John 13:36-38
Last week we looked at Jesus’ washing of the disciple’s feet…the importance of this act gets lost in the emphasis on feet washing rather than on the statement made by Jesus:
If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me
Without going into a deep theological meaning of this phrase…did that last week, I’ll just say this is a Greek third-class conditional phrase…this is where most people lose the intensity of what Jesus is saying…it has nothing to do with washing feet.
Jesus is saying…if you do not submit to My will… ‘if I do not wash you’ …then you have no part with me…you will not be My disciple…you cannot have communion with me…nor can you share in the blessings of My kingdom.
Jesus’ response is an ultimatum…either I do this, or you have nothing to do with me…it’s a black-and-white response…it’s non-negotiable…I’m not asking you Peter, I’m telling you…if I don’t do this…we’re through.
That’s some strong talk…people get so caught up on the servant thing of washing feet they overlook the seriousness of failing to grasp Jesus’ comments regarding submitting to His will…if you do not submit to My will, you have no part with Me.
To add emphasis to this Jesus makes a comparison between washing and bathing… Peter says wash my feet…hands…and head…referring to spot-cleansing. Jesus says Peter that won’t do.
[v 10] Jesus says it’s more intense than that…being bathed (λούω) implies an over-all deep cleaning of the whole body…He who has bathed—who is washed from head to foot is the description of the process of salvation…washed in the Blood.
The initial coming to Christ is likened to a bath in which we are washed all over, completely, from head to foot.
Then Jesus says something that gets grossly mistranslated…Jesus says ‘you are clean’ [10] … ‘you’ is a second person plural pronoun…He’s not just talking to Peter…He’s talking to every one of the disciples…when you are bathed in the Blood you are clean…not just Peter but all the disciples…including every person in this room.
The primary object of the feet washing was to give the disciples an example of humility and love… BUT…the secondary purpose was to use it as a symbol of the spiritual cleansing which must be received from Jesus.
Jesus is saying…when you first come to me, you are bathed…you are clean all over…this is what the Bible calls justification.
No one can have a relationship with Jesus unless they have been cleansed from sin…and no one can enter into the presence of the Lord unless he first submits to that cleansing…the washing away of all the guilt and sin up to that point in our lives.
But wait…not all of you have been bathed…not all of you are clean.
For He knew the one who was betraying him; for this reason He said, not all of you are clean [13:11]
Jesus knew who was betraying Him…for this reason He said, “not all of you are clean” [11] …for those who’ve never been ‘bathed’ they are unsaved like Judas… again, service and humility are not the only lessons that Jesus was teaching.
They were all about to celebrate the Passover meal one last time together…during it the Lord instituted a special new meal for them to do in remembrance of Him…if you notice Judas had no part in the meal…he was excused.
Matthew’s description of the Lord’s Supper are Jesus’ own words of how it is to be administered… [26:26-29]
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
The original Lord’s Supper was a meal where Jesus adapted and applied the meaning of the Jewish Passover feast to Himself.
Just as Israel was delivered from the slavery of Pharaoh through the blood of the Passover lamb, so we are delivered from God’s judgment and slavery to sin by the death of the Lamb of God.
As Baptists we celebrate only two ordinances…both of them were instituted by Jesus Himself…one is baptism and the second is the Lord’s Supper…neither one of those will get you into heaven.
1 Corinthians is the primary biblical text on the nature…meaning…and purpose of the Lord’s Supper…here’s what Paul says:
- The Lord’s Supper looks back to the person and work of Jesus.
- The Lord’s Supper is remembering His victory over death at His resurrection
3) The Lord’s Supper is commanded. Participation is not an option
4) The Lord’s Supper is a time of confession and self-examination of any unconfessed sins
5) The Lord’s Supper proclaims His coming again to earth at the end of the age.
6) The Lord’s Supper is not to be taken in an unworthy manner
There is a divine discipline that will accompany those who take the ordinance with wrong motives and attitudes.
