A Study of John 13:1-20

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.”

• The Upper Room Discourse: John 13-17
• Sermon Series: Jesus’ Final Words Our First Priority

John 13:1-17

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.

What kind of leader are you?

SERVANT LEADER

• žServant leaders are focused on serving others with no regard for themselves.
• žServant leaders welcome feedback.
• žServant leaders look for those who have leadership potential and train them.
• žServant leaders view leadership as an act of service.

SELF-SERVING LEADER

• žSelf-serving leaders are addicted to power and recognition from others.
• žSelf-serving leaders respond negatively to feedback.
• žSelf-serving leaders are not likely to spend any time or effort in training their replacement.
• žSelf-serving leaders view leadership as something to be protected or it might be lost.

Five Determining Tests

1. “Where is your focus—yourself or others?
2. “How do you deal with advice/criticism?”
3. “Are you preparing others to fulfill your role in the future?”
4. “Do you let God be the leader and you be the servant?”
5. “How do you respond when you are treated like a servant?”