NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 54
J ohn 1 2 : 4 4
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page 1830
Jesus Summarizes His Message (187 )
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the
one who sent me. w 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. x 46I have
come into the w
orld as a l ight, y so that no one who believes in me s hould stay in darkness.
47“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not j udge that person. For
I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. z 48There is a judge for the one
who rejects me and does not accept my w
ords; the very words I have spoken will con
demn them a at the last day. 49For I did not s peak on my own, but the Father who sent
me commanded me b to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to
eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
12:44
wMt 10:40; Jn 5:24
12:45
14:9
xJn
12:46
yJn 1:4; 3:19; 8:12;
9:5
12:47
zJn 3:17
12:48
5:45
aJn
12:49
bJn 14:31
C. DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE SON OF GOD (13:1–21:25)
John begins his Gospel with eternity and ends with Jesus coming to earth again. He features Jesus teaching his
disciples privately just before his arrest and death. We see clearly the deep love Jesus has for believers and the
peace that comes from faith. Knowing the love Jesus has for believers, we, too, should believe and allow Jesus
to forgive our sins. Only then will we experience peace in a world filled with turmoil.
1. Jesus teaches his disciples
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet (210 )
It was just before the Passover Festival. c Jesus knew that the hour had come d for
him to leave this world and go to the Father. e Having loved his own who were in
the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son
of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all t hings under
his power, f and that he had come from God g and was returning to God; 4so he got up
from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and w
rapped a towel around his w
aist. 5After
that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, h drying them
with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will under
stand.” i
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
13
s hort-lived. We should be much more concerned about God’s eternal
acceptance than about the temporary gratification of other people’s
approval.
12:45 We often wonder what God is like. How can we know the Creator when he doesn’t make himself visible? But God has made himself
visible—Jesus said plainly that those who see him see God, because he is
God (see 14:9-11). If you want to know what God is like, study the person
and words of Jesus Christ. Listen for his voice as you read his words. Ask
the Holy Spirit to illuminate your mind so you can recognize his presence
in your life more clearly.
12:48 The purpose of Jesus’ first mission on earth was not to judge
people but to show them the way to find salvation and eternal life. When
he comes again, one of his main purposes will be to judge people for
how they have lived on earth. On the Day of Judgment, those who have
accepted Jesus and lived his way will be raised to eternal life (1 Corinthians
15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 21:1-7), and those who have
rejected Jesus and lived any way they pleased will face eternal punishment (Revelation 20:11-15). Decide now which side you’ll be on, for the
consequences of your decision will last forever.
13:1–17:26 John 13–17 reveals what Jesus said to his disciples on
the night before his death. These words were all spoken in one evening
when, with only the disciples as his audience, he gave final instructions
to prepare them for his death and resurrection, events that would change
their lives forever.
13:1-17 Jesus was the model servant, and he showed his servant attitude
to his disciples. Washing guests’ feet was a job for a household servant to
carry out when guests arrived. But Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist,
as the lowliest slave would do, and washed and dried his disciples’ feet.
If even he, God in the flesh, serves so willingly, we—his followers—must
also be servants, willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. What would
13:1
cJn 11:55
dJn 12:23
eJn 16:28
13:3
fMt 28:18
gJn 8:42;
16:27,28,30
13:5
7:44
hLk
13:7
iver 12
that kind of service mean in your home, your workplace, or your ministry?
Are you willing to follow Jesus’ example of serving? Whom can you serve
today? Jesus blesses those who not only agree that humble service is
Christ’s way but also follow through and do it (13:17).
13:1-3 For more information on Judas Iscariot, see his profile on page
1701.
13:1 Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of his disciples, disowned
by another, and deserted by all of them for a time. Still, he “loved them
to the end.” God knows us completely, as Jesus knew his disciples (2:2425; 6:64). He knows the sins we have committed and the ones we will
yet commit. Still, he loves us. How do you respond to that kind of love?
13:6-7 Imagine being Peter and watching Jesus wash the others’ feet,
all the while moving closer to you. Seeing his master behave like a slave
must have confused Peter. He still did not understand Jesus’ teaching
that to be a leader a person must be a servant. This uncomfortable truth
challenges leaders who find it difficult to serve those under their authority. How do you treat those who work under you, whether children,
employees, or volunteers?
13:8-9 When Jesus responded, “Unless I wash you, you have no part
with me,” he may have meant (1) that unless he washed away Peter’s sins
by his death on the cross, Peter could have no relationship with him; or
(2) that unless Peter submitted to him and allowed him to minister in this
way, Peter would never learn the lesson of servanthood. Either way, Peter
seemed to grasp the significance of Jesus’ words, for he then wanted to be
bathed completely: “Not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
13:12-20 Jesus did not wash his disciples’ feet just to get them to show
greater hospitality to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his
mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the
world serving God, serving each other, and serving all people to whom
they would take the message of salvation.