Sermon Tone Analysis

*JOHN 13:1-17*

Carson gives the section Ch.13:1-20:31 the title ‘Jesus’ Self-disclosure in His Cross and Exaltation’ and states that one of the purposes of the section is ‘to unpack, before the event, the significance of Jesus’ departure – his death, burial, resurrection, exaltation and the consequent coming of the Holy Spirit’.

§         There was an important precedent in the ancient world for the discourses of John 13-17, namely the genre of /farewell discourses/ or /testaments/ of famous men

§         This practice is already seen in the Old Testament in the blessings of Jacob on his sons [Gen.49].

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*THE INTRODUCTION *

*1.        **The Passover *

John’s introduction to the foot-washing: “/before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew/…” [13:1].

§         πάσχα - “/passover/” [13:1], ‘the passover supper’; a theme developed throughout the book [2:13, 23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1].

§         The clause alerts the readers to the passover them, inviting them to see in the foot-washing an anticipation of Jesus’ own climactic Passover act as “/the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world/” [1:29].

*2.

**The Hour*

Jesus’ knowledge: “/when Jesus knew that his hour/…” [13:1].

§         εἰδὼς - “/knew/” [13:1], perfect active participle, ‘to have seen and perceived and hence know’;

§         ὥρα - “/hour/” [13:1], ‘time or period’: “/my time is not yet fully come/” [7:8]; “/the hour is come that the Son of man/…” [12:23].

§         μεταβῇ - “/depart/” [13:1], singular aorist active, ‘to move from one place to another’; ‘to pass over, withdraw, depart’;

*3.        **The Knowledge *

The knowledge that Jesus had is stated in terms of the sovereign will of God in judgement and salvation: “/knowing that the Father had given/…” [13:3].

§         εἰδὼς - “/knowing/” [13:3], perfect active participle, ‘to have seen and perceived and hence know’.

§         e;dwken - “/given/” [13:3], aorist active, ‘given by a superior into the hand of one who is a subordinate’; ‘to hand over’; ‘to empower’;

§         Jesus’ mission: “/was come from God and went to God/” [13:3].

*4.        **The Love *

Jesus’ love: “/having loved his own/…” [13:1].

§         ἀγαπήσας - “/loved/” [13:1], aorist active participle,

§         ἠγάπησεν - “/loved/” [13:1], aorist active,

§         εἰς τέλος - “/end/” [13:1], ‘motion towards and into’; ‘completion, perfection’;

*a.        **True Character *

John ensures that the reader grasps just how strongly this episode attests the loving character of Jesus: “/the supper being ended, the devil having put/…” [13:2].

§         δείπνου - “/supper/” [13:2], ‘main meal’; ‘evening meal’;

§         βεβληκότος - “/put/” [13:2], perfect active participle, ‘to throw, cast, place something somewhere’;

§         παραδοῖ - “/betray/” [13:2], aorist active, ‘to hand over’; ‘to deliver up’;

*Summary*.

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*The Foot-Washing & SERVANTHOOD *

*1.        **The Preparation *

*a.        **The Scene *

The scene: “/he rises from supper and laid aside his garments/…” [13:4].

§         ἐγείρεται - “/rises/” [13:4], ‘to stand up’;

§         the disciples and Jesus would have been reclining on thin mats around a low table.

Each is leaning on his arm, usually the left; the feet radiate outward from the table.

§         Jesus pushes himself up from his own mat.

*b.        **The Preparation *

The preparation: “/he laid aside his garments/…” [13:4].

§         τίθησιν - “/laid/ /aside/” [13:4], present active, ‘to put or place’; ‘to take off’;

§         τὰ ἱμάτια - “/garments/” [13:4], ‘outer garment, mantle’;

§         λαβὼν - “/took/” [13:4], aorist active participle, ‘to take hold of’ ‘to grasp’;

§         λέντιον - “/towel/” [13:4], ‘a linen cloth’;

§         διέζωσεν - “/girded/” [13:4], ‘to wrap around’; ‘to tie around’;

*2.        **The Action *

The action: “/after that he pours water into a basin/…” [13:5].

