“A Model To Follow”
April 2, 2000 AM - Danny L. Williams
Read
John 13:1-20
Read the over head…..
Over the next several week’s this is the challenge that is before us.
The book of John is divided into two section’s you could say.
The first 11-12 chapter’s deal with Jesus’ public ministry and the
But John 11:54 say’s that Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews.
He realized that his time was short and that the Jews wanted to kill him.
So he pulled back to spend time with his disciples and to continue to develop his intimate relationship with them.
In Fact from Chapter 13: on is only a few hour’s in the life of Christ in a span over 33 yr’s.
But John has given us a great deal of insight into the last few hour’s of Jesus.
And one of those is the account we have just read about what many call the last supper or the institution of the Lord’s supper.
Now what I want us to look at today is the four characteristics that are displayed by Christ in this 13th chapter
First of all If we are going to be a friend Like Jesus was….Friend’s------------
Serve In Love
There are three ingredient’s of Love I want to share with you… in your notes….
Number 1 is that Jesus’ Love and friend’s love is:
1. Undeterred
“He continued to love them right to the end”
John 13:1 (The Message)
It has been said and we talked about this last week, that If you have 2 or 3 friend’s in life, then you are a fortunate person.
See: most of us have acquaintances but few of us have real friends.
The definition of a friend is someone that knows you and still likes you……
A friend is someone that you can just be your self around.
A friend is someone who will love you till the end..
Even when you act like a JERK>>>>>
And all of us do……
See: we all have those moment’s of
lapsing into la la land….
Secondly Jesus’ Love and a friend’s love is
2. Unconditional
“Having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son to betray Him John 13:2
Now we read here in Vs. 3-4 Jesus is about to was his disciples feet.
Question Did Jesus wash Judas’ Feet?
SEE: If that had been me and I had gotten to Judas’ feet, I would have been tempted to pull the Hairs.
Now I’m just being honest…
I think I might just even pass over him because This guy was about to betray me…
But Jesus washed his feet also…
That is unconditional Love.
This love is not based on If you treat me nice then I will treat you nice.
If you say nice things to me I’ll do the same, or compliment me.
Out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaks.
Not only was Jesus’ love undeterred and unconditional but,
The third characteristic that Jesus showed,
Was that his love was
3. Unselfish
“laid aside His garment; and taking a towel, girded Himself” John 13:4 (NAS)
The son of God got up from the table and he went and did what should have already been done to him….
Jesus was the honored Guest, and they should have washed his feet.
Luke 22:say’s that the disciples argued among them selves about who was the greatest.
See, if peter washed their feet it would be a position of humility and servant hood but Peter was not about to wash any body’s feet.
Now I’m not asking you to go and wash your friend’s feet but,
Do you have that attitude toward your friend’s.
Is it so unselfish that even if they don’t call you they are still your friend?
You say>>>> Well they never called, and they know I’m having problems.
Well did you ever think they maybe having problems also?
It doesn’t matter mine are bigger..
Isn’t that the way we think?
Our problem’s are always’ bigger and more important?
Now it may be a phone call, or a card or my Christmas Present cost more than theirs
Now I heard a pastor tell a story about a family that at Christmas they would buy present’s for other’s they would leave the price tag on the gift so you would know how much they spent.
Some of you are going did you tell him?
But they didn’t tell you they got it 75% off.
You know Some time’s I really out do my self and Act like a complete Jerk..
We all do. But Jesus took the position of a servant.
In one of the greatest Hour’s of Jesus’ need he did not ask to be served but he served.
Now I confess to you church, That in my greatest need I want people to wait on me.
I want to people to call, pray and let me know they are thinking about me.
And so do you.
But Jesus, GAVE>>>>
Jesus served in love and secondly friend’s are
Secure In Themselves
Look in vs 1 and 3
Vs 1 Jesus knew his hour had come and
1. “Jesus knowing” John 13:3
What did Jesus know?
Three thing’s in Vs. 3
1. Who was in Control .
“the Father had put Him in complete Charge” (The Message)
2. Where He was From .
“He had come forth from God” (NAS)
3.Where He was Going .
“on His way back to God” (The Message)
Now Here me this morning Church:
THE greatest hindrances to our friendships are the insecurities that we try to hide.
Now, There is not a person here today that does not have some insecurity in some area of their lives’.
We all have them,
It may be that you are not as muscular as Pastor.
It may be that your feet are to big in your opinion.
