Picking Up The Towel

John 13:1–5 NKJV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

John 13:12–17 NKJV

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Introduction

We come to our next stop in Scripture, as we are looking at this series we’ve called, “For The Sake of The Gospel.” We began this journey by looking at the life of Zaccheus, and what The Lord did for him in the sycamore tree. We observed the change The Lord made in Zacc. life that day. Then, last week, we turned the table on ourselves and did a sort of introspection and examination of the condition of our own heart through the Parable of the Soils. We’ve seen what the Gospel does as far as changing the actual condition of someone heart and soul. How that the Gospel, through the work of Christ, redeems us from our sin, and Christ has won favor with the Father on our behalf.

However, the Gospel does not end there. The Gospel is not simply a “ticket into God’s Kingdom.” & then once we are saved, thats all there is to it. If that were the case, we would just be transported to Heaven as soon as we are saved, we’d have no reason to live on this earth. Rather, we see Christ, through His ministry, pour into the hearts of His disciples and give them instructions on what they are to do on this earth, and that the greatest calling and mission is living for the glory of God through our life. To get a full picture of what that looks like, we will turn our attntion to the Upper Room. This intimate setting is the last time Christ will interact with His disciples pior to His death. John 13-17 details this interaction, and is probably my favorite section of Scripture. We will spend some time in this section for a few weeks as Christ pours Himself out to His disciples is many ways through the text...

1. The Reputation He Conveyed

John 13:3–4 NKJV

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

He begins by rising up from the table - this is the postion we expect Him to assume.

We are, after all, talking about the righteous Son of God. He had proven Himself over and over again that He is the Son. He had lived a perfect, sinless life. He had kept every tenant of the Law. He had healed the sick, raised the dead, and cleansed all unrighteousness.

There was no question as to who He was, He was God incarnate.

For a moment that is what we see: A reflection of reality.

As Christ stands up in front of these men, there is no question who is in charge. The disciples had been arguing over who was the greatest in the kingdom - those arguments are over.

As He stands, it becomes apparent that He is the true King, He is the Holy One of God.

He is worthy of every praise, every worship, every glory, every accolade. He is worthy of myriads of Angels to gather around Him and cry “holy Holy Holy”. He is worthy of all the saints of glory to be lying prostrate at His feet and adoring Him. He is worthy of all that.

Yet, that is not what we see happen. In fact, we see a strange turn of events.

The entire evening is flipped on its head. The disciples know he should be glorified, and so does He.

Yet, He takes a towel and girds Himself. This was such a form of abasing Himself.

By placing a towel around Himself, and removing His cloak, He takes on the form of a Gentile servant.

Jesus condescends Himself down to the state of someone that the disciples would’ve viewed as less than human.

Jesus takes on the form of a servant. (διάκονος, diakonos, “servant”)

Deacon - “one who walks in the dirt”

Christ takes on the form of someone who is the least of all who are around Him. He is completely humbling Himself before all who see Him.

Now, how many of us want to do this? We live in the 21st century where everything is a rat-race to get to the top.

Social Media prompts us to want to try to portray our lives as better than others, we want to have nicer things, a better job, more money, etc.

This attitude has even crept into the Church. If we are not careful we will begin to become James and John’s arguing over whose role is more important in the ministry, who has more power, and unintentionally begin trying to build up our own kingdom.

However, Jesus renders for us the goal that we should be pushing toward, the humble servant. How many of us are willing today to humble ourselves for the service of our Lord?

2. The Recipients of His Care

John 13:5 NKJV

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Not only does Christ humble Himself by takign on the form of a servant, but watch what He then begins to do.

The Bible tells us He begins washing the feet of His disciples. Now, I don’t know about y’all but there ain’t nothing worse than feet.

Feet Stink - (Fritos Joke)

Nothing is more demeaning or lowly of a task as the washing of someone’s feet.

Oftentimes we put conditions on our service… “Well I’m happy to serve, but don’t ask me to work with so and so… I can’t deal with so and so”

“Well, so and so just isnt worthy of my service.” But this isn’t the attitude of our Lord.

The One who, in reality, should be worshipped by these men, is washing the feet of these vile, disgusting, sinful men.

Not only that, but look at who He’s washing the feet of… James and John - who had been arguing over who was greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

Peter - who’s going to deny that He even knows Jesus in just a few short hours from now.

Finally Judas, who is literally getting ready to go sell Jesus for a few pieces of silver. What does Jesus do? He washes his feet.

Here’s the point: We will serve imperfect people. So, if our condition of whether or not we serve is based on whether or not someone treats em right, we will live a life of no service… because we ultimately end up serving oursleves when that’s our attitude.

Why did Jesus do this? Because v. 1 tells us “He loved His own to the end.”

Did He expect anything in return? No. He doesn’t get His feet washed.

He did it simply because He loved them, and expected nothing in return. He was motivated by love, not by ambition or desire.

Here’s what I’m trying to say this morning, “Wash feet even when you won’t get anything back.”

Serve others even when they won’t return the favor. “But I dont like them” “But they did me wrong” “But we’ve had issues”

We are imperfect people, and we will all find faults and reasons not to serve each other. But the point Jesus is making is this: Serve anyway.

This is the mind of Christ!

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

3. The Reward of His Command

John 13:17 NKJV

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

There is joy found in this. This is where the Christian finds purpose, and contentment.

The Lord is glorified in us when we are satisfied in Him and we are serving.

This is where we end up a lot of times, this is where the world is mixed up.

The world thinks I am gonna be happy if I can get things out of people.

Jesus says the opposite, you are happy if you give of yourself to people.

True unity is found in having a servants heart. Listen, I as the Pastor of this Church am not the “authority.”

I lead, and provide direction, but my title is “minister”. That word means to “serve”.

The deacons of this church, this wonderful men, are not here to lord over the church, they’re here to serve.

And you, if you are in a place of ministry or any position/office of the Church… it is not a place of authority or hierarchy - it is a place of service.

There are no CEO’s of the Church, only servants of the Church.

And when we all abase ourselves to the level of a servant, we can truly be unifief as one body in Christ. Because if He has the Head has humbled Himself, we as the body must follow suit.

Conclusion

I know times are hard, days are rough, and the hour is growing weary. You may have come in today and are ready to simply throw in the towel.

Can I submit to you this morning, it is not the day to throw in the towel. IT is not the day to give up.

It is not the day to say, “Well that relationship will never be mended.”

“Well, my problems with people will never be solved.” “Well, my children aren’t coming home.” “My marriage is in the tank.” “My life is in shambles”

No, today is not the day to throw in the towel - Today is the day to grab a towel.

Today is the day to say, “No matter whats been done to me, it will not steal my joy away from being in service to Him.”

These alters are open, I think there are many this morning all across the building who could say “Today is the day that I will yield myself to serve Christ.”

Come now, and do business with The Lord.