As I recited from memory the following scripture, I also washed the feet of a male teen on stage for dramatic effect. It added greatly to the message.
John 13
1It 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.
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12When 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. 13"You call me ’Teacher’ and ’Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Turn with me to
Matthew 26
We started out this journey to the cross by standing along side the road as Jesus made his Triumphal Entry. Palm branches, Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Last week the scene changed to Jesus’ living classroom as we learned some very important lessons about life from the master teacher.
This week we are in the upper room.
Jesus shows the full extent of his love, the Word says.
Let’s see what happens next-
20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom."
30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
A. Service is an expression of Love.
We live in a self-service world.
Self service gas stations.
Self service fast food.
Now you can even check yourself out at the grocery store.
We have totally lost the idea of service in our society today.
Yet Jesus reminds us of the value of service as he humbly washed his disciples feet. And when he is done with this task he tells his disciples "Now that I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet."
Jesus was the Son of God.
He knew he was from God.
He knew he was returning to God.
He knew that God had put all things under his power.
He deserved to be able to stay in heaven and never have to leave to come to earth for you and I.
He deserved to have the angels waiting on him night and day.
He deserved the very best, the very highest, the most glorious.
He deserved to have the chief seat at the pass over meal.
He was the guest of honor.
But Jesus wanted to share a message with his disciples that power and position are not nearly as strong and meaningful to God as is love. Love, love, love. It always has been and always will be about love. The entire Bible is a love story, God loving mankind and doing whatever it takes to save them.
Here at the pass over meal Jesus proclaims loud and clear-
Service is an expression of love.
Jesus tells us here in Peebles, Ohio, 2003. If you really want to love one another, the best way to express it is service. We read about Jesus washing his disciples feet and we shrug it off, isn’t that precious. He didn’t literally mean for us to wash each other’s feet. He just meant be nice to one another. But that is not what Jesus said. He said-
Now that I your teacher and your Lord, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I think we ought to obey. I would encourage you, wash one another’s feet.
We did this in Jamaica. Shana washed the gals feet, I washed the guys feet. It was a truly humbling, moving experience. We wanted to take Jesus at His word. Jesus was true to his word when he said “You will be blessed if you do these things.” It was a blessing.
Service is an expression of love.
Jesus could have just told his disciples he loved them.
He could have said nice things to them.
He could have bought them nice gifts.
He could have hugged them.
He could have started a fan club them for them.
What did he do? He served them.
If you want to show your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ, the truest expression is service.
Service requires:
Humility
Time
Effort
Sacrifice
B. The Lord’s Supper is an expression of love.
How many of us would invite our enemies over for dinner. I would if I were cooking, that would be the perfect revenge. But most of us would not. But Jesus expressed his love for his disciples, even for Judas through this time of. We call it Communion, or The Lord’s Supper.
Communion or The Lord’s Supper is an expression of love.
God expresses his love for us in it.
He loves us enough that he sent his son for us.
He loves us enough that he would allow his perfectly innocent son to die.
He loves us enough to allow us to partake each and every Lord’s Day.
We express our love for God in it.
The way we come around this table says alot about our love for God.
Do we take it seriously?
Do we focus on Christ and his sacrifice for us.
Do we weep over our sinfulness and unworthiness?
Do praise and thank God for the privilege of the table?
OR
Do we come in hurried?
Do we come in thinking about what we will do when church is finally over?
Do we come in not caring that there is unrepentant sin in our lives?
The Bible is very clear that we need to carefully examine our lives before partaking.
It doesn’t mean that we are perfect, but that we are right with Christ.
When we come around the table, we have the opportunity to express our love for God in a very real way. The Lord’s Supper is an expression of love.
The Bible says that we partake of Communion- proclaiming the Lord’s death and resurrection until he returns! It is a celebration meal, it is a remembrance meal, it is an intimate time of fellowship with God. Most of all it is an expression of love.
Even though we partake as a group, during communion time, it is just you and God.
C. Worship is an expression of love.
The final verse we read here is They went out to Mount of Olives and sung a hymn.
Worship is an expression of love. They sang together, praising God.
I will tell you what didn’t happen-
They didn’t argue about the style of worship here.
They didn’t argue because they “didn’t know that song.”
They didn’t grumble because “it wasn’t in the bulletin.”
No, they just loved one another, loved God and expressed it in worship.
Worship is a way to tell God how you feel about him. You say “Well I am not a singer, so I don’t sing during Church.” Let me ask you- “Do you love God? Then sing.”
God doesn’t care if you can or cannot sing, he cares if you are willing to express your love to him through worship.
I truly believe the way we worship says a lot about how we feel about God.
If we worship like we are all half asleep and bored, I think that says a lot about how we feel about God.
If we worship like we are so excited to be here, and we raise the roof on this place, I think that says a lot about how we feel about God.
TURN WITH ME TO MATTHEW 26:
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
One final expression of love:
D. Prayer is an expression of love.
Why couldn’t the disciples stay awake and pray with Jesus?
It wasn’t because they didn’t love him. On the contrary another gospel tells us that they were exhausted from grief, knowing what was to come. So exhausted they could not stay awake.
I used to think it was a sin to fall asleep praying, perhaps it is the best way to fall asleep. Unless it is 2 in the afternoon and I am in my office.
Prayer is an expression of love.
Jesus went and prayed in the garden. So many sermons have been preached and so many things have been said about this garden encounter.
The human side of Jesus coming through.
Being so grieved he sweat drops of blood.
I see love. I see Jesus expressing His love to God through prayer. Father, you know I don’t want to die, but I love you so much, I will die if that is your will.
Do you love God enough to let his will be done in your life, and not you own will?
Or do you try to avoid God’s will in your life because of what it might cost you?
Jesus expressed his love for God through his prayer. We have the blessing of prayer to communicate our love to God. I believe that is the primary purpose of prayer.
We misuse prayer so often, we make out our shopping list of wants and needs and then hit God’s mall. Is it wrong to ask God for things? Not at all, the word tells us to make requests, supplications, to God. But to pray and not communicate to God our love for him is a serious error. He knows what we need, he knows what we want. He knows if we love him or not. But he wants to hear it.
My wife knows, hopefully that I love her, but that doesn’t mean I never need to tell her.
Prayer is an expression of our love for God.
Come into the upper room today, walk through that Garden? In what way do you most need to express your love to God and to your brothers and sister in Christ today?
Is it through service? Is it by taking communion more seriously? Is it by allowing your worship to be a true reflection of your love for God? Is it by developing a real prayer life?
If Jesus is not your Lord today, express your love for him, by taking him as your savior.
Confessing him, repenting of your sins, and being immersed into him. Jesus expressed his love for you by dying and rising from the dead, now it is your turn.
