The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Lesson 10

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

(John 13 & 14)

Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Introduction: Never in my life have I had a family member know that they would soon die, and because of that give instructions for when they died. No doubt some of the readers of this lesson have had that experience. I could not even get my parents to seriously discuss grave plots. The result is that they are not buried in the pretty part of the cemetery, but rather the part that overlooks a hardware store! Of course, my parents don’t care. But clearly I do because I’m writing about it! This week we see that Jesus does care about the welfare of His disciples after He is gone. What Jesus teaches them is also good advice for us. Let’s dive into our study of the Bible and take in Jesus’ advice!

1. Self-Sacrifice
   
   1. Read John 13:1. What does it mean that Jesus loved His disciples “to the end?”
      1. Why would Jesus not love His disciples “to the end?” (Jesus had some terrible and terrifying encounters ahead. It would be natural to think that He would be distracted by that.)
   2. Read John 13:2-5. Consider these verses. Do they make any sense? Let me put it in modern terms, “Paul, knowing that he was about to become the CEO of the largest company in his nation, went down to the stockroom and started stacking boxes.” Does that make sense?
   3. Read John 13:6-8. Finally, we find someone with some common sense! Continuing with the modern analogy, the head of production for the company, like Peter, sees the future CEO stacking boxes and says, “Quit that! We have plenty of box stackers, we need you to do something that will ensure that our business continues to be a success!” Is Peter right?
   4. Look again at John 13:8. Why would Peter “have no share” with Jesus if Peter insists on preserving Jesus’ honor? (Everything is upside down. What is going on makes no sense from the ordinary human viewpoint.)
   5. Look again at John 13:7. Jesus says that His current actions make no sense now, but they will in the future. We are living in the future, how do you explain Jesus’ actions of washing the disciples’ feet?
   6. Read Matthew 20:20-24. What does this tell us about the attitude of the disciples about their futures in Jesus’ kingdom? (No doubt the brothers wanted “Mom” to lock down the top positions for them. When the other disciples hear of this they are angry. Why? Because they want to the top positions.)
      1. Do you think this is a serious problem for the disciples’ future? Is it a serious problem for the future early church?
   7. Read John 13:9-11. Does this seem to be odd placement to you? Why would Jesus start talking about Judas in the context of washing feet? (If you follow these lessons we have previously discussed the motive of Judas to betray Jesus. The obvious motive, getting paid a bribe, makes no sense. Why would Judas take a small amount of money when he was on the cusp of being in charge of the treasury for the newly liberated Israel? What is more likely going through his mind is that he is smarter than anyone else in the room, and he will force Jesus to declare His kingdom.)
   8. Read John 13:12. How do you think the disciples would answer Jesus?
      1. What do Judas and the rest of the disciples have in common that is counteracted by Jesus washing their feet? (They all think they are superior and need to be honored. Jesus demonstrates to them practical humility.)
   1. Read John 13:13-15. Jesus declares that He is “an example.” An example of what? (Someone in power washing the feet of others.)
      1. Verse 14 says the disciples should wash each other’s feet, and verse 15 says this should be done in the future. The disciples are all future leaders, is this something for leaders to do?
      2. I once attended a Catholic Church in which the priest started washing the feet of the members. Is this what Jesus intended?
   10. Read John 13:16-19. Jesus ties the betrayal by Judas to the issue of believing “that I am He.” Why does Jesus tie the two? (Judas believed that Jesus would seize power. The disciples believed that too. When Jesus suffered as a servant on the cross, it would be hard for the disciples to readjust their future plans. Jesus asks His disciples to understand that He came to give up His life for them.)
   11. Consider two important questions. First, how important for today is the lesson of acting like a servant? (The essence of the gospel is giving up your life for others. That is what Jesus did for us.)
       1. Second, if we agree it is an important lesson, is foot washing the way to learn that lesson? (I’m less certain that Jesus is commanding foot washing for all future generations. At these meals someone, a servant, washed the feet of all because wearing sandals meant the feet were dirty. No servant washes feet these days. Hands, not feet, are washed before meals.)
          
          1. Can you think of a servant role connected with eating that today more closely resembles foot washing? Or does foot washing more closely resemble foot washing? (While the symbolism of foot washing is helpful, I think we are looking too low. For example, when a young person chooses a public service job instead of a job that makes him rich, that is foot washing. Foot washing for Jesus was dying a painful death to give us eternal life. That is true foot washing.)
   50. Read John 13:33-35. Where was Jesus going that His disciples could not immediately follow? (He was returning to heaven.)
       1. Why, in this context, does Jesus instruct the disciples to love one another? (That is heaven. People love each other. We should start living in view of heaven by serving each other.)

2. The Way
   
   1. In John 13:33 Jesus says He is about to leave, and the disciples cannot follow. In John 13:36-37 Peter insists that he can follow Jesus because He is willing to die for Jesus. In John 14 Jesus continues His discussion about going away. Read John 14:3-5. Is Thomas right? He has no map to where Jesus is going?
   2. Read John 14:6-8. Does Thomas believe that he has his roadmap in hand? (No. Thomas does not understand.)
   3. Read John 14:9-11. What roadmap to heaven do you find in these words to Thomas? (There is no literal road to heaven, the path to heaven is found by those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.)
   4. Read John 14:12. Is Jesus talking about foot washing? (This ties belief in Jesus to an attitude of service. I think this is what Jesus had in mind when He started this discussion by washing the feet of the disciples.)
   5. Read John 14:13-14. Is this an offer to do anything we ask of Jesus? (Look at the context we have just studied. Jesus tells us that if, in serving others, we ask for anything He will give it to us. This is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6.)
   6. Friend, have you been listening to Jesus’ advice in view of His impending death? Believing in Jesus is helping others, not just serving yourself. This was frustrating news to those who thought they were about to become the masters of the nation. But note this, Jesus’ service to others propelled Him to the highest position. In this we see the contrast between the methods of Satan and the method of Jesus. Why not decide on Jesus’ path to success?
3. Next week: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.