Our Purpose: Ministry
Text: Jn. 13:3-17
Introduction
1. Read John 13:3-17
2. Illustration: The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and useless except as a relic. A Christian’s unwillingness to serve may soon destroy his capacity for usefulness.
3. We have said over the past several weeks that our purpose as a church is:
• Witness
• Worship
• Fellowship
• Discipleship
• Ministry
1. This morning we are going to talk about the final aspect of our purpose: ministry.
Proposition: As the body of Christ, we are to minister to one another’s needs.
Transition: There are three reasons we should minister to one another. First, we should minister to one another because...
I. Jesus Models It (3-5)
A. Began to Wash the Disciples Feet
1. Jesus, the Son of God, knew his origin and his destiny. He knew that he would soon be returning to his Father.
2. Being assured of his own destiny, he focused his attention on the disciples and showed them what it meant for him to become their Servant and for them to serve one another.
3. The immediate situation was that they had come to the banquet room directly from the street.
a. Ordinarily on such an occasion the host would have delegated a servant to the menial task of removing the sandals of the guests and washing their feet.
b. This task was so menial that according to some Jewish sources, Jewish slaves were exempt and the job kept for the Gentiles (Burge, NIV Application Commentary, 369).
4. At the time so near to the revelation of Jesus’ true identity and glory, he set aside what was rightfully his and expressed his character through an act of humility.
a. He got up, took off his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist like an apron.
b. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.
5. What was unusual about this act was that Jesus, the Master and Teacher, was doing it for his disciples, as the lowliest slave would do.
B. Servant Ministry
1. Illustration: Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. Mark Twain.
2. The reason that we should be involved in ministering to one another is because Jesus set the example, and if we are going to follow him, we have to do what he did.
3. If Jesus did it, so we also should do it.
a. If Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, was willing to serve, we ought to be willing to serve.
b. If Jesus was willing to do menial tasks, like washing someone’s feet, then we ought to be willing to do it too.
4. Phil. 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5. Again, we need to ask the right questions.
a. The question shouldn’t be "Am I willing to clean the church,? but "Would Jesus be willing to clean the church?"
b. The question shouldn’t be "Am I willing to help with VBS,?" but "Would Jesus be willing to help with VBS?"
c. The question shouldn’t be "Am I willing to call someone that I noticed wasn’t in church last Sunday and encourage them,?" but "Would Jesus be willing to call them?"
Transition: The next reason that we should be willing to minister to one another is because...
II. Jesus Shows the Necessity of It (6-12)
A. You Have No Part With Me
1. All the disciples accepted the washing until Jesus came to Peter, who questioned Jesus: "Lord, are you washing my feet?"
a. The response of Simon Peter may have been representative of the common feeling that Jesus ought not to demean himself by washing their feet. - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
b. Peter felt that Jesus should not degrade himself by assuming such a position.
2. Jesus did not provide Peter with an explanation, other than that Peter would understand the significance of the washing some time in the future.
a. Later in the New Testament, Peter explains his understanding of what Jesus had done.
b. 1 Peter 5:5-6 Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
c. Peter came to realize that humble service meant obedience to Christ. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he was demonstrating his ultimate sacrificial act--giving his life for them on the cross.
3. Again, Peter refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet when he said "You shall never wash my feet!"
a. Seeing the Master behave like a slave confused Peter. And Peter did not feel worthy that his Master should be acting like a slave toward him!
b. This was not an expression of arrogance but of confusion. Peter felt he should be washing the Master’s feet--not the other way around.
4. However, Jesus tells Peter "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
a. Jesus meant that unless Peter submitted to him and allowed Jesus to minister in this way, Peter would never learn the lesson of humility.
b. Jesus response "expresses the necessity, not only for the cleansing of Peter’s feet to make him socially acceptable for the dinner, but also for the cleansing of his personality to make him fit for the kingdom of God." - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:
B. Willingness to be Served
1. Illustration: George Washington Carver, the scientist who developed hundreds of useful products from the peanut: "When I was young, I said to God, ’God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ’That knowledge is reserved for me alone.’ So I said, ’God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ’Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And he told me."
2. There is another side of ministry: that of being humble enough to let someone else minister to you.
3. Sometimes we get to the point where we figure there is nothing else anyone can teach us.
a. This is a dangerous position to be in because once we become un-teachable our souls become hardened.
b. Just like Peter, we need to be willing to be served.
4. Then there is the other side of humility: we think that we’re not good enough to be ministered to.
a. We think that we are so sinful that we are not worthy to be ministered to by anyone.
b. The devil tries to get you to believe that you are a lost cause, but there are no lost causes with God.
c. You are worthy simply because you have been made worthy by the blood of Jesus.
5. Regardless of what side of this issue we are on, we need to be humble enough to be willing to be served.
Transition: The final reason that we should be willing to minister to one another is because...
III. Jesus Commands It (13-17)
A. That You Should Do As I Have Done
1. In verses 13-14, Jesus says, "You call me Master and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet."
a. "Master" and "Lord" are both titles of respect that placed Jesus on a level above the disciples.
b. Jesus emphasized the fact that if he, whom they regarded as their leader, had stooped to serve their needs, they should do the same for one another. - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
2. Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet demonstrated love in action.
a. Jesus was their Teacher and Lord, meaning he was on a higher level than they; yet he assumed a position of humility and service because he loved those he served.
b. Jesus was trying to teach them that they were never to big or to small to serve or be served.
3. In verse 15, he says "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you."
4. Jesus commanded his disciples to wash each other’s feet--to serve one another in love according to the example he set.
a. To refuse to serve others, to refuse to humble yourself, no matter how high your position, is to place yourself above Jesus.
b. Jesus has commanded us to minister to one another.
5. The "example" does not necessarily imply the institution of footwashing as an ordinance in the church.
a. John calls this act an "example," which implies that the emphasis is on the inner attitude of humble and voluntary service for others. - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
b. Perhaps this is why Paul exhorted the Philippians: "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, … and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8).
B. Follow Jesus Example
1. Illustration: A father decided to get his little five year-old girl a new bike for her birthday. As she sets off to ride for the first time, he tells her, “I have just one rule. Do not ride your bike into oncoming traffic on the highway.” Now, it’s not as if the girl would turn to her father and say, “I hate you! Why do you always have all these rules!” No, the girl knows that the father has placed rules in her life, so she can be safe. It is the same way with God. God wants you to live life to the full, and He has given us His commands so that we might be protected, grow, and live a life in love. So we must realize the beauty of what we often label as commands and requirements.
2. Jesus has commanded us to minister to the needs of others and to be actively involved in the ministry of the church because he knows that is what it takes to make it work.
3. The church works when the people in the church take an active interest in the ministry of the church.
4. If we are going to be the kind of church that God has called us to be, then it is going to take all of us doing our part.
5. If we are going to be the kind of church that God wants us to be, then we have got to be actively involved in some way in the ministry of the church.
Transition: God has called all of us to be minsters!
Conclusion
1. As the body of Christ, we are called to minister to one another’s needs because he has:
a. Modeled It
b. Show the Necessity of It
c. Commanded It
2. How are you fulfilling this purpose?
3. How are you following Jesus example?
