Cornerstone Church January 8/9, 2011
“WHO YOU GONNA SERVE?”
John 13:1-17
Dr. Robertson McQuilkin was for many years the president of Columbia Bible College and Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. In about 1980 Dr. McQuilkin began to see signs of memory loss in his wife, Muriel. For the next decade he watched as his wife’s career of conference speaking, radio shows, and television began to erode and disappear. In the mid-1980’s she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and her deterioration continued to advance rapidly.
This situation naturally posed a crisis for Dr. McQuilkin. As president of a thriving college and graduate school, how could he meet the needs of both his wife and his job? …He resigned from Columbia to care for his wife full time. ‘It was a choice between two loves,’ he writes. Columbia wisely and compassionately supported his decision and began seeking his replacement.
The striking thing about McQuilkin’s personal story is its theological underpinnings. For some, he was choosing a task at remarkable social and professional cost. He was throwing away his career. Not so. His decision was grounded in God’s love for him, experienced also through Muriel’s unselfish forty-two-year love for him. This made his service a joy.
‘It is more than keeping promises and being fair. As I watch her brave descent into oblivion, Muriel is the joy of my life. Daily I discern new manifestations of the kind of person she is, the wife I always loved. I also see fresh manifestations of God’s love – the God I long to love more fully.’”
Life Application Commentary on John quoting
“Living by Vows” now “A Promise Kept” by Dr. Robertson McQuilkin
What a compelling example of love in action!
True selfless servanthood!
Genuine love and devotion on display (for better or worse)
It seems almost surreal in our world today! The stuff of fiction and fantasy!
Our society produces shows like:
Survivor
American Idol
America’s Next Top Model
The Apprentice
Where is the producer who is generating a shows like:
“Who Wants to Be a Servant?”
Being on top, the leader of the pack, numero uno, the big cheese, the head honcho, seems to be an important commodity these days!
WORTH FOR MANY IS MEASURED BY:
Popularity: How well your name is known!
Power: How many people you lead or command!
Prestige: What you own, drive or where you live!
This spirit can even creep into the life of churches. Today one of the largest niches of books produced for Christian leaders isn’t commentaries and works on the Bible. It is books on leadership and church growth.
The truth is that being a servant takes more guts and fortitude than selfishly clawing your way to the top!
Biblically speaking, individuals like Dr. McQuilkin should be our role models and heroes!
* God isn’t impressed with how many people serve you in your occupation or ministry position.
* God is more impressed with how many people YOU serve!
With God the way UP is still down!
Today we will Celebrate Communion.
However, before we participate in the LORD’s Supper there are important lessons Jesus wants us to learn and apply to our lives found in John 13:1-17.
If the LORD Jesus Christ humbled Himself leaving the glories of heaven where Angelic Hosts (beyond our comprehension) waited him on 24/7, to take on human flesh that He might die the most horrible death known to mankind to redeem us, certainly we can love and serve one another!
Salvation, Worship, Attending Church is not about us!
It is about the LORD Jesus Christ before Whom we must all bow our knee (whether a believer or an unbeliever, agnostic or atheist) and confess Him as LORD to the Glory of God the FATHER!
In the words of that famous Theologian, Bob Dylan:
“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
Bob Dylan
“Gotta Serve Somebody”
from album – Slow Train Coming
“Who You Gonna Serve?”
OUTLINE (by R. Kent Hughes):
THE HEART OF THE SERVANT – John 13:1-3
THE EXAMPLE OF THE SERVANT – John 13:4-11
THE CHALLENGE OF THE SERVANT – John 13:12-17
Outline taken from John by Dr. R. Kent Hughes, pgs 312 – 315
THE HEART OF THE SERVANT
John 13:1-3
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
CONTEXT AND SETTING:
Jesus public ministry is shutting down. He has spent 3.5 years preaching, teaching and healing proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
Earlier in the week He was rejected as Messiah as He entered Jerusalem.
This portion of the Gospel of John comes right before the LORD Jesus Christ was arrested and crucified.
There is a lengthy discussion related to the chronology of this text that we do not have time for today. Jesus and His disciples are observing the Passover.
They are in the upper room (no paparazzi or religious leaders here)
This is the last official Passover that needed to be celebrated!
Jesus knowing His time was short had asked the disciples to finalize the details of their last meal together.
Matt. 26:18-19 NIV He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ “So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
The Passover reflected the great deliverance God the Father brought the Children of Israel when they were lead out of captivity in Egypt.
After this night the Cross of Christ, will become the greatest symbol of deliverance and hope for sinful mankind on the earth!
Jesus’ authority is clearly seen in 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;
It was love for His disciples that prompted Jesus to teach his own several important lessons. Glance back to John 13:1
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
This is text of what is called the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17).
