Jhn 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for I AM.
This is one of the most astounding bible verses you may ever encounter. In fact every time I look at it I am amazed by the fact that the apostles do not fall flat at Jesus feet. What is even more amazing is the context in which the statement is made. Did you miss it? Let us take a deeper look.
Many scholars say Jesus never claimed to be God. (YHWH) While it is true that Jesus never said “I am God” exactly in the way quoted, He did say he was God; in many ways, and many times.
To give you a sense of why John 13:13 is so profound I will refer you to another verse.
In John chapter eight Jesus is having a “discussion” with the Pharisees. It is not going well for the Pharisees, shortly after they disparaged Jesus’ lineage He had a frank discussion with them who their real father was. Since the Jews could not win the argument they decided to accuse Jesus of having a devil. Jesus exposes their dishonesty, and dishonor. Then He talks about His true nature, about how Abraham saw his day and rejoiced in it. They were baffled, as their response indicates.
Jhn 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus’ retort will blow them away.
Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
The Pharisees give us a hand whenever Jesus says something extremely controversial.
Jhn 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
That was Jesus claiming to be deity. You can’t miss it because the religious Jewish authority won’t let you. Where else do we see I AM?
Exd 3:14 And GOD(YHWH) said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
So in both John chapter 8, and John 13:13 we see a claim to deity. You may not agree with me yet about John 13:13. Here is another passage.
Jhn 18:4-7 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I AM. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I AM, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Wow, can you imagine the power? I’m amazed they could get back to their feet afterwards. Jesus lets these guards arrest Him. They had no power over Him.
The context of John 13.
Jhn 13:4-17
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean." So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for I AM. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
This is the I AM of the bible, the Logos of God, the Son of God WASHING FEET! What humility, what grace. In the temple system, once the blood sacrifice was made the priest had only to ceremonially wash using the bronze laver. This is a similar picture. Jesus displays two concepts.
Even though nothing can separate us from God’s love, and nothing can add to or take away from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we still need our feet washed to have communion with God. What does that mean? Confess your sins to Him daily, and He will wash you. “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.”
Second is this. This our Jesus, our I AM has displayed that the system of God (YHWH) is upside down compared to the system of the world. The one who is greatest in the entire Universe washed the feet of those twelve men. The one who has legions of angels at His command; the one who breathed life into creation wants to wash our feet daily.
I hope you consider letting Him.
Jess
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