Or your nose is to long
or your hair to thin,
or you don’t pose the clothes someone else has or
The car you drive.
Or the house
Or the figure, or the figures in the bank.
I don’t know what your hang up is but we all have them.
But there is a little voice in the back of our mind that always’ reminds us that we are not as good as someone else.
CAN I TELL YOU ?
That is not the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Can I tell you also that Jesus had 12 men that were insecure also.
And this morning there are 85 of us.
And every one of us have insecurities.
So what do we do?
We put this mask on
And people interpret or insecurities as
Snobbish
High and Mighty
They think they are better that me
And we judge the other person the way we perceive them.
But Jesus knew.
Like #1 he knew God was in control.
And Jesus knew he was not going to die until his time or suffer problem’s until his time.
Question?
Who is in control of your life?
God or your insecurities?
Jesus knew who was in control.
And he knew where he had come from.
Don’t ever forget where you have been….
And then remember where you are going.
Church this life is just a dress rehearsal.
This is just a tune up.
But we need to remember where we are going.
See when we are insecure it hinders our friendship because insecurity promotes position.
But security promotes people.
Insecurity promotes titles.
I’m doctor so and so
Or I’m rev so and so
Who cares what you are
As far as your position
But my question is who are you?
See: We confuse who we are with what we do.
See; what I do is I’m a pastor but that is not who I’ am.
And I have to watch that because I sometimes confuse that.
Folk’s you are not where you work or what you do
Because if you lose your Job and you have confused the two you lose your self image.
You are who you are.
SEE you have security because you are important to God and he loves you but security promotes towels
I will serve.
Thirdly this morning, Friend’s
Sharpen Each Other
In your note there are to ingredient’s to this process and there are two result’s
The first ingredient is
Humility – The Ability Not to think about yourself !
You do what you can for the other person.
After humility there has to be
ß
Honesty – Now before you go out of here armed with honesty, listen for a moment.
You speak the Truth in Love !
What do you mean?
I mean if you can’t speak it in love then don’t speak it.
And you know where we miss it?
We miss it to thing we can say any thing regardless of their reaction.
I say something to Susan and I think it is no big deal a pebble but to her it is a bolder.
A friend is considerate of other people’s feeling’
When we walk in humility and honesty in relationship’s it will promote
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Holiness –Because it will bring a Transformation to be like Jesus !
We will like him and holiness will lead to
ß
Happiness – Because we will begin to Enjoy this Life !
Proverb’s says as Iron sharpen Iron so does one friend another.
Lastly,
If we are going to be a friend we need to
Show Instead Of Blow
Let me explain,
They say a whale get’s harpooned when it comes up to spout off.
So do people,
Church, I ‘am so tired of so many who always’
Have the answer but don’t do any thing to help with the solution.
It amazes me when I was growing up and Individual a well know name was Going a round telling people how to raise their kid’s and be a good parent.
Now the problem was he had never been married and had never had kid’s.
Any one can be an expert if you don’t have to put it into practice.
And you know what we do?
We say I’ll pray about it.
FOLKS you have to do more than pray.
You have to put some labor behind it.
See: prayer is the foundation but you have to build on the foundation.
Don’t just say God I leave my kid’s in your hand’s
No you raise them and teach them and discipline them.
Look with me in your notes.
“I gave you an example” John 13:15 (NAS)
He didn’t just spout of he did what he asked other’s to do.
In vs 17 he says
“ you are blessed if you do them” John 13:17
See only when you realize that you Identity is not related to your position will you serve.
You know I don’t understand employer’s who will ask their employee’s to do thing’s that they wouldn’t dare do.
I was at a business in the city. and most of you know we have had rain this past week,
The employer had asked an employee to go sweep the mud of a particular place, the way this place is located it is like a mudslide and it is horrible.
And she did it.
But I wonder would he do that?
You say, Well, he is the boss.
I’m not saying he has to go sweep it but are you willing to go sweep it?
Now, there has to be delegation and there is nothing wrong with that but are you willing?
Are you willing to sweep it or just tell people to and criticize them when they didn’t do it right?
If you want someone to learn show them .
And you know what church now matter how hard we try are Kid’s will still grow up to be what we are.
In your notes I conclude with this:
In allowing others to serve Me, I see Jesus.
In serving others, They see Jesus.
The world will ask how many people work for you, Jesus ask for how many do you work?
Friendship…What does it cost?
It cost us to
serve in love
secure in our selves
sharpen each other and
to show
Close…..
