Trinity Baptist Church

 

As we continue our study of "The Things Jesus Took," we come to a most interesting episode in John 13. In John 13: 4, we see that Jesus,

"Took a towel."

 

In what followed, He taught Peter, and us, that if we are to have fellowship with Him, we must not only have clean hands, and clean hearts; but, clean feet, as well. Thus, for that purpose, in this story, Jesus "took" the linen that outlines the standard for sanctification as it relates to our fellowship with Christ.

 

I read the other day about a fellow that always fell asleep in Church. His wife asked the preacher what she could do to keep him awake during the services, and the preacher suggested that she take some limburger cheese and hold it under his nose if he started to dose off again. 

 

Sure enough, the next time they went to Church, the old boy nodded off. His wife reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a piece of limburger cheese and put it under his nose. About that time, he yawned and said, "Roll over Gladys; you've got your feet in my face again!"

 

You may be like the fellow whose feet stunk so bad that when he put Odor-Eaters in his shoes he disappeared. 

 

At the very beginning of this sermon, I want to ask you, are your feet clean? If your feet are not clean, then Jesus teaches us from this story that we cannot enjoy fellowship with Him.

 

Now the primary lesson that Jesus is teaching is how to be a servant. The task of washing feet, in those days, was usually assigned to a household servant. 

[15] "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

 

Jesus is giving us an "example," and, He is teaching us that as He humbled Himself and served the disciples, by washing their feet; so, we are to take the place of a humble servant and serve Him, as well as others.

 

Yet, within this story there is another important lesson. Jesus was not only teaching His disciples the lesson of being a servant, but also, if they were to have fellowship with Him, then they must keep their feet clean. 

 

Matthew Henry said, "Christ washed His disciples' feet that He might signify to them the value of spiritual washing, and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin."

 

The key verse in understanding the truth of this story is verse 8. Peter has just emphatically denied Jesus of washing his feet, and Jesus said to Peter:

 

Verse 8

 

The word "part" speaks of an "allotment, division or share." In other words, Jesus was saying to Peter, "Peter, if you want to have a part and share in what I am doing, then you must have clean feet." 

 

He was speaking of having fellowship with Him, and having clean feet was required if He, or we are to experience fellowship with Jesus. 

 

Jesus took the LAD to give the secret of success. Jesus took the LUNCH to show the source of sufficiency. Today, Jesus took the LINEN to outline the standard of sanctification. 

 

Now, in order to have fellowship with Jesus, a person must have a relationship with Jesus.  To have a relationship with Jesus, a person must be born again, have their sins forgiven, and know Him as their personal Lord and Savior. 

 

Let’s call that fellowship

 

 

Because when a relationship is established, fellowship is made possible. If such fellowship with Jesus is possible, then what is required to have such fellowship? What is required to experience and enjoy the blessings of fellowship with Jesus? 

 

Look at verses 4 and 5.

 

After supper, which speaks of their fellowship with Jesus, He then "took a towel" and began to wash their feet. He was about to teach them the lesson of what is required to continue to enjoy fellowship with Him. 

And He was showing them that if one is to have such fellowship with Him, then they must have clean feet. 

 

Now foot washing is unique in that it must be done individually. And the focus lands on Peter. 

 

After Jesus had washed the other disciples' feet, He then turns to Peter. 

 

Verse 6 – 7

 

Then, in verse 8, Peter emphatically denies Jesus the opportunity of washing his feet. In fact, the word "never" Peter used was the strongest form of negation in the Greek language. Peter was saying to Jesus, "There is absolutely no way that I am about to let you wash my feet."

 

Again, Jesus answered Peter by saying, "Peter, if I don't wash your feet, you cannot share and have fellowship with me." That seemed to change Peter's attitude. He went from one extreme to another. 

 

Notice his response in verse 9

 

Peter was saying, "Lord, if it means having fellowship with you, then don't stop at my feet, but wash my hands and my head as well." It is then that Jesus taught Peter the most important lesson about being clean. 

