HoHum:
Dave Thomas said: “I got my MBA long before my GED. I even have a photograph of me in my MBA graduation outfit; a snazzy knee length work apron. I guarantee you that I’m the only founder among America’s big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows him wielding a mop and a plastic bucket. That wasn’t a gag; it was a case of leading by example. At Wendy’s, MBA does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude. It’s how we define satisfying the customer through cleanliness, quality food, friendly service, and atmosphere.”
WBTU:
This morning we started with Judas in the Upper Room. That not where it begins.
Let’s back up and start at the beginning for the longest night of the Bible.
Thesis: From John 13:1-7 let’s talk about what Jesus knew, what Jesus did and then what Jesus taught
For instances:
What Jesus Knew (John 13:1,3, 11)
Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
The hour was upon Jesus. ““Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” John 12:27, NIV.
Jesus knew that he was rapidly approaching the most important moments of his life. He knew the pain and agony of the cross was near.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. In the upper room and the events that followed he offered the supreme demonstration of his love for them. His was a love that was action deep.
Vs. 3- Jesus knew 3 things:
1. that the Father had put all things under his power
2. that he had come from God
3. and was returning to God
Talking about this the past several weeks. Jesus knew all about the Passover Plan. Jesus knew who he was and why he was on earth. Jesus was not ignorant of the glory and authority that the Father had given him.
Because Jesus was secure in his own identity that he could do the lowest service. It is not great men who will not serve others, it is insecure men. These people will not serve in lowly tasks because they see them as a challenge to their identity. It is the self confident person who can risk being humble!
Vs. 11- Jesus knows about Judas. What does Jesus do with that information? Jesus does not distance himself from Judas. Jesus loves even Judas to the end. He does everything possible to bring Judas to repentance. He does the same to Judas as to the other disciples.
What Jesus Did (John 13:4-10)
John leaves out some cultural details that help us to understand. As one came into a house for a meal, the host would provide water and a servant to wash feet. Feet were dirty in Jesus’ day. Also when they ate they reclined at a small table and so feet were close to each other, not under a table. Feet were visible and smellable.
The basin and towel were there to wash feet. No servant to do this. One of the disciples should have assumed the role of a servant and washed the feet. They were too proud for that. Why? We find this was a matter of discussion on that night. “A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” Luke 22:24, NIV.
Jesus was the host and it was his last night with his disciples. However, no one offered to wash His feet. We would have responded with disgust. Jesus responded differently.
Vs. 4- Jesus took on the role of a servant. Jesus stripped to his loincloth, like a slave. The “towel” would have been a long piece of linen cloth, long enough for Jesus to have wrapped it about his waist and still used the free end to wipe the disciples’ feet.
Vs. 5- John narrates this in detail. To him they seem like steps leading down to the depth of humility. This whole scene was quite a contrast to the disciples self seeking and ambitious spirit that night.
Jesus washed all of the disciples feet, including Judas, and the last was Simon Peter. Peter’s being last heightens the dramatic effect of the dialogue between him and Jesus, since he has been watching all that has gone on up to this point (probably with increasing agitation).
Vs. 6-7: This was an example of humility and a symbol of the purification that the Lord accomplished for us by reason of his humiliation. The full meaning of the act was afterward revealed to the apostles by the HS. AFter the crucifixion Peter was able to understand fully the necessity of the humiliation of Jesus. Jesus’ work of humiliation began in the upper room.
How often some protest that they do not understand. Baptism is a good example. “I don’t see what baptism has to do with salvation. How can dipping in water be part of cleansing my soul? No baptism for me, thank you! I’ll take my chances on ‘pray through’ salvation and ‘let Jesus into my heart’ salvation.” So like Peter, some will have nothing to do with an action Jesus commanded because they just don’t “get it.”
Vs. 8- Jesus must cleanse us, or we cannot be his. And the cleansing must be on his terms, not ours. The foot washing was but a token of that greater cleansing to which we all must submit- cleansing that Jesus would make available through his humiliation on the cross. If Peter cannot embrace humiliation of the basin and towel, how will be embrace the humiliation of the cross? and without the cross humiliation, who of us has any chance of salvation?
Some people, who desperately need the church and need Jesus Christ, refuse like Peter. They are too proud to accept any assistance. There is no trouble that they cannot handle they say.
Don’t be surprised that when we serve others that some are not pleased with us. When we wash feet, we need to brace for some criticism- no matter how noble our motives may be.
Peter did not want to be washed and this humble act did not change Judas’ mind. However, don’t let a few bad reactions stop us from doing God’s will.
Vs. 9-10: Peter is going overboard as usual. Peter eventually learned to simply obey the Lord rather than offer better ideas. This is something we all need to learn.
What Jesus Taught (John 13:12-17)
Vs. 12- Jesus wanted the disciples to understand the significance of his actions both short term and long term.
Vs. 13- Jesus stresses his relationship to his disciples. Jesus is their teacher and Lord, no doubt about that. We are disciples, followers of Jesus Christ.
Vs. 14-15- Jesus set an example for us to follow. Jesus is saying, “Do As I have done” not “Do What I have done.” This means to do similar things. Jesus is not instituting a foot washing ceremony. Jesus is taking a familiar custom of the time and using it as an object lesson. He is using this foot washing in the upper room as a most appropriate way of showing the proper spirit of humble service. Might be something different in our day that washing feet
Vs. 16-17: Jesus is the Master, we are the servants. Jesus is saying that those who know and do these things will be blessed. The real blessing of the Christian life comes in service.
Jesus met the need here. He also goes beyond just physical things and meets our spiritual needs. The greatest human tragedy is for a person to never receive Christ and his mercy.
The second greatest tragedy is that a person receives Christ and his grace, but this never translates into service toward others. Some people are so selfish even after baptism. Sometimes people think that’s all this is about- getting my needs met, getting my feet washed. Never receive the blessing that Christ talks about.
A mark of spiritual maturity is when a Christian “takes off the bib and puts on the apron.” “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Mark 10:45, NIV.
What does it mean to wash the feet of others in our day? It means we humble ourselves- get down to where the need is- and then do something about it. It’s a whole lot easier to talk about service, think about service, fantasize about service, hear sermons about service, than to actually do service.
The blessing, the joy, the happiness, is not found in talking about it of hearing about it. It is found in actually doing it. Is there a need we can meet? Is there someone near us who needs his or her feet washed- some service that could make that person’s burden lighter?
The world tries unsuccessfully to be happy by indulging in selfish pursuits. Went on a short term mission trip to the Haitians in Fort Lauderdale. Did their VBS and worked hard at clearing a lot to build a church building.
I love going go Kings Island. Have a good time while I am there but I leave and those goods feelings, thrills, go away. No lasting effects. However, after I leave a trip like the one to the Haitians, I am blessed and those feelings last till this day. Went there in 1988. I worked hard in Florida and did not work at all at Kings Island, but I am blessed by my time in service. I am not so blessed by going to Kings Island.
“the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”” Acts 20:35, NIV. Dr. Karl Menninger, the world famous psychiatrist was answering questions after giving a lecture on mental health when one person asked, “What would you advise someone to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people expected the doctor to say, “Consult a psychiatrist.” Instead he said, “Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.”
