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SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
Resistance to God's Work
John 13:1-17
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart
from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son
of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to
God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe
them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to
him, `Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' 7Jesus answered, `You do not know now
what I am doing, but later you will understand.' 8Peter said to him, `You will never
@
wash my feet.' Jesus answered, `Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.'
Why is Peter so resistant to Jesus' leadership
in this scene? How do you read Peter?
9Simon Peter said to him, `Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!'
(sympathetically, critically, identifying with him
10Jesus said to him, `One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,
or not, etc.)
but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' 11For he knew who
was to betray him; for this reason he said, `Not all of you are clean.'
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table,
he said to them, `Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and
Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an
example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants
are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent
them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
How does Jesus deal with Peter's
misunderstanding?
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #49

@
SKETCHES of Leadership o o o o >
Resistance to God's Work
John 13:1-17
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart
from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son
of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to
God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe
them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to
him, `Lord, are you going to wash my feet?' 7Jesus answered, `You do not know now
what I am doing, but later you will understand.' 8Peter said to him, `You will never
@
wash my feet.' Jesus answered, `Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.'
Why is Peter so resistant to Jesus' leadership
in this scene? How do you read Peter?
9Simon Peter said to him, `Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!'
(sympathetically, critically, identifying with him
10Jesus said to him, `One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,
or not, etc.)
but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' 11For he knew who
Peter has declared that Jesus is the messiah
was to betray him; for this reason he said, `Not all of you are clean.'
but he has never really comprehended
what that means. Peter thinks that Jesus
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table,
is going to release Palestine from Roman
he said to them, `Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and
oppression through impressive displays of
power, which is why he is so impatient at
Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have
Jesus' characteristic but annoying posture
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an
of servanthood. It is also possible that Peter
sees more quickly than others that (since
example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants
servants are no greater than their masters) if
are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent
Jesus washes their feet, they will likely have
to do so as well.
them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
How does Jesus deal with Peter's
misunderstanding?
Jesus is patient but fi rm. He has compassion
on Peter, but he isn't going to let Peter's
idea about what should happen win out.
Peter's loyalty ("You shall never wash my
feet!" "Lord, not my feet only but also...!")
is cute, but misguided. Ultimately, Peter
had an easier time thinking of himself
washing Jesus' feet rather than the other
way around. But that kind of relationship
was not what Jesus was offering. "Peter, if
I don't serve you, you have nothing to do
with me." Without force or manipulation,
Jesus persuades Peter that the kind of
resistance he was offering was ill-informed.
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #49

SKETCHES
R @
of Leadership o o o o >
esistance to God's Work

"You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
Recall times in Peter's life when he misunderstood what Jesus was doing:
What
was
Peter's
idea?
What
was
Jesus'?
Luke 5:4-11: The response to the catch of fi sh
Lord depart from me, for I am a sinful man.
You are going to be following me.
The Christ: conquering hero, able to kick
Mark 8:27-38: Jesus' identity
Suffering messiah, preparing to die to save
out Romans
people
Mark 9:2-8: the transfi guration
I've got a good idea: let's build three booths
God: Just be silent, Peter, and listen to Jesus
and just stay up here!
(about being the Christ)
Mark 14:27-31: "You will all fall away"
I won't fall away--I'm prepared to die for
No Peter--I will die for you. You will even deny
you.
you know me 3 times.
John 18:10-12: the scene in the garden
Takes off a sword and ineptly fl ails at an
Heals the servant and tells Peter that swords
unarmed servant
aren't necessary
What I've declared clean is no longer unclean!
Acts 10:9-16: praying on the roof
"Never, Lord, do I eat unclean foods!"
Consider these Gentiles ...
Others?
@Refl ect on times recently when you saw Jesus at work but did not know what he was up to. Or when you disregarded Jesus'
work because you didn't understand it. Or when you labeled what was happening one way until you came to see it another.
How did Jesus get through? How attentive are you to his work in ways you don't immediately understand?
INTERVARSITY ®
Sketches of Leadership #49
©2007 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 6400 Schroeder Road, P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895
tel 608.274.9001 email info@intervarsity.org web www.intervarsity.org

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Sketch 49 Resistance to God's Work

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