 

verse 10

 

To understand what Jesus was saying, we must understand the two words, "bather" and "wash." The word "bathed" is a word that means, "To bathe the whole person." 

It describes a person taking a bath to clean their entire body. 

 

The word "wash," on the other hand, is a word that speaks of "cleaning a specific part of the body, such as one's hands or feet."

 

The difference between the two words is the difference between someone crawling into a bath tub; and, someone just taking a washcloth and washing their face, hands or feet.  And here’s the picture:

 

The word "bathed" speaks of SALVATION! 

 

When a person is saved they are given a bath in the blood of the Lord Jesus. All their sins are forgiven and they are made completely clean before the Lord. 

 

However, there is another type of cleansing. The word "bathed" speaks of salvation. 

 

The word "wash" speaks of SEPARATION.

 

Look at verse 10 again. 

 

Jesus was saying to Peter, "If you have bathed, (salvation), you don't need to take a bath again; but, you do need to wash your feet (separation)." In other words, the need is not to wash the whole body again, only the part of the body that has become dirty and defiled.

 

In the culture of that day, a person would take a bath periodically. But during the day, because of the dusty roads, and their sandaled feet, their feet would become dirty and they would wash their feet several times. They didn't keep taking baths because their feet had got dirty. All they needed to do was wash the dirt off their feet.

 

I used to try and convince my mother I didn’t need a bath at night by sneaking in the bathroom and washing my feet. I would tell her I didn’t need a bath, after all, my feet were clean!

 

Jesus is teaching us that once we are "bathed," or saved, we do not need to be saved again. We do not need to take another bath in terms of salvation; but we do need to "wash" our feet, in terms of separation, from the dirt we accumulate as we walk through the dusty roads of this world. 

 

Back in 1980, in a Spring revival at Rexroat Baptist Church, I took a bath in the crimson flow of Calvary, and washed completely of all my sins. And what I realized that day that “There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” 

 

But, that doesn't mean that I have not sinned since then. I fail the Lord every day. 

 

But the need is not to be saved again because I have sinned. I only need to "wash my feet!" I only need to "wash" that part of my being that has become corrupted, and defiled by sin.

  

It may be that I need to "wash" my eyes, my ears, my hands, my lips, my tongue, my heart, or even my feet. It is impossible to walk through this world and not be defiled. As we walk through this world we get our feet dirty. But, we cannot get close to Him with dirty feet. 

 

Therefore, keeping our lives free from sin is required individually and must be repeated often.

 

I would venture to say that most people take a bath every day. It is said that Isabella of Spain bragged that she had had only two baths in her life: ”one when she was born, and the other when she married Ferdinand.”

 

I recently read of how among the medieval land classes, the lack of a need to bathe was considered a sign of wealth and leisure. Many aristocrats bragged of never having taken a bath. Consequently, the demand for perfume and aromatic oils was very high, and the need for spices helped spur the explorations of the 15th century, which ultimately lead to the discovery of America. Isn't that interesting? Our country's discovery was all started because people stunk!

 

And now we are about cease to exist because people stink!

 

I hope you do take a bath everyday. Spiritually, we only need one bath. Once we are placed in the bath of salvation, we never need to take that bath again. However, we do need to "wash our feet" everyday. 

 

Now the word "wash" in verse 10 is a strong word. It is not just an instruction or command, it speaks of a needed, ongoing action. We must "wash our feet," and have our lives washed of sin everyday.

 

That means once fellowship is established, fellowship is to be

 

 

I think of a story I read, many years ago, about an old man whose daughter asked her pastor if he would come and pray with him. When the pastor arrived, he found the old man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed, and the pastor asked him, "Joe, I see you were expecting me." The old man replied, "No, who are you?" The pastor said, "I am your daughter's pastor. She asked me to come visit and have prayer with you. I saw the chair and assumed that she had told you I was coming." The old man sat up, and said, "Oh, the chair. Please, shut the door and let me tell you about it."

 

The pastor closed the door and the old man continued, "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter. For many years in my life, I did not know how to pray. At Church, I would hear the preacher talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. I had got to the place where I felt I could not pray. 