Lessons from the Upper Room:
* Humility / Service
* Love
* The Holy Spirit
* Heaven
* Abiding with Christ
* Importance of Prayer
As Jesus is pouring out the full extent of His love on His disciples there are several distractions creating a dark backdrop to this setting.
Uncertainty about the future (smell of death is in the air)
Satan already prompted Judas to betray Jesus
Apostles were arguing earlier about who is the greatest
Luke 22:24-26 NIV Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
Jockeying for position and prominence
This wasn’t the first time.
One time the Mother of James and John (Jesus’ aunt) came to see if her sons could sit on the right and left of Jesus in His Kingdom.
Seeking prominence is probably what opened the door of Judas’ heart that allowed Satan to influence him.
Undone detail – someone to wash feet (part of Passover and proper decorum)
THE EXAMPLE OF THE SERVANT
John 13:4-11
“…so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
This doesn’t make any sense!
The Righteous, Holy, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Sovereign Son of God was washing the feet of His disciples!
The LORD Jesus Christ, the One before Whom the Angelic Hosts cried out:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Isa. 6:3b
Jesus the One that John the Baptist said:
John 1:27 NIV He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
Everyone present knew someone should have filled the role of washing the guests’ feet.
The role of washing feet was assigned to a slave or servant.
It was so menial a task in the ancient world that Jewish slaves were not asked to do it. They allowed gentile slaves to wash the feet of their guests.
A wife might wash her husband’s feet or children their parent’s feet out of devotion.
Washing feet was important (people reclined at a table when they ate).
Think about some people’s feet you’ve been around!
Now add to the mix dust, dirt and animal waste to the mix!
One by one the Apostles entered and left the task to someone else! Let George do it!
They had more important matters on their heart. Like who was the greatest?
Who was going to be on a box of Wheaties?
Who was going to be “Time Magazine’s Person of the Year?”
The incorrect focus of their hearts kept them from ministering to one another.
You can almost hear Jesus saying, “Men, Men, don’t you get it yet?”
Jesus:
Takes off His outer Clothing
Wraps a towel around His waist
Pours the Water into a basin
Washes and Dries their feet!
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil. 2:5-11 NIV
Several authors draw the correlation between this action and Jesus’ incarnation.
Jesus rose from dinner to serve
Jesus rose from His throne – left heaven to come to earth
Jesus laid aside his garments to wash their feet
Jesus laid aside His glory on a mission to pay our penalty for sin
Jesus put His garments back on
Jesus after to His resurrection will return the garments of His glorified state
Imagine Jesus making His way around the group. Looking into the eyes of each disciple as He washed their feet.
Knowing Judas would betray Him
Knowing Thomas would doubt His resurrection until he saw Jesus
Knowing many would be martyred for Him
“He came to Simon Peter…”
John 13:6a NIV
Here is another one of those Kodak Moments!
Simon Peter. He is as predictable as a Seiko watch. One, two, three, four, five, here it comes, Peter has something to say:
“…who said to him,
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Now Jesus gives Peter an out here. Listen to what Jesus will say. Peter could have taken the hint and not gone any further. It is a perfect time to retreat!
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing,
but later you will understand.”
John 13:7 NIV
Jesus is talking about the time after His Resurrection. But Peter hasn’t received the message and forges ahead!
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
John 13:8a NIV
NO!!!!!! Absolutely Not!!!! Again this is emphatic with the use of a double negative. Kenneth Wuest translates the verse this way:
“You shall by no means wash my feet, no, never!”
I do not think Peter is going to be happy with Jesus’ answer:
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you,
you have no part with me.”
John 13:8b NIV
No Fellowship
No Relationship
No Connectedness
Again, Peter, swings from one extreme to another.
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied,
“not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
John 13:9 NIV
If a little cleaning is good for me, then a bath will do even more!
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
John 13:10-11 NIV
“A person who has had a bath needs
only to wash his feet…”
This Scripture supports Eternal Security.
“Had a bath” is in the perfect tense and equals a completed action!
Jesus doesn’t write your Name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, then erase it after you have sinned too many times, and then writes it down again when you repent only to white it out again. In my case, the page would have a hole worn through it!
Jesus is saying that those who have been clean through regeneration no longer need to take a bath! They stand completely justified before the LORD!
All of this would have made sense to the Apostles.
* They would have taken a bath before the dinner.
* They were already clean.
* On the way over to dinner their feet got dirty from the dirt and sand on the roads.
Jesus is saying that if you want to keep your fellowship with Me close than work on your sanctification daily!
DAILY AS WE PASS THROUGH THE WORLD WE SIN:
A lustful look or glance
A lie told!
Some gossip spread!
Pride exhibited.
Lack of gratitude
Simply doing things our own way, in our own strength = sin!
