John 13:1 Now before the Passover Festival, Jesus realized that his hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  {Loved them, important}

Jesus knew that his hour was come. The scenes of this hour were in immediate view of the cross. On the next day the Lord was crucified.

What follows demonstrates Jesus’ complete love. Jesus loved His disciples, even though He knew that one would betray Him, another would deny Him, and all would desert Him for a time.

Jesus said one is a traitor and still remained unclean.

Jesus was about to sit down at the last meeting before His arrest with his disciples to the Passover feast.

Leave this world – is a way of speaking frequently used by the Jews as expressive of death.

Philippians 1:21-24 For to me, to go on living is the Messiah, and to die is gain.  (22)  Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know which I would prefer.  (23)  Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better.  (24)  But for your sake it is better that I remain alive.

John 13:2 The evening meal was in progress, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

The devil – The leader or prince of evil spirits and ruler of the world.

Supper being ended”: G1173 the chief meal (usually in the evening): – feast, supper.

Passover Supper included four “cups of wine.”

First, “Bringing Out”

Second, “Delivering”

Third, “Redemption,” or “Cup of Blessing” I give thinks

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing that we bless is a sign of our sharing in the blood of the Messiah, isn’t it? The bread that we break is a sign of our sharing in the body of the Messiah, isn’t it?

Matthew 26:27-28 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,  (28)  because this is my blood of the new covenant that is being poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. 

and the Fourth cup, means “Taking Out” {Meal to be completed at the Marriage Supper}  We will be change at Jesus 2^nd coming and taken out of harms way.  By death or protection.

Matthew 26:29 I tell you, I will never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it with you once again in my Father’s kingdom.”

Put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, referring to the agreement Judas already made with the chief priests and Temple Police.

Luke 22:3-4 But Satan went into Judas called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve.  (4)  So he {Judas} went off and discussed with the high priests and the Temple police how he could betray Jesus to them.

John 13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his control, that he had come from God, and that he was returning to God,

This verse states that Jesus had full knowledge of His divine power and majesty, of the glory that He had before and would enjoy with the Father again.  Do we believe what is written and said about Jesus. 

Everything into his control:

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came up and told them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Come from God:

John 8:42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would have loved me, because I came from God and am here. I have not come on my own accord, but he sent me.

Returning to God:

John 6:61-62 But Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you?  (62)  What if you saw the Son of Man going up to the place where he was before?     {ascent} 

John 13:4 therefore he got up from the table, removed his outer robe, and took a towel and fastened it around his waist.

• By putting on a towel, Jesus looked like the slave to whom the task of washing the feet of guests was assigned, a servant’s dress.
• Notice the disciples realized what Jesus was doing, but none of them offered or volunteered themselves for washing the feet of the others.
• Servanthood was not on the disciple’s minds.

All of them could have done it but none of them did.  Why, a clue to the reason.

Luke 22:24 Now an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 

Luke 22:27 Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isn’t it? But I am among you as one who serves.

That kind of thinking will not lead to a servant attitude or action

Philippians 2:3-5 Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.  (4)  Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.  (5)  Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Lord Jesus:

Took a towel and girded himself – This was the manner of a servant or slave

Luke 17:8 Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, ‘Get dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.’

John 13:5 Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around his waist.

• John does not say with who did Lord Jesus started with. Judas or John. But Judas feet was washed as of all the rest disciples.
• Still, no one jump up to take over this servants task from Jesus hands.
• All the disciples feet were was washed, including Judas.

Foot washing was a courtesy shown to guests in a home, usually performed by a servant or the host’s wife when the guests entered the house or while they were reclining at table

Luke 7:44 Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 

John 13:6 Then he came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?“

Christ responded to Peter’s question by implying that there is a deeper meaning in washing feet.

Accordingly, though there can be no doubt that already Peter’s heart rebelled against it as a thing not to be tolerated, Jesus ministers no rebuke as yet, but only bids him wait a little, and he should understand it all.

• Notice, it was Peter who questioned and then strongly objected to this act of a Servant for what Jesus was doing. Remember this for later
• The language of Peter is that of confusion, surprised, and astonishment
• The emphasis is on the word you.
• Who do you think was the first disciple Jesus wash the feet.

John 13:7 Jesus answered him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later on you will understand.”

• Peter knew that Jesus was about to wash his feet, and the rest of his disciples,
• but Peter did not know the meaning and mystery of it,
• what Jesus designed by it, and what instruction they were to receive from it,
• I will shortly explain to you the nature of this action, and my motives for doing it.

John 13:8 Peter told him, “You must never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you cannot be involved with me.”

The washing was a symbol of spiritual cleansing {vs 10-11}, purification from uncleanliness. 

1 Corinthians 6:11 That is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and by the Spirit of our God.

• Jesus could only wash with the blood the obedient. Repentance
• If Peter did not participate in the cleansing, he would not enjoy fellowship with Jesus

1 John 1:9 If we make it our habit to confess our sins, in his faithful righteousness he forgives us for those sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

• Jesus just told and corrected Peter,
• Unless you allow me to wash you, you will have no part in the kingdom of heaven.
• You will have nothing in common with me.
• No evidence of possessing my spirit, of being interested in my work,
• No participation in my glory. 

John 13:9 Simon Peter told him, “Lord, not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”

• Given Jesus’ dramatic statement, Peter had no choice but to submit. Only this time he went too far in the other direction.
• Did Peter realizing this was a spiritual cleansing: therefore he wishes to be completely washed, being cleansed from all sin.

John 13:10 Jesus told him, “Whoever has bathed is entirely clean. He doesn’t need to wash himself further, except for his feet. And you men are clean, though not all of you.”  {Judas}

Interesting, they all have bath beforehand?

• Jesus told Peter he did not need a bath, only needed to wash his feet.
• We who is once cleansed by the blood of Jesus only needs, after this, to come to Christ for partial cleansing; we took a bath before.
• for the forgiveness of sins that make us unclean.
• Baptism, laying on of hands and Passover Service.
• At Passover time, we wash one another feet and then take of the Passover Service.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful regarding their wrong deeds, and

 I will never again remember their sins.“

Isaiah 43:25 “I, I am the one who blots out your transgression for my own sake, and I’ll remember your sins no more.

Our past sins are remember no more and blotted out,

Important to remember during this spring Feast Days

• Once our sins of the past have been forgiven, we need NOT have them forgiven again;
• The initial confession {repentance} and immersion {baptism} that washes away past sin need not be repeated.
• But there is continual need to repent of newly committed sins, make reparation for them and seek forgiveness for them.
• This is why at the Passover, we wash each other feet, then take of the bread and wine, we recommit ourselves to the Father and Lord Jesus.
• From this time on, to come to Lord Jesus for partial cleansing since last Passover and we are wholly and entirely clean in the sight of God.