§         νιπτῆρα - “/basin/” [13:5], ‘wash-basin’;

§         νίπτειν - “/wash/” [13:5], present infinitive active, ‘to wash by bathing’; ‘refers to the partial washing of individuals’;  

§         πόδας - “/feet/” [13:5],

§         ἐκμάσσειν - “/wipe/” [13:5], present infinitive active, ‘to knead out’; ‘to wipe dry’;

*a.        **The Practice *

The reluctance of Jesus’ disciples to volunteer for the task of “foot-washing” is culturally understandable.

§         Doubtless the disciples would have been happy to wash the feet of Jesus.

§         But peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love.

§         The task of “foot-washing” would normally be reserved for the lowliest of menial servants.

§         The task was usually reserved for Gentile slaves and for wives and children.

*Application*.

*3.

**The True Servant *

By his actions Jesus is adopting the dress of a menial slave, dress that was looked down upon in both Jewish and Gentile circles.

§         Jesus prepares to demonstrate his claim: “/I am among you as one that serves/” [Luk.22:7].

*a.        **The Servanthood *

Jesus is the true servant of the Father:

§         Jesus is one who is by his very nature God: “/Being in the form of God/…” [Php.2:6].

§         Yet he takes on the posture and place of slave: “/made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant/…” [Php.2:7].

*b.        **The Path of Service *

The path “/unto the Father/” [13:1] was the path of obedience and suffering.

§         Paul: “/became obedient unto death/…” [Php.2:8].

*                                                                                                         i.

** The Passion  *

John’s teaching with regard to Jesus’ death has the concept of “taking off” at its centre: “/the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep/…” [10:11].

§         ti,qhsin - “/gives/” [10:11], present active, ‘to put or place’; ‘to take off’;

§         ti,qhmi - “/lay down/” [10:18], present active, ‘to put or place’; ‘to take off’;

§         The essence of Jesus’ servanthood: “/No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again/…” [10:18].

*Application*.

Jesus takes up this position /because/ He: “/knew that his hour was come/” [13:1].

§         The “laying aside” [13:4] of his garments links the passage to the sacrificial death of Jesus.

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*A MODEL OF initial CLEANSING [13:6-8].

*

*1.        **Peter’s Response  *

*a.        **The Objection *

Peter’s objection: “/Lord, dost thou wash my feet/?” [13:6].

§         νίπτεις - “/wash/” [13:6], indicative present active, ‘to wash by bathing’; ‘refers to the partial washing of individuals’;

§         μου τοὺς πόδας  - “/my feet/” [13:6],

§         Note Peter’s objection at Caesarea: “/Peter took him, and began to rebuke him/” [Mat.16:22-23].

*b.        **The Misunderstanding *

*                                                                                                         i.

**Present*

Jesus’ answer: “/What I do thou knowest not now/…” [13:7].

§         ποιῶ - “/do/” [13:7], present active, ‘to work, make, perform’;

§         οὐκ οἶδας - “/know/ /not/” [13:7], perfect active, strictly ‘to have seen’; ‘to have seen and perceived and hence know’;

§         ἄρτι - “/now/” [13:7], ‘at the present moment’;

*                                                                                                       ii.

**Future *

This misunderstanding will be cleared in the future: “/you shall know hereafter/…” [13:7].

§         γνώσῃ - “/know/” [13:7], future middle, ‘to come to know’; ‘to recognise’; ‘to learn’;

§         μετὰ ταῦτα - “/hereafter/” [13:7], the basic meaning of ‘in the midst’; ‘after this’;

§         The “/hereafter/” [13:7] is an allusion to the ‘post-resurrection insight’ that would come to all the disciples.

*Application*.

After Jesus’ death and exaltation, and certainly after the descent of the Spirit who comes in consequence of that tragic and glorious event, they will understand.