The Last 24 Hours - Week 3 - 3/16/25

John 13:1-20 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 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. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” 

Jesus has assembled the twelve, and he is about to demonstrate for them one more example of selfless service before he leaves for the garden. He will not only serve them but take the time to teach them as well. It could be said that by this time anyone facing the fate Jesus was facing would be totally consumed with their own well-being, but not Jesus. He would serve and teach his followers in the most stressful times until the very end. 

Serve when others refuse. 

John 13:3–5 “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, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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.” 

It would have been tradition for there to be feet washing either before or during a meal, but as we see, none of the disciples were thinking about this. In fact, their minds were on something totally different than serving. 

Luke 22:24–27 “24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” 

It seems that Jesus knew what they were thinking about and would eventually be arguing about and decided that he would serve them and give them an example of what the kingdom of God really looked like. 

Matthew 20:25–28 “25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” 

If we are going to teach the kingdom, it will not be simply from stages with lights or youtube channels. It will be through serving when others are unwilling. While the church argues about who is better, Jesus serves and that is the example we must live by. 

Serve those who betray you. 

If you will not wash a betrayer's feet, you will have to eliminate everyone. 

Matthew 13:24–30 “24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”” 

The church was not tasked with prejudging who would become a traitor and who would not. This does not mean we are light on sin, but it does mean we serve who God brings in front of us and allow him to separate the good from the bad. It would soon be obvious to all who Judas was, but at that time Jesus would serve him as an example to us. 

Sacrificial serving never goes to waste. We serve because Jesus served not in terms of efficiency but in terms of faithfulness. As humans we want to ensure that our energy and strength are not wasted on the undeserving. The issue with this is, when do we proclaim that judgment? And do we have the proper ability to make such a judgment? 

Serve in weakness.

John 13:1–3 “1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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,” 

Jesus could have easily said, “I am about to go to the cross. I have no energy to serve you. I need to reserve my energy for other more important things.” 

Luke 22:39–46 “39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”” 

Jesus was in a physically overwhelming situation. His hour was coming. What he was sent to this earth for would soon be taking place, and it would cause him great pain and agony, yet in the midst of that he gives one of the most meaningful examples of service and ministry ever recorded. 

If you only serve when you are strong or feel adequate, you may not serve very often. Jesus served in his most difficult hour, and the Apostles would carry that example with them in the establishment of the church. 

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 “8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Some of our most effective ministry will be out of our weakest times. It is in these times that we find the strength of God.  

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