MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Sunday, September 20, 2026
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  • All That I Need
  • Here I Am , Lord
  • Make Me A Servant
  • Make Me a Blessing

      • John 13:1-2ESV

      • John 13:3-4ESV

      • John 13:5-7ESV

      • John 13:8-9ESV

      • John 13:10-11ESV

      • John 13:12-14ESV

      • John 13:15-17ESV

      • John 13:18-19ESV

      • John 13:20ESV

  • We’re moving quickly towards those final hours of Jesus life and as we said last week, we’re only about halfway through the Gospel of John. In chapter 11, Jesus hears his friend Lazarus has become ill and died. He announces his intent to go to Bethany where his life had already been threatened. Thomas of all people responds, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The reader is forewarned!
    In that same chapter Jesus delivers words of hope we still hold to, to this day, “I am the resurrection…” and he raised Lazarus from the dead.
    And then everything seems to slow down. Three years of ministry has been covered in the first 10 chapters of John, we have the resurrection of Lazarus, and by the time we get to chapter 12 we read that its “Six days before the Passover…” and Mary annoints Jesus feet with oil, symbolically preparing him for burial. John has 21 chapters and he takes a lot of time to recall those final days.
    Some Greeks come and wish to see Jesus and He announces, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Then we get to chapter 13.
    90% of what we find in the Gospel of John is not recorded in other Gospels. This entire scene is one of those passages you don’t find in any other Gospel. And clearly we are ready (or just about ready) to celebrate the Passover.
    And what’s Jesus message? Jesus shows us.
    Before we look at what Jesus teaches us, lets talk about washing feet.

    What is the significance of washing feet?

    Remember in the time of Jesus your average person walked everywhere along dusty roads. It was customary for the host to have water available for the washing of feet. Today people take off their shoes when entering a person’s home, something that has been traditional in Japanese culture for centuries.
    In biblical times they did not remove their sandals indoors, but they did wash their feet. In wealthier households this was the role of a non-jewish servant.
    Clearly, Jesus chooses to wash the disciples’ feet as an example to them, and by John’s recording the scene to us. It’s a model of servant leadership.
    Most of us this is not the first time we’ve heard this passage, we’re familiar with it. So let’s focus on what we can learn from it. Jesus sets for us an example
    Let’s take a closer look: Here are four actions we can take in following Jesus’ example.

    1. Initiate with Intention

    John sets the stage pretty clearly. It’s before the Passover and Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart this world. He also knows that the devil had put into the heart of Judas Iscariot the idea to betray him.
    We read in in John 13:3-4
    John 13:3–5 ESV
    Jesus,..rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
    I left some detail out there in verse three. The full verse reads John 13:3 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,” That’s like saying, Jesus knowing He was far above all these guys…
    He initiates His servanthood intentionally. This isn’t an accident. Jesus is fully aware of the suffering that lies ahead of him and of the authority he has, and in this act lays it aside to become a servant. It foreshadow’s Paul’s commentary to the church of Philippi, regarding Jesus’ identity.
    Philippians 2:6–8 ESV
    who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
    That cross is where Jesus is heading. This is a radical humility encouraging us not to be “humiliated” and forced to serve, but to INITIATE the action of service and to be intentional in doing so.
    You and I are invited to reject pride of position or stature, to lay that aside and be intentional about seeing and serving those around us.

    2. Insist on Humility

    The second lesson we take from this is Jesus insistence on humility. Jesus is going around to wash the disciples feet and he comes to Peter who recognizes Jesus’ stature among the disciples. The other three Gospels record Peter as being the first among them to profess Jesus as the Christ.
    In Peter’s eyes: The Messiah would never…should never… stoop to such a lowly position as to wash another’s feet. And so we see this exchange between Peter and Jesus, watch what happens.
    John 13:6–10 ESV
    He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
    At first Peter is defiant, I won’t let you lower yourself so. There’s such pride in that statement. Peter wasn’t going to let Jesus humiliate Himself in such a way. He doesn’t get that humility IS the way. So he’s insistent, “You shall never wash my feet.”
    When Jesus corrects him saying unless I do, “You have no share with me.” Then Peter flips and says, “then not just my feet, but my hands and head!” Again this smacks of pride. Peter wants to show himself wanting more than any of the others.
    Advance slide but don’t say what’s on it

    2. Insist on Humility

    Jesus corrects peter and pronounces him clean. Again, insisting on Peter’s humility.
    Many of us are like Peter. We’re involved in ministry and have gotten used to and even take pride in our serving others.
    Sometimes, the greatest service you offer is to allow yourself to be ministered to.
    Receiving the grace extended to us through Christ and other Christians is an act of service as well.

    3. Instruct by Example

    There’s an idiom in leadership that more is caught than taught. After Jesus has washed the disciples feet he asks, “did you catch that?” “Did you get the lesson?” John records this as “Do you understand what I have done to you?” He goes on -
    John 13:13–14 ESV
    You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
    Jesus is saying, When you see me as your leader, your teacher, your rabbi, someone to be respected and held in high esteem, you are right. Yet leadership is not what you think. It’s not about having others serve you - it’s about demonstrating what is to be done.
    John 13:15 ESV
    For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
    The life of service and sacrifice exemplified by Jesus is the one we are to live. Jesus said, “Follow me.” As we follow Jesus we set the same example.

    4. Integrate to Impact

    Integrating Jesus’ example is how we continue to impact our world and culture in the way of Jesus. In Christian circles and business circles in general there is much to be said about servant leadership.
    But the idea of flipping the heirarchy on its head is often overlooked. People see certain tasks beneath them.
    “I won’t do that.” “I won’t let you.” “I deserve…”
    All of these have the commonality of being focused on self. Jesus encourages us to live a life of service, seeking to bless others. That is what we’re called to.
    John 13:16–17 ESV
    Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
    People will say, “I’m above that”, in our passage this morning we note that Jesus wasn’t.
    So let’s review:
    Initiate with Intention.
    Insist on Humility
    Instruct by Example
    Integrate to Impact
    This is Jesus’ model for us of Servant Leadership. The way you and I serve others around us is a direct reflection of our love and commitment to Jesus.
    Many of us struggle with pride and the desire for recognition. By following Jesus example we can find freedom in serving others cultivating Christlike love and continuing to build community.
    This is core to Jesus teaching and how we live out our church mission:
    Mission Woods Church - a growing place.
    • Growing closer to God, to one another, and to our community.
    All to the glory of God. Amen.
    Let me pray for you…

      • John 13:3–5ESV

      • John 13:6–10ESV

      • John 13:13–14ESV

      • John 13:15ESV

      • John 13:16–17ESV

  • In His Time
  • What A Mighty God We Serve
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
info@missionwoodschurch.org
(253) 922-5555
http://www.missionwoodschurch.org
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