Jesus knew and was committed to his purpose on earth. John 13:3 – Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God… 4 So…

We must live “so that”… we need to live “so” or “Responsive” lives

1 John 3:16 this is how we know love: He (Jesus) laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers

So there in John 13 Jesus “got up” from the upper room meal, the Passover, and lived out an example of his purpose. He took off his outer garment… took up a towel… poured water… to wash his disciples feet. Then v12 when Jesus had washed their feet… put on his outer clothing, he reclined again.

What did Jesus know? That he would leave heaven’s glory, take up a servants role, serve us with life and death, and then return to heaven. He also knows that one day he will return to earth. In the time between when he left and when he will return, he knew he would employ servants empowered by the Holy Spirit to take his good news and serve in his stead.

In v12 he asks do you know what I have done for you? Well, yes, you washed our feet. He served them, made them clean, but he also was calling them AND US to take up the mantle of service

then v13 you call me teacher and Lord… didaskalos = instructor and kyrios = Lord, Master. He doesn’t just teach us for information, for a quiz coming; but as instruction for living and acting. It is also instruction FROM the Master, the Boss.

… that is what I am… 14 SO… there is an expectation … SO, if I (then you)… if I, your Lord and Teacher… did you notice he corrects the order and thought process. He said you call me Teacher and Lord… but he reordered their thinking, I am Lord first, and so as Instructor, I am LORD…

…if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed YOUR feet, you OUGHT to wash one another’s feet

As Master / Lord – he is our Teacher… and he says we OUGHT – ohpeilo = owe obligation. Considering what he has done, we have an obligation

It is his greatness that increases the quality and debt of his service because of who we are – all have sinned… righteousness like filthy rags… that’s who WE are and that HE would leave Heaven, lay aside his glory become one of us, become a servant to make a way for us to come into the family… then I have a Debt to him.

Paul understood this when he writes to the Romans. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the Gospel. Then in v14 he says, I am obligated both to Greeks and Barbarians… to size and foolish… It is from that same root word ohpeilo… there is Opheiletes = debtor.

I had a debt to God that I could not pay. Jesus paid the debt. He bore the weight. Forgiveness doesn’t mean to just forget the debt… it means to “bear the weight”. Jesus bore the weight of our sin… so we now have a debt to him. We can’t pay it back, but we CAN do everything in our lives by gratitude to show it by serving others to bring them to the one who can bear the weight of their sin.

Then in John 13:15 For I have given you an example… (hypodeigma = model, exmple, pattern) … that you SHOULD (expectation) do just as I have done for you

My mind then went to 1 Peter 2. In that letter, Peter talks about living as a servant of Christ. 1 Peter 2:15 it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good… then he goes on submit… honor… love… fear God… honor emperor… submit to masters… for it brings favor… do what is good… endure suffering… WHY? 1 Peter 2:21 for you were called to this because Christ also suffered for you leaving an EXAMPLE that you should FOLLOW in his steps.

Well… Hmm… where did Peter learn this? 3 years watching Jesus, but right there in John 13 in the upper room… I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done for you…

So then, child of God, Jesus says in John 13:17, if you KNOW these things, you have BLESSED if you DO them.

I’ll leave us there… for further encouragement – read Matthew 7:24-25; Luke 6:47, 11:28; James 1:22-25