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.
The Luke 22 incident seemingly occurred after the Lord’s 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 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.
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 counting—as best they can—the 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.
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.
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 slave’s work! How embarrassing—he who would become king was washing feet! The disciples should be washing his feet!
In the second incident—on that same last night—the 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!
The primary point in both occurrences was the same: God places great spiritual significance on an individual follower’s 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 God’s sight is service to others, not position occupied! God is not impressed with positions!
Seeking spiritual position belongs to evil, not to godliness. Such motivation declares a person’s ambition to seek to be served. The roots of evil run deep in that person’s 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.)
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.
For Thought and Discussion
1. The John 13 incident seeming occurred when?
2. The Luke 22 seemingly occurred when?
3. What are you asked to note?
4. What did Jesus need to focus on? Discuss Jesus’ relation with these disciples throughout his ministry.
5. The disciples thought Jesus’ washing feet was embarrassing and inappropriate. Why?
6. What did the disciples think prior to Lazarus’ resurrection?
7. What did the disciples think the last week of Jesus’ life? Why?
8. In the Luke 22 incident, what did the disciples do? Why did they not “get it”?
9. The primary point in both incidents is what?
10. God does not determine spiritual significance how?
11. God is impressed with what, but not with what?
12. Seeking spiritual positions belongs to what, not what?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10