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Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: The Life of Christ
Hope: To draw closer to God through a better understanding of his life on earth and the teachings he gave.
A few weeks back we found ourselves, in our study, on the week of Jesus’ crucifixion.
There is no greater book than that of the apostle’s John’s account when it comes to “what Jesus taught” that week.
With that in mind, you and I know that God only uses servants, others need not apply.
In fact, a servants heart is as close to God as a man can get..
Jesus, of course, is “the Servant” and we are a servant of the Servant.
The reality is too many great bible words have been ruined.
The word “cross” was once an ugly, bloody, painful, humiliating, and barbaric.
Now it’s is artistic, golden, and harmless because people today what Christ without the cross.
The word “love” has been reduced to sentimental nonsense.
You have to add the word tough, “tough love” to correct it.
The word servant has fallen into the same absurdity.
A bond-servant is the lowest form of slavery and means to be without rights, power, or politics.
We have romanticized the idea of “servant” to the point it has become meaningless.
In our text today on “The Towel” we find Jesus gave the instrument by which his church is to be built.
By way of the towel.
This had never been done in history.
The way up was down; the last are first; you die to live; you give to get (Matthew 20:16; Mark 9:35).
Everything “in Christ” is upside down from the world’s perspective.
Everyone wants to be recognized as servants but few want to be treated like servants.
People are not lining up to become actual biblical servants.
We see this very reality played out in our text of John 13:1-20.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke when we find Jesus in the upper room with his apostles partaking of the Passover meal and it is quickly followed by the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
However, in John’s gospel account he does not focus on the Lord’s Supper but what the disciples were discussing before they partook of said supper.
The apostles were promoting themselves and like every other time Jesus corrects them.
It’s with this in mind I want us to read our text this morning.
Let’s no get into our lesson by looking at the apostles…
Proud Minds Yet Dirty Feet
Man Would Not Have Written This.
John 13 is an amazing chapter that man simply would not have written.
As I mentioned the setting is the upper room at the time of the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
As I mentioned, this account is not in Matthew, Mark, or Luke so John was privileged to share with us the human side of this event, plus a rare view of God’s presence.
Under the very shadow of the cross, the disciples are arguing “Who is the greatest?”
Who is going to be the MVA, Most Valuable Apostle.
The great prophet Jeremiah, long ago, warned against such thoughts.
Jeremiah 45:5 (ESV)
5 And do you seek great things for yourself?
Seek them not…
The bible often teaches against “seeking great things for ourselves.”
Psalm 131:1 (ESV)
1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.
Romans 12:16 (ESV)
16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.
This is a hard lesson to learn but John 13:1 says it all…
John 13:1 (ESV)
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
When Jesus need his disciples at the very point of the cross, they were filled with pride and arguing with each other.
Jesus, God, could have scolded them, pointed his finger at them in anger, or even prayed to the Father for “a whole new bunch.”
He did not pray to the Father, “The Day of Pentecost is at hand, how are we going to start the church with this group?”
No, Jesus filled a pan with water and wrapped a towel around his waist to wash their feet.
We find God almighty Jesus, the Messiah, on his knees, washing the disciples’ feet.
Etiquette demanded that hospitality of foot-washing be done but the apostles were fighting for position and could not then serve each other.
God wants servants, men want stars..
God has no place for “stars” and when his servants stop serving they always start complaining, because critics do not serve.
Summary
Servants wash fee, period.
They do not get to pick and choose whose feet they wash.
Jesus was going to wash Judas’ feet like Peter and Johns.
Servants have nothing to prove; they have nothing then to lose..
The crucified Savior can only use crucified servants.
The church that cannot bleed cannot bless.
The church that cannot serve cannot save.
The church that cannot suffer cannot redeem.
The church that cannot die cannot live.
Understanding this, let’s now turn our attention to…
The Peter Principle
Pride Vs Humility.
The humility of the disciples was expressed in pride the divinity of God was expressed in humility.
And this is best seen in Peter’s interaction with Jesus.
Peter asked one of the most dumbfounding questions ever in John 13:6.
Why did Peter ask this question, because Peter had a problem with “false spirituality.”
He wanted to make himself look good at someone else’s expense, in this case Jesus’.
We find, at this moment, Peter’s heart.
Peter did not think he “needed” his feet washed that they were clean yet Jesus only washes dirty feet.
Peter was a leader and he didn’t want his “dirt” made known, he wanted to simply “shine.”
Showing off religiously is always dangerous.
Pride always, in the end, makes a fool of the proud.
Peter’s feet were just as dirty as those Jesus washed before him.
Sometimes, we can have the same attitude as Peter and believe was are of not need of someone else’s “charity.”
However, we all are in need of having our feet washed by Jesus and made clean.
We see another “heart issue” with Peter when he tells Jesus..
John 13:8 (ESV)
8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
Peter was basically telling Jesus, “I can wash my own feet.”
One of the most dangerous mentalities in the church is “I don’t need anybody.”
Yes, we do, everyone needs Jesus and his brethren.
Christianity is not just another “how-to” religion.
Christianity is not a “do-it-yourself job.”
As Paul would put it…
2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Now, before we move on I want to point out that Peter wasn’t doing this all for “purely selfish reasons.”
He was trying to “protect Jesus’ image.”
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