 

But, then a friend said to me one day, “Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of conversation with Jesus. Here's what I suggest, sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith, see Jesus in that chair. 

Then, just talk to Him and listen the same way you're doing with me right now.'"

 

The old man went on, "So, I tried it and liked it so much that I do it several hours a day now. Jesus and me just sit and talk to each other, and have a wonderful time of fellowship with one another." The pastor was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to keep up his practice. He prayed with him and left.

 

A few days later the old man's daughter called to tell her pastor that her father had died. She told him that she had gone to the store and when she got back, he was dead. Then she said, "There was something most unusual about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside his bed." 

 

It seems that the old man was enjoying sweet fellowship and communion with the Lord Jesus. Being in fellowship with Him brings wonderful blessings in our life. Let me mention a couple of them. 

 

When we are enjoying fellowship with Jesus, it

 

 

Now this scene in John 13, finds Jesus with His disciples. Here are 12 men were men who have enjoyed and experienced a personal ministry with Jesus. For nearly 3 years, they had been a part of His ministry, and shared in His ministry. They had the privilege of not only being witnesses of His great miracles; but, also, often workers in His great miracles.

This teaches us that one of the blessings of being in fellowship with Jesus is that the Lord can take and use us. Fellowship with Jesus allows us to be a part of what He is doing. It equips us for a personal ministry with Jesus.

 

Someone has said, "An outer life of service opens the inner chamber of fellowship to those who choose to serve Christ!"

 

In other words, when we are in fellowship with Jesus, one of the great benefits and blessings is that He allows us to be a part of His will and His work in the life of others. But it also. 

 

 

Look back up at verse 1. 

 

In less than 24 hours, Jesus would complete the work He came to do. In just a few hours, His hour would come and He would be crucified. The purpose of His coming to Earth would be fulfilled. And, in those last hours of His earthly life, who did He choose to spend those hours with? It was with His disciples.

 

This was a very special evening. The time they spent together, and the fellowship they enjoyed was precious moments. It was a time they would never forget. 

No doubt, after Jesus would ascend back to Heaven, the disciples would remember those last precious moments that they had been privileged to spend with Him. What a special time!

 

Listen: Never lose sight of the fact that when we are in fellowship with the Lord Jesus it is precious time. 

The Bible teaches us that He is always with us, but there are those times when we sense His presence in a very special way. As you know, not all Church services are the same. 

 

I have been in some services that were so cold that if you led a cow down the aisle, and milked her, she would have given popsicles. On the other hand, there have been times, in Church, when you want to shout at the drop of the hat, and you may even drop the hat, because God is all over the place.

 

However, there have been times when I wasn't in Church, but by myself, and His presence became especially real. I have been driving down the road and the Lord got in the car with me. 

 

There have been times in my study when His presence filled the room. He became so real it was as if I could almost reach out and touch Him. It was one of those precious moments with Jesus!

 

In the words of Mosie Lister:

 

How long has it been, since you talked to the Lord,

And told Him your heart's hidden secrets?

How long since you prayed,

How long since you stayed,

On your knees 'til the light shone through?

 

How long has it been since your mind felt at ease,

How long since your heart knew no burden?

Can you call Him your friend,

How long has it been,

Since you knew that He cared for you?

Such fellowship with Jesus benefits others and it blesses us. How long has it been since you found yourself enjoying sweet fellowship with the Lord Jesus?

 

Let me point out one more thing: Let’s call it fellowship

 

 

I trust that you see that the matter of dirty feet speaks of sin in the life of a Christian. While we may enjoy fellowship with Jesus, the one thing that will break that fellowship is dirty feet, or sin in our lives. 

 

The greatest thief in the world is sin. Sin robs us of the blessing of being in fellowship with the Lord Jesus. It robs us of enjoying that personal ministry of being used by God, and those precious moments of being close to God. 

 

You may be here today and you are aware that your fellowship with Jesus has been broken, and not what it used to be. Again, you do not need to be saved again, and "washed" again you simply need to "wash your feet." 

