; 1 Ti 1:5; Hb 6:8; Js 5:11; 1 Pt 1:9.-c. adverbial expressions. τὸ τέλος as adverbial acc. 1 Cor 15:24; 1 Pt 3:8.-ἄχρι τέλους, ἕως τέλους to the end, to the last 1 Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:13; Hb 3:6 v.l., 14; Rv 2:26.-εἰς τέλος in the end, finally Lk 18:5. To the end Mt 10:22; Mk 13:13. For 1 Th 2:16 forever or decisively, fully. In J 13:1 the mngs. to the end and to the uttermost are combined.-2. (indirect) tax, customs duties Mt 17:25; Ro 13:7; perhaps 1 Cor 10:11 (see 1a above). [Cf. teleology [pg 198].
NEXT SUNDAY: What Are We Known For? John 13:21–28, Pastor Nick Conner