Nita Anne Olson Writes:
“My feet have become soiled by trudging through swamps of anger, resentment, and bitterness. They are splattered with the muck of indifference to other people’s pain and the realization of my inaction. I have sunk to my knees in the quicksand of self-pity, afraid I could never get out. These callused feet are dirty, cracked, and painful, and their stench is enough to make my eyes water. I am mortified that Jesus should even see them this way. My first reaction is like Peter’s. I, too, wail, ‘Oh, Lord, I can’t have You wash my feet!’ I find myself wanting to warn Jesus, to talk Him out of it, as though He does not know what He is doing. Can He truly realize what I walk through?
Even so, Jesus assures me that He genuinely wants to cleanse my feet. He is not ashamed of me. He sees where my feet have been and why. He sees where they have yet to go. He sees their ultimate destination. Though He knows better than anyone all I have walked through, yet He kneels before me and asks permission to wash my feet.
His humility is contagious. I am amazed by His matchless love for me, demonstrated in this very practical overflowing of grace and healing.”
“May I Wash Your Feet? What would you do if Jesus knelt before you and began to wash your feet?
By Nina Anne Olson – Discipleship Journal
1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
THE CHALLENGE OF THE SERVANT
John 13:12-17
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus presents a logical argument
If I the greater (LORD of all) wash your feet
You the lesser (the creature) should wash one another’s feet!
Pastor Robert (Bobby) Yates of the Rock Church felt called by God to start the Luv-Em-Up Ministry to adults with physical and developmental needs.
He tells this story while on an outing:
Tommy, a developmentally disabled man in his forties who was usually laughing, looked shocked and humiliated. ‘I’m sorry, Pastor Bobby. I pooped my pants.’
Bobby’s stomach flipped. Oh no. What do I do now?
The men and women of Luv-Em-Up followed quietly and waited on benches outside as Bobby led Tommy into a nearby men’s room…
‘Here, Pastor Bobby. Let me do that for you.’
Bobby looked up and saw Carter, another Luv-Em-Up member, start to take off his jacket and roll up his sleeves. Carter was in his mid-fifties with gray hair. Like Tommy he was developmentally disabled. But Carter was pretty good at communicating. He was always first to welcome newcomers with a big smile and sit with them.
Bobby stood starting at Carter for a moment, nausea rising in his throat.
‘Pastor Bobby, you have to move so that I can take care of Tommy,’ Carter said.
‘Are you sure, Carter?’ Carter looked at Tommy and smiled. Bobby couldn’t believe what he heard next. ‘It would be my pleasure. I love him.’
Pastor Bobby later thanked Carter. ‘Don’t thank me, Pastor Bobby. He is my friend. I love him,’ he said again.
When the group returned to their board-and-care home, Bobby was helping Tommy out of the van. ‘Pastor Bobby?’ he said with sad eyes. ‘Carter prayed for me in the bathroom when he cleaned me up. He loves me, huh?’
Bobby was blown away.
‘My life changed that day,’ he would later say. ‘My level of love and service was brought to a new level. I still, to this day, seek that kind of unconditional love.’”
“Do Something” by Miles McPherson, pgs 97-99
The role of a servant is not:
* An Optional Assignment
* Something for Extra Credit
* For Brownie points with God and others
It is the point of the Jesus’ lesson!
Imagine what it would be like if we took the Word of God seriously and became “Doers of the Word and not hearers only”
Imagine the transformation that would happen in:
* Our Marriages
* Our Families
* Our Church
* Our Community
* Our World
Instead of seeking to be the greatest through popularity, power and prestige we put on the spiritual garments of a slave wholly devoted to Christ and wash one another’s feet?
* Serving for the Glory of Christ alone!
* Serving one another out of love!
* As leaders leading the church as servants!
Letting go of:
* Selfishness
* Pride
* Ego
* Me first / self-promotion
Rick Warren offers this insight:
* Real Servants make themselves available to serve.
* Real Servants pay attention to needs.
* Real Servants do their best with what they have.
* Real Servants do every task with equal dedication.
* Real Servants are faithful to their ministry.
* Real Servants maintain a low profile.
“The Purpose Driven Life” by Dr. Rick Warren, pgs 258 – 262
We do not come to church merely to have our own needs met.
We come to church to worship the living and true God
We come because we are Christians eternally identified with Christ.
We are slaves of Jesus Christ.
This is the key to being a powerful witness for Christ in the world!
Look back to John 13:14-17
Remember this is Jesus speaking.
Jesus is teaching His followers how they should live.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Now that you know these things,
you will be blessed if you do them.
“Who You Gonna Serve?”
It may be you
It may be the devil
It may be the LORD
“But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”
Bob Dylan
{Jesus Says,} “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Rev. 22:12 NIV
