The purpose of this lesson: To stress the value God and Jesus place on unselfish godly service.
Both these incidents are occurrences happening the last night of Jesus earthly life. The John 13 incident seems to have occurred before Judas left and before Peter made his rash affirmation of loyalty to Jesus. This incident occurred prior to the group leaving the upper room.
A detailed account of when and what happened is difficult and complex concerning the last night of Jesus physical life on earth. Do no get distracted by a lengthy discussion of when events happened that night. Merely emphasize that both of these events happened then.
The Luke 22 incident seemingly occurred after the Lords Supper, after Judas left the group, but before Jesus and the group arrived at Gethsemane. It seems this was part of the discussion Jesus had with his disciples as they were in route from the upper room to the Mount of Olives.
The different gospels focus on different happenings of that evening are likely chosen (1) for the audience of the writing (initially) and (2) the specific theme/purpose of the writing.
The precise timing of when the incidents occurred is difficult to determine. You are asked to note these things happened at the end of Jesus earthly ministry. As best you can, try to put yourself in Jesus situation at this time. Do so to get the full, discouraging impact the incidents had on Jesus at a truly critical, vulnerable moment.
There are two important considerations. (1) Both events happened on that specific evening. (2) The stress on Jesus must have been enormous.
Jesus is close to his death, and he knows it (John 13:1). He, with all his being, must focus on what he is about to endure (consider John 17 and Luke 22:39-46). On virtually a daily basis, he has spent his ministry with these men (by countingas best they canthe Passovers, many assume this was three years). He taught them, gave them a direct example, and allowed them to observe his life on a continuing basis. Yet, they still do not grasp a fundamental truth he declared. Discourses are over. Examples are near the end. Continuing contact through association soon will be history. Time for a do over does not exist. Yet, little has changed! How discouraging it must have been for Jesus to have invested so much and the disciples to show so little understanding! He will provide them two powerful examples even yet. However, not until later will they grasp what he did.
Hard stress typically demands that the person focus and think as the person prepares to meet the stressful events. Jesus should not be considered an exception. A stressed person is typically vulnerable prior to the stressful events. It is easy at that time to be discouraged. Accomplishing ones purpose becomes extremely important.
In the first incident, he washed their feet. From their perspective, this was embarrassingly inappropriate! When he took his robe off and wrapped a towel around himself, he looked like a slave. The potential king should not look like a slave! Then he proceeded to do what only the least important of slaves were expected to do. Washing feet was a dirty job (people had no socks and wore sandals). For a Jew, it was also a religiously dangerous task. What if, in the process of walking, the dirty foot came into contact with something religiously unclean? One could easily be religiously defiled unknowingly by coming into contact with something religiously unclean.
Emphasize that from a purely human perspective, the washing of feet was entirely an inappropriate act for Jesus to perform. Perhaps as the disciples vied for a significant position in Jesus administration, each felt too important to wash another disciples feet. Stress that it looked wrong for Jesus to wash feet, and it contained an element of religious danger.
Sure, before Lazarus resurrection, the disciples thought Jesus ministry was at its end (read John 11:1-16). However, had Jesus not spent a week speaking openly in the temple area confounding those who wanted to destroy him? Was he not extremely popular with the people? Jerusalem was his! Surely, nothing would prevent Jesus from being the Jewish King they imagined! It was not appropriate for a king to look like a slave or do a slaves work! How embarrassinghe who would become king was washing feet! The disciples should be washing his feet!
While the disciples had thought the worst because of powerful opposition to Jesus, at this time they were thinking Jesus was invincible and safe. That meant the disciples knew (in their minds) how matters would go and what those events meant to their future.
In the second incidenton that same last nightthe disciples argued among themselves which of them was the greatest. The author of Luke called it a dispute (NASV, RSV, NIV, JB,). The KJV called it a strife. TEV called it an argument. NEB called it a jealous dispute. This was a serious confrontation! Jesus is on his way to be betrayed, and the disciples are arguing about what person will occupy the most important place in Jesus administration! Seemingly, this is after the incident of Jesus washing their feet! It surely seems they were as thick headed as we are. They did not get it, and nothing Jesus said or did got though to them. They were so focused on themselves and their personal desires that they could not see or hear!
