Title Promise (John 13:4-11)
Contents The incident of Jesus washing the disciples' feet in John 13 should be understood as proof that the Lord loved His chosen people very much and loved them to the end, as in verse 1.
And this incident in which Jesus himself took off his outer garments, wrapped a towel, and washed the disciples' feet after dinner, has great implications for us. If we look at this event of washing our feet as it was in the Old Testament tabernacle or temple, it corresponds to the water in the basin in the middle of the passage through the altar toward the sanctuary. It is not a matter of work, it is a matter of sanctification in which we remain clean after receiving the grace of Jesus' death and crucifixion. That's why he said that there is no need to wash the whole body, only the feet as a person who has washed the body.
However, this issue is often misunderstood. Of course, the greatest work of Jesus' ministry for His beloved people is to free us from our sinful places and transform them into the children of God.
But if you want to stop with that, it's not. After we are born as children of God, He wants us to be perfected as children of God. It is the hand that intervenes so that the path of perfection is sanctified through righteousness and holiness, and leads to a place of perfection without blemish or spot.
Through today's text, we will trace the great plan and God's hand that is promised to our believers.
In verse 4, it is said that Jesus, while having dinner, took off his outer garment, took a towel, and put it around his waist. This is described in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 like this:
The Lord Jesus gave me what I have given you. On the night that the Lord Jesus was being arrested, he took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “This is my body for you; do this in remembrance of me.” This is the new covenant in blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. This Last Supper is a symbol of the death of Jesus Christ. So this washing is a symbol of the ministry after death.
Still, our religious atmosphere and the current address of the Korean church are too preoccupied with the belief that if we believe in Jesus, we will go to heaven. Of course, it is obsessive and important enough to be emphasized enough, but you should be aware that such a mindset is surprisingly deadly to keep you from passing the very next level of faith.
Among the symbols of salvation in the Old Testament, the event that best represents the event of the Exodus is the event of the Exodus. They are transferred to the land of Canaan through the Passover and the Red Sea from the land of slavery in Egypt. Here, the Passover symbolizes the cross of Jesus Christ, and the Red Sea symbolizes the death of our old self and our new birth. Then where and when do you think you were the most happiest? Exodus 15 is decorated with hymns of Moses and the people of Israel because of the Red Sea incident in Chapter 14.
Therefore, the crossing of the Red Sea was the happiest and most enjoyable time. Our rebirth is so thrilling. However, if we reach Exodus 16 before the joy and hymn that crossed the Red Sea in Exodus 15 is gone, the Mara incident will immediately appear. Not long ago, they danced and sang joyfully in the thrill of salvation in the Red Sea, but now their resentment and complaints soared in the sky in front of the trials of burning thirst in the wilderness. Do you know what the people complained about before Moses? It was good to be by the meat kiln. Even though it was a slave at that time, there was plenty to eat and it was livable. But what is this?
Brothers and sisters, we must not think that the joy of crossing the Red Sea would have continued throughout the wilderness. It is impossible until they enter the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey to be fully experienced as a happy and proud fact that the people of Israel were redeemed and set free from their bondage. We must remember that after the brief joys of the Red Sea, wilderness life awaits us soon after. Clearly in the life of a believer, there was a Passover event in which the firstborn son was rescued from a disaster, and despite the miraculous experience of crossing the Red Sea, at this moment today, at best, we should be satisfied with our clothes and our feet. Most of the life of a believer.
However, what kind of thoughts do we have today? Many people think that if we properly believe in and receive Jesus today, it will lead to praise until the day we die. It is such thoughts that make our life of faith difficult. So, when life of faith becomes difficult after believing in Jesus, most people think, 'It's because I didn't believe properly. It's because I don't have Jesus Christ properly.' He goes back to the other side of the Red Sea and swims out again.
The reason why a believer easily thinks, 'I don't think this is it' because it is painful to walk in the wilderness is because they do not understand how faith is being completed and the whole process of that faith. Faith is not all about crossing the Red Sea. It should be remembered that this is only a starting point. But we've all become strange believers who now pitch their tents by the Red Sea and have good days there.
The work of Jesus Christ is just as passionate, affectionate and patient as it is to live a new life and become a new creation in Jesus Christ as much as it brings us out of our slavery to sin. Just as the Lord took up the cross for His beloved people, He Himself is the One who wraps a towel and washes their feet.
Let's look at Exodus 21:2-6.
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he will serve him for six years, and in the seventh year he will go out free of charge. If a man has children, his wife and children shall belong to his master, and he shall go out alone. And bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and he will pierce his ears with an awl, and he will serve his master forever. It is one of the perfect symbols of Jesus Christ.
There are many nicknames for Jesus. He is also called king, prophet, and priest. But the Old Testament uses more words for this. Jesus is also called a servant. In other words, they are chosen to serve God's house as God's servants.
You must serve for six years and release the servant in the seventh year. But if he comes alone, he goes out alone, and if he comes as a family, he goes out as a family. However, the servant came alone and the master matched his wife, so he couldn't take the family with him. This is a very strange story. If you have already given it to me, let me go out with you. Isn't it? But there is a reason for this. 6 years or 7 years here is a bit...