The reference to eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood is obviously figurative language…one of the differences we have with our Catholic brothers and sisters who believe in Transubstantiation, which is the process where the bread and wine of the Eucharist is transformed into the actual Body and Blood of Jesus.
We believe that Jesus was not speaking literally of His own flesh and blood…the reference to eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ is to believe that His flesh is given for those who believe in Him and His blood is shed for their sins.
[John 6 chapter] Jesus gives six promises as a result of eating His flesh and drinking His blood.
1. Verse 53 – you have no life in yourselves.
Having life is associated with believing in the Son of God…if Christ is present then life is present, but when Christ is absent, then death is present.
2. Verse 54a – Promise of eternal life
‘and this is the promise God has promised us, even eternal life’ [1 John 2:25].
3. Verse 54b – Promise of a resurrection
The promise of being resurrected on the last day.
4. Verse 56 – Promise of abiding in Jesus
To abide in Jesus relates to eternal life… Jesus connects abiding in Him with never dying. Proofs of abiding in Christ…includes obedience to Christ’s commands … [John 15:10; 1 John 3:24]; …living free from habitual sin [1 John 3:6]; …the awareness of a divine presence living in us [1 John 4:13].
5. Verse 57 – Promise over death.
Death no longer has a hold on us…that’s the promise of believing in the “I AM”.
6. Verse 58 – Promise of eternal life.
Jesus reiterates that I give them eternal life and they shall live forever.
Next Jesus tells them that He’s going away [John 7:34/ 8:21 / 13:36].
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
Where I go you cannot follow Me now
Jesus is going to a ‘place’ they cannot follow…the short-term implication was a path that only Jesus could walk…He’s about to be arrested…executed [19:30] …resurrected [20:17] …then ascend into heaven [Acts 1:6-9] …what is about to happen…no one can accompany Him on that walk.
The men who He taught for over three years cannot do what He is about to do… those are the steps in which His disciples cannot follow…at least not yet.
Because we have the history of what occurred after Jesus’ ascension we know the fates of those eleven men hearing these words…all of them except one would suffer a similar fate… killed for their faith in Jesus…so in that sense Where I go you cannot follow Me now…was true…but you will follow later [13:36] is a prophecy of what would eventually happen to them.
Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.
One thing that is brought out in the Bible is the willingness of those who wrote the Bible to expose the weakness of those who we think are ‘super disciples’ …whether that’s Moses…or the prophets…or the apostles…the Bible reveals their weakness and failing.
Peter was such a person…here he’s making a bold statement about something he has no idea of the seriousness of or consequences involved…I will lay down my life for you.
Peter was a man who was quick with emotions…quick to react…quick to speak… all the while at times not realizing what he is saying or doing…wanting to be a man of mighty faith…who often faltered.
Here Peter makes a statement that if you cannot identify with…consider yourself fortunate.
Have you ever made a commitment about something that you are completely unaware of the seriousness of what you’re committing to? It’s a reminder that good intentions are not always followed up on easily…I will lay down my life for you.
Now we may not personally have made a statement that drastic…but most of us have at one time or another overstated our commitment…abilities…strengths…and intentions.
At the time we were probably sincere in making them…but then later realized our foolishness in making such a bold commitment.
Before the next day Peter would realize the foolishness in that statement…and Jesus even tells him so…you think you can follow me…Peter you won’t even make it through the night:
I say to you; a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times [John 13:38]
And it wasn’t just Peter who failed…they all failed:
Behold, the hour is coming… when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone [John 16:32]
and they all left Him and fled [Mark 14:59].
Here’s where we’re like Peter…in our zeal to demonstrate our commitment to God or to prove to God how strong a Christian we are we overstate our ability to handle temptations…trials…difficulties…challenges or problems.
Satan loves it when we do that…overstating our ability to handle temptations… trials …difficulties…challenges or problems…because that shows our desire to trust in ourselves rather than in God.
God’s strength is made perfect when we realize our weakness and vulnerability and rely on His strength to sustain us.
SO, here sit the disciples…Jesus has just told them He would be leaving them [13:36] …that Peter would deny Him [13:38] …that Judas would betray him [13:21] …and probably the worst piece of news…they will no longer be able to go where He is going [13:36]…so how’s your day going so far?
