New Believer's Bible Sample - Flipbook - Page 61
page 1013
We must serve others
J ohn 13
read JOHN 13:6-14
O F F
&
R U N N I N G
Object lessons sometimes have more punch after they’re explained. Peter made this discovery on the night Jesus washed his feet. First the big fisherman voiced his strong objection,
and next he wanted Jesus to give him a bath. It’s kind of humorous, really.
In fact, Jesus intended to provide his disciples with an example. By washing their feet,
he demonstrated that becoming great in the Kingdom of God meant becoming the servant
of everyone else (see Mark 9:35). After finishing the object lesson, Jesus explicitly told his
disciples that they were to serve one another, help one another, and give preference to
one another. No doubt Jesus had in mind the time an argument broke out in his presence
as to who would be greatest in the Kingdom (see Luke 9:46). Talk about missing the point!
They were willing to fight for the throne—but no one wanted the towel.
For the next note on “Relationships” turn to page 1116.
believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah
the prophet had predicted:
“Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his
powerful arm?”*
39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isa
iah also said,
40
“The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.”*
41 Isaiah
was referring to Jesus when he said
this, because he saw the future and spoke of
the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the
Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for
fear that the Pharisees would expel them from
the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise
more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust
me, you are trusting not only me, but also God
who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are
seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as
a light to shine in this dark world, so that all
who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who
hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to
save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all
who reject me and my message will be judged
on the day of judgment by the truth I have
spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority.
The Father who sent me has commanded me
what to say and how to say it. 50And I know
his commands lead to eternal life; so I say
whatever the Father tells me to say.”
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus
knew that his hour had come to leave
this world and return to his Father. He had
loved his disciples during his ministry on
earth, and now he loved them to the very
end.* 2 It was time for supper, and the devil
had already prompted Judas,* son of Simon
Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the
Father had given him authority over every
thing and that he had come from God and
would return to God. 4 So he got up from the
table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel
around his waist, 5 and poured water into a
basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’
feet, drying them with the towel he had
around him.
6 When
Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter
said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my
feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now
what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever
wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you
won’t belong to me.”
9 Si
mon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my
hands and head as well, Lord, not just my
feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed
all over does not need to wash, except for the
feet,* to be entirely clean. And you disciples
are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew
who would betray him. That is what he meant
when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his
robe again and sat down and asked, “Do
you understand what I was doing? 13 You call
me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right,
13
12:38 Isa 53:1. 12:40 Isa 6:10. 13:1 Or he showed them the full extent of his love.
13:2 Or the devil had already intended for
Judas.
13:10 Some manuscripts do not include except for the feet.
