BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday March 23, 2014
____________________________________________________________
SERVE
HUMBLY
(Following
JESUS in humility)
John
13
The Gospel of John gives us the most complete details of JESUS’
instructions to HIS disciples on the eve of HIS crucifixion. Chapters 13-17
represent a concentrated dose of JESUS’ private teachings to HIS select group of disciples on the night of HIS arrest. HE
begins the evening with the surprising act of washing HIS disciple’s feet,
one disciple at a time. It was an endearing and humble effort on JESUS’ part,
to express to HIS closest followers, the kind of brotherly love that HE had in
HIS heart for each of them.
HE knew that HIS time to depart
from this world was drawing ever closer, and that HIS death on the cross was
now imminent. The devil had already entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot
and enticed him to go forward with his plan of betrayal against JESUS. And
now, the stage was set for the “passion of CHRIST” to begin. But first,
there would still be time for some intimate instructions from the MAN WHO had
come to mean so much to this unwitting, rag-tagged group of simple and
untrained men. And the first of HIS instructions was aimed at teaching them
to serve each other in the most menial of ways, which was, in this case, washing
each other’s feet.
After washing their feet, JESUS
put HIS robe back on and sat down and asked what they had learned from what HE
had just done. HE told HIS faithful that they always called HIM MASTER and
LORD, and that they were correct in doing so. However, if HE, as their
MASTER, would wash their feet, how much more willing should they be to wash
each other’s feet? HE had given them an example and HE wanted them to
follow suit with their treatment toward each other. And, even though a servant
is never greater than his master, and a messenger is never more important than
the one who sent him, HE, WHO is MASTER over all mankind, came to serve mankind
for HIS FATHER, WHO sent HIM into the world, because HE so loved the world.
All the way up until the very hour of Judas’ betrayal of JESUS, he
had been, protected by JESUS from being discovered by the other disciples. JESUS knew from the beginning
what role Judas would portray in the outcome of HIS ministry, but HE in no way
compelled him to play it. Instead, HE exposed Judas to all of the
privileges that HE had afforded the other disciples, and yet Judas’ sinful
heart remained unchanged by JESUS’ presence. It is like the professed Christian
in the church today, who might attend church every weekend, and go to Sunday
school, midweek bible study, participate in church ministries etc., and never
really in their heart, accept CHRIST for WHO HE is, as our LORD and SAVIOR.
The “Last Supper” took
place on a Thursday night, and the theme of that dinner was one of “Love”.
After JESUS performed the menial act of foot washing to HIS disciples, HE now
decides, with a heavy heart, that it is time to expose the one who would betray
HIM. It was to be one of those whose feet HE had just washed.
JESUS’ allusion to Psalms 41:9,
(verse 18), where King David laments his betrayal by his trusted friend,
Ahithophel, who like Judas, ultimately committed suicide by hanging (2 Samuel
17:23), clearly identifies this incident as being prophetic. What had happened
to David was now happening to David’s greater SON.
When JESUS mentioned the fact that
one of them would betray HIM, the disciples were stunned, and began to look
upon each other, wondering which of them could be capable of doing such a
terrible thing. Peter motioned to John, who sat next to JESUS, and asked him to
ask JESUS who it would be. JESUS answered, apparently, only to John’s hearing,
that it would be the one HE gave the bread dipped in sauce to, which turned out
to be Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Immediately, upon eating the
bread, satan entered into Judas, and he was sent away by JESUS to perform his
act of treason. None of the others at the table comprehended what JESUS meant,
especially since Judas was treasurer of the group, and, at the time, had been
sitting in the position of honor at JESUS’ side. They felt for certain that
JESUS was sending him away to do something honorable like purchasing food for
the Passover, or making a donation to the poor.
However, Judas had already made
his deal with the religious leaders to betray JESUS on that night, and JESUS’
statement to him to “Go and do it quickly” let Judas know that HE knew
of his plan. And so, at that point, JESUS was, in effect, only giving Judas
a final chance to repent. Unfortunately, Judas’ heart was all set to go
forward with this final rejection of CHRIST JESUS, and the rest, is the tragic
history, of a fallen soul.
After Judas had left the room, JESUS began again, speaking to the
eleven disciples that remained. HE tells them that HIS time has come to enter
into HIS glory, and that GOD would also receive glory through HIM, because of
it. JESUS’ glory was to be revealed in HIS death, and thereby, GOD would
also glorify HIMSELF.
The term, “little children”,
that, is expressed by JESUS in verse 38, shows us the deep concern HE had,
for HIS beloved disciples’ well-being, after HIS departure. HE knew that they
could survive HIS absence, only if they obeyed HIS teachings and HIS
commandment to love. Here, in this passage, is the only time in scripture
that JESUS uses this term. Nevertheless, it is a term that seemed to stick with
the apostle John over the years, as we see him use it often in his first letter
to the Christians who were dear to him.
JESUS now reiterates a statement
HE had earlier made to the Jewish leaders, that, “where HE was about to go,
they could not follow”. This statement, of JESUS’ leaving them, perhaps,
more than anything else, deeply troubled the hearts of the disciples. Certainly
it must have set off a whirlwind of perplexing questions in their minds and
hearts. And right in the midst of their confusion, JESUS delivers to them, the one and only new commandment, that, HE
would ever give, during HIS ministry. It is a commandment that also comes to us today, from
across the spans of time, in hopes that we too, can perform it also, in our
lives. It is the commandment to “love each other, just as JESUS has loved us”.
It is the Christian image of the family. Love was to take on a new
meaning and power, because of the death of CHRIST JESUS. And with the coming of
the HOLY SPIRIT to aid us, love would have a new power in our lives. It would
stand as true evidence that we are followers of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS
CHRIST.
However, still stuck on the
statement of JESUS’ leaving, Peter steps forward and insists that wherever
JESUS was going, he was fully ready to follow right then. In fact, Peter not
only insisted that he was ready to follow JESUS wherever HE might go, but he
was also ready to lay down his life for HIM. And just when Peter thought that he
could not be hit with a more disturbing statement than the one of JESUS’
leaving them, our LORD and SAVIOR hits him with an, even more, heart-troubling
declaration. HE prophecies to HIS bewildered disciple, that, “before the
rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will have already denied knowing ME, three
times.”
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
No comments:
Post a Comment