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John 13:17 - Humble Obedience Brings Blessing.

John 13:17 - Humble Obedience Brings Blessing.

John 13:17 (NKJV) If you know these things, blessed are you if 
you do them.  

John 13:17 (TNIV)  Now that you know these things, you will be 
blessed if you do them. 

John 13:17 (TEV)  Now that you know this truth, how happy you 
will be if you put it into practice! 

CONTEXT

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet: John 13:1-17.
The Meaning of Footwashing: John 13:12-20.

What the disciples knew (12-20). Jesus taught them a second 
lesson: true happiness comes from humble service. Jesus gave them an 
example that we must follow today (Phil. 2:1-11). [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re John 13] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis On Verse 17.

  In Bible times people walked on dusty roads. Washing the feet 
of guests was an ancient custom of hospitality that was performed 
by the household servants. It was a lowly job. So what was Jesus 
doing washing his disciples' feet? 
  Jesus came to demonstrate God's love, and one way he showed 
that love was by serving people. Washing the feet of the disciples 
was a loving act of humility. This was a reflection of who Jesus 
was. It was his whole purpose: "The Son of Man came not to be served 
but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" 
(Matthew 20:28, January 30).  
  This act set a precedent for how Jesus wanted his followers to 
act after he left them: "I have given you an example to follow. Do 
as I have done to you" (13:15). If the Son of God is willing to 
serve, then we his followers must also be willing to serve. Are you 
ready to follow Jesus' example? [The One Year Bible for New Believers 
re John 13:1-17] 

In the sermon on the mount Christ said, "Not every one that 
saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but 
he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 
7:21. The test of sincerity is not in words, but in deeds. Christ does 
not say to any man, What say ye more than others? but, "What do ye 
more than others?" Matt. 5:47. Full of meaning are His words, "If ye 
know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17. Words are 
of no value unless they are accompanied with appropriate deeds. 
This is the lesson taught in the parable of the two sons.  COL272 

This passage concludes Jesus teaching on foot washing i.e. 
Serving With Humility; now read this verse again. 

  Jonah didn't like the assignment God gave him. God directed 
him to leave his homeland and go to the enemy city of Nineveh, a 
hostile and evil center of idol worship. There Jonah was to warn the 
people of God's impending judgment and urge them to repent. The Hebrews 
hated the people of Nineveh, so the rebellious prophet fled in the 
opposite direction, hoping for a different word from God that was more to 
his liking. Instead, God was determined that his word to Jonah would 
be obeyed (Is 55:11). He spoke to Jonah again. His second message 
was the same as the first. However, during the interval, Jonah had 
been buffeted by storms and had traveled in the stomach of a fish for 
three days. This time, he was prepared to hear God again and do His 
bidding. 
  God also spoke to the prophet Jeremiah two times (Je 33:1-3). 
But Jeremiah accepted God's word to him the first time. The second 
time God spoke to him was to give him a fuller revelation of what He 
had first told him.  
  What God says to us next will depend on how we responded to 
His previous word to us. If, like Jonah, we disobeyed His earlier 
instructions, God will give them a second time. If we obeyed His first 
directive, as Jeremiah did, He will give us a fresh and deeper expression 
of His will (Mt 25:23). 
  If you have not received a fresh word from God, return to the 
last thing God told you and examine your obedience. Is the Lord still 
waiting for your obedience? Seek to be like Jeremiah, and properly 
respond to your Lord's instructions the first time. [Experiencing God 
Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re Jonah 3:1] 

Luke 11:28 (NLT)  He replied, "But even more blessed are all who 
hear the word of God and put it into practice." 

James 1:25 (NIV) But the man who looks intently into the perfect 
law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting 
what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. 
 

EXCELLENT MINI-VIDEO ON THIS TOPIC:

http://www.itiswritten.com/television#episodes/2162

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Songbirds - Lesson in Perseverance:

http://cid-f1a3c358417407da.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Songbird.pps 

Grace Notes:
http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

A Better Way to Live:
http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com