What Jesus Did

[To the disciples, Jesus continued,] "I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, 'The one who eats my food has turned against me.' I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah."

—John 13:18-19 NLT

Key Thought​

Nothing hurts quite like someone you love betraying you. Jesus knows what is going on with Judas. He also knows that the rest of the Twelve will turn...

 

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[After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus said to them,]
"I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them."
—John 13:16-17 NLT

Key Thought​

A good friend once remarked: "I've yet to meet a Christian whose knowledge didn't exceed his obedience." His point was simple: Most Christians know far more of God's truth than...

 

After washing [the disciples'] feet, [Jesus] put on his robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."

—John 13:12-15 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus didn't teach just with words. His life was a conscious example lived before his...

 

Jesus replied [after his interchange with Peter about washing Peter's feet], "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." For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, "Not all of you are clean."

—John 13:10-11 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus could clean the disciples' dirty feet, but they had to offer their hearts for him to clean them truly. Judas' heart...

 

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will."

"No," Peter protested, "you will never ever wash my feet!"

Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me."

Simon Peter exclaimed, "Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"


—John 13:6-9 NLT

Key Thought​

Peter hasn't learned the lesson. Jesus wants his disciples to...

 

So [Jesus] got up from the table [before the "Last Supper"], took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

—John 13:4-5 NLT

Key Thought​

"Get real, man!" is a slang expression intended to bring someone into reality — no exaggeration, no pretending, no imaginary tale. Jesus' washing the disciples' feet is a time when God's becoming human flesh "gets real."...

 

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table [before the "Last Supper"], took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

—John 13:3-5 NLT

Key Thought​

Confidence in his walk with God enables Jesus to serve others and to submit his will to God...

 

It was time for supper, [the "Last Supper,"] and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

—John 13:2 NLT

Key Thought​

We must never forget that the events of the cross were part of the devil's evil plan. From Judas' plot to betray Jesus, to those who oppose and abuse him in his trials, to the crowds mocking him on the cross, to entering the room and filling Judas, the devil temporarily has his way. The evil one will not leave these events...

 

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.

—John 13:1 NLT

Key Thought​

Many poems, songs, books, and movies have been written about true love. Jesus defines it. Jesus is on the eve of his own torture and death. He knows that of the twelve men in the room with him to share the Passover meal — the Last Supper — will...

 

[Jesus continued,] "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. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."

—John 12:47-50 NLT

Key Thought​

Would you listen to...