For them…their hopes for the Kingdom of God are soon going to be dashed…they had been following Him…they had come to depend and to rely on Him expecting Him to establish His kingdom on the earth at any moment. But that’s all over.
That’s a lot of hard-hitting information for people who made it their life’s calling to follow Jesus…no wonder the disciples are troubled.
It’s as if the ground is shifting beneath their feet…but Jesus says,
Do not let your heart be troubled [John 14:1]
If there is a single, central message in Jesus’ words that provides a basis of comfort, it’s trusting faith…if you’re discontented…worried…anxious…bewildered… perplexed…confused…agitated…or otherwise in need of comfort, part of the reason maybe is that you’re not trusting Him like you should.
If you really trust Jesus what do you have to worry about? The reason the disciples were so stirred up is that they had begun to focus on their problems, and they didn’t seem to be able to put their trust in Christ…so in these verses He reminds them of the importance of trusting in Him.
Consider this…there will be a time when they will follow Him [13:36] …BUT…for today…where I am going you cannot follow…I am going to die for you …I am making a way for you to come to the Father…and only I can do it…you can’t follow me now…this is my work alone.
But you will follow Me afterward, because I will make a way…I will pay for your sins…then you will come — through me…trusting me…no one comes to the Father except through me. That’s what I am doing tonight.
We will follow Jesus to the Father, because He made a way. He paid for our sins.
Thomas, like most characters in the Gospel, takes Jesus literally…he asks a reasonable question…he expresses confusion…how is it possible to know ‘the way’ if we don’t know where we’re going…how can you say we know the way?
He wants instructions…directions…a road map to this mysterious place Jesus is about to go to [4:5] …Jesus tells him…there are no instructions to follow about how to get to the Father…that He Himself is the way to the Father.
I AM the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” [14:6].
This is the sixth of seven ‘I Am’ statements made by Jesus…each component of this statement is given a definite article both in Greek and in English…I AM the way…the truth…and the life.
Jesus is not ‘a way’ or ‘one of many ways’ …or a ‘different way’ …there is no other religion…no other faith… no other path…no other philosophy…no other gospel you can trust to gain access to the Father…it only comes through Jesus.
Jesus is THE Way that leads to the Father.
Jesus is THE Truth who shines His light into our lives…whereby we acknowledge that we are sinners in need of forgiveness— conviction/conformation.
Jesus is THE Life who breathes His own resurrected life into fallen man.
That where I am there you may be also…there’s is no need to worry…these were assuring words…I’m going away to prepare a place for you in my Father’s house.
The statement ‘if I go’ … ‘I will come again’ is a much stronger statement in the Greek than in the English.
It means that I am positively going to come back again for you…then you will be with Me forever. Christ’s condition for leaving was that He was returning.
That where I am there you may be also [14:3] …the way this is written in the Greek makes it a purpose clause—(Purpose clause with ινα and present active subjunctive of ειμι)
Thus, the purpose of His departure and His return…for the believer…is that wherever Jesus is we will be with him forever…a promise for all believers who die before the Second Coming…Jesus comes for them as well.
Jesus has just shared the events that are about to happen…the entire 14th…15th … 16th …and 17th chapters of John are exclusively the words of Jesus…they are known as the farewell discourse given by Jesus to the eleven disciples immediately after the conclusion of the Last Supper…with chapter 17 being His High Priestly Prayer for Himself…His disciples…and His church.
Jesus knew after His ascension people would become fearful…so He gave us the assurance of these four chapters to help us during our time on earth…and starts off in chapter 14 with what ought to be some of the most soothing words in the N.T.
Do not let your heart be troubled [John 14:1]
Jesus realized this was the problem with the disciples…so He tells them…you have grief now but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
If there is a single, central message in Jesus’ words that provides a basis of comfort …it’s trusting faith…often times our inability to be comforted is because we’re not trusting Him like we should.
God’s strength is made perfect when we rely on His strength to sustain us.