This event illustrates how serious the problem of associating position with significance was. Even after the foot washing event, they were still fighting among themselves about which of them was the most important. This was not merely a friendly discussion, but a serious confrontation. To them, future position mattered a lot!
The primary point in both occurrences was the same: God places great spiritual significance on an individual followers willingness to serve others. Look again at John 13:12-16 and Luke 22:25-27. Consider Jesus lesson. Spiritual significance is not determined by what you did or the position you occupy, but your willingness to serve others. People who do not know God honor position. They want to be served. You know who I (Jesus) am, but I serve instead of seek for position. Are you more important than I am? If I serve, should you be focused on personal position? The evidence of greatness in Gods sight is service to others, not position occupied! God is not impressed with positions!
The point in both incidents turns common human perspectives upside down. In most societies, serving is lowly, and position indicates importance. With God and Jesus, it was just the opposite. Just as God served usthough He is the most important, He expects us to serve others if we belong to Him. He did not serve us because we are worth it; He served us in all He did in sending Jesus before we even accepted what He did! He had to begin His service to us with forgiveness! He had to make us suitable for companionship before He made us a part of his family.
Seeking spiritual position belongs to evil, not to godliness. Such motivation declares a persons ambition to seek to be served. The roots of evil run deep in that persons attitude of selfishness. (We are not speaking of a willingness to serve, but the desire to be served. To aspire to serve is a good thing. To aspire to be served is an ungodly thing.)
Seeking position to prove significance is not a godly motive. True, we need to provide the encouragement of appreciation to those who serve, but we must not encourage selfishness in the guise of appreciation.
May none of us ever lead people into a selfishness that measures spiritual significance by the religious position one occupies or aspires to occupy. May each of us lead as examples of the meaning and dedication of serving others. The spirit of what it means to follow Jesus Christ is both captured and perpetuated by the willingness to serve. Nothing eliminates the big I and little you in a congregation as quickly as will an honest understanding of Jesus focus on the importance of serving others for God.
May we all lead, but may selfishness never be the motive for any form of leading among Gods people.
For Thought and Discussion
1. The John 13 incident seeming occurred when?
It seemingly occurred prior to leaving the upper room.
2. The Luke 22 seemingly occurred when?
It seemingly occurred after leaving the upper room on the way to Gethsemane prior to arrival there.
3. What are you asked to note?
Both incidents occurred the last night of Jesus physical life.
4. What did Jesus need to focus on? Discuss Jesus relation with these disciples throughout his ministry.
Jesus needed to focus on his betrayal, his torture, his trials, and his deathhe needed to focus on coming events. The discussion should include how much he invested in these men for a long time.
5. The disciples thought Jesus washing feet was embarrassing and inappropriate. Why?
They thought it was inappropriate for a potential king to look like a slave or to risk becoming religiously unclean.
6. What did the disciples think prior to Lazarus resurrection?
They feared Jesus would be killed by his enemies.
7. What did the disciples think the last week of Jesus life? Why?
They thought Jesus was untouchable and safe. He appeared openly in a high profile place, and his enemies could not touch him because of his popularity.
8. In the Luke 22 incident, what did the disciples do? Why did they not get it?
They were arguing about which of them was more significant. They were too focused on themselves and their desires to get it.
9. The primary point in both incidents is what?
God places great spiritual significance on a followers willingness to serve others.
10. God does not determine spiritual significance how?
Spiritual significance is not determined by what one accomplished or on the position he (she) held.
11. God is impressed with what, but not with what?
God is impressed with serving, but not with position held.
12. Seeking spiritual positions belongs to what, not what?
Seeking spiritual position belongs to evil, not to godliness.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 10