 

Until you "wash your feet," and take care of that sin in your life, your fellowship with Jesus will be extinguished and it will never be what it is supposed to be. 

 

How can we avoid extinguishing fellowship with Jesus?

 

The answer is simple: we must confess our sin.

 

Once Jesus had explained Peter's need of having his feet washed, we read:

 

Verse 9

 

It seems that Peter realized that if he was to continue to enjoy fellowship with Jesus, then he must be willing to have his feet washed. To put it another way, if he was to keep from having his fellowship with Jesus broken, then he must freely and fully "wash his feet" as an act of confession of his sin.

 

Are your feet dirty? Is there something in your life that is keeping you from enjoying the fellowship with Jesus that you used to enjoy? If so, then you must be willing to have your "feet washed" in an act of confession of your sin to the Lord. Bring it to Jesus and let Him wash your feet clean.

 

Because the younger children at a parochial school often forgot their sins when they entered confessional, the priest suggested that teachers have the students make lists. The next week when one child came to confession, the priest could hear him unfolding paper. The youngster began to read the list, "I lied to my parents. I disobeyed my mom. I fought with my brothers and..." There was a long pause. Then the little boy said, "Hey, this isn't my list!"

 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)

  

Come today, confess that sin, and let Jesus "wash your feet." When we come to Jesus and allow Him to "wash our feet," what happens?

 

If we confess, He cleanses.

 

Let me ask you a question: Who is it that is washing the disciples' feet? It is the Lord Jesus! The only One who could cleanse them.

 

Verses 4-5

 

Although we may not walk out of the house with sandals on our feet, we do walk through a dirty, defiled and depraved world. Again, it is impossible for us to walk through this world without getting our feet dirty. 

 

However, if we are to avoid broken fellowship with Jesus, we must not only confess our sin to Him, but we must have our sin cleansed by Him. If we will bring to Him our "dirty feet" He will "wash our feet," and we can again know the joy of having a life clean before Him.

 

He cannot use me unless I have allowed Him to "wash my feet." I cannot enjoy His fellowship unless I have allowed Him to "wash my feet." The confession of sin, which means that I agree with God that it is sin always leads to the cleansing of sin.

 

I think it important that Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to go wash their own feet. The picture is obvious: You can’t cleanse yourself, but the blood of Jesus will wipe your record clean.  

 

John B. Gough, the great temperance orator, died while delivering one of his famous lectures. His very last sentence was: "Young man, keep your record clean!"

 

That is excellent advice for a life of unbroken fellowship with Jesus. Keep your account short and your record clean. 

 

In 1818, Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of "childbed fever." A doctor's daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there he made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to wash his hands.

 

Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers; about one in fifty. He spent the vigor of his life lecturing and debating with his colleagues.

 

Once he argued, "Puerperal (Childbed) fever is caused by decomposed material, conveyed to a wound. I have shown how it can be prevented. I have proved all that I have said. But while we talk, talk, talk; gentlemen, women are dying. I am not asking anything world shaking. I am asking you only to wash. For God's sake, wash your hands."

 

But virtually no one believed him. Doctors and midwives had been delivering babies for thousands of years without washing, and no outspoken Hungarian was going to change them now. In fact, it wasn’t until Pasteur proved his germ theory that the medical profession would respond. 

 

Dr. Semmelweis, eventually had a nervous breakdown, was admitted to an asylum and died from injuries in 1865 at the of 47, his wash basins discarded, his colleagues laughing in his face, and the death rattle of a thousand women ringing in his ears.

 

The Bible emphatically states that if we have sin in our life, and our feet are dirty, we cannot have fellowship with Jesus. Yet, there are those, like those doctors, who disregard the precepts of God's Word only to hear the "death rattle" of their spiritual life "ringing in their ears."

 

Are your feet clean? Are you where you used to be with Jesus? Are you where you need to be with Jesus? Are you where you want to be with Jesus? Are you where Jesus wants you to be with Him? If not, come today and let Jesus "take a towel" and "wash your feet."