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True Authority and Power on Display in John 13

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3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Here you go world, it’s not as if Jesus was slowly realizing who He was, as so many people write or imply. Jesus was fully aware of His position, of His origin, and of His destination. Jesus knew that He had full authority over the entire world, and in the very next verse He strips down to the most shameful costume of a servant. Not just a servant, but a footwasher. If anyone were to touch any unclean thing, they would become ceremonially unclean. If anything were to be found on the road that was unclean, it would have been on the bottom of Peter’s feet.
But here is Jesus, all authority in Heaven and earth and under the earth, and he bears himself more than would be normal for dinner, and begins to wash feet. Feet of men who were competing and arguing about who was the best. Men who had stolen from Him and the others. Men who had tempted Him to sin against the Father. Men who told mothers to get their children away from Jesus. Men who would later that night swear upon something greater than themselves that they had no connection with Him.
Here is what the Lord looks like. This is True Power. This is True Authority and Beauty.
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
“Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.””
(Psa 2:1-6 NIV)
He will be installed at Calvary on a cross, and with it He will swallow up sin, death, and false authority for all time.

John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Here you go world, it’s not as if Jesus was slowly realizing who He was, as so many people write or imply. Jesus was fully aware of His position, of His origin, and of His destination. Jesus knew that He had full authority over the entire world, and in the very next verse He strips down to the most shameful costume of a servant. Not just a servant, but a footwasher. If anyone were to touch any unclean thing, they would become ceremonially unclean. If anything were to be found on the road that was unclean, it would have been on the bottom of Peter’s feet.

But here is Jesus, all authority in Heaven and earth and under the earth, and he bears himself more than would be normal for dinner, and begins to wash feet. Feet of men who were competing and arguing about who was the best. Men who had stolen from Him and the others. Men who had tempted Him to sin against the Father. Men who told mothers to get their children away from Jesus. Men who would later that night swear upon something greater than themselves that they had no connection with Him.

Here is what the Lord looks like. This is True Power. This is True Authority and Beauty.

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

“Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.””

(Psa 2:1-6 NIV)

He will be installed at Calvary on a cross, and with it He will swallow up sin, death, and false authority for all time.

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