FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word
WEEKLY WORD
THE TESTIMONY OF A TOWEL
Part II
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
JOHN 13:6-10
KING JAMES VERSION
This sermon series began with introducing us to the servanthood of Jesus Christ by washing the disciples’ feet. John’s gospel in chapter 12 shows us how the body of Christ is being prepared by a woman with an alabaster box filled with precious nard or spikenard. Jesus said, “She has poured this on my body before my burial.” We transitioned from preparation of the body of Christ to His presentation to the body of Christ [referencing the disciples]. Jesus wants to leave a legacy for the discipleship to follow that is mentioned in vs. 15.
• 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
It is in part 2 of this message where we place the emphasis on the dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter that speaks to the “Purpose of the Towel.” Simon Peter asks Jesus a question that reveals the purpose for washing the disciples’ feet.
• 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
• Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
When looking at vs. 10, there is purpose revealed in one word mentioned twice. The word “wash.” The word wash in the Greek has two meanings that are represented in the text. The first wash speaks to “taking a bath or to bathe” while the second wash speaks to the washing of a specific area. The revelation of the towel’s purpose suggests that the first wash (bathing) speaks to salvation. It suggests that once we are saved, we are always saved. The second wash reveals sanctification that speaks to the process of addressing dirty areas of our lives.
As believers, salvation requires a washing by the blood of Jesus. However, salvation does not remove temptation that allow for sin. This is where there is a need for sanctification that allows for a daily washing of those areas in our lives that do not require the blood but water.
Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor