THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL JOY

John 13:1-17 THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL JOY

A Hymn I came across while preparing for this message reads like this: Joy is the flag flown high; From the castle of my heart; When the King is in residence there; (So) let it fly in the sky; Let the whole world know; That the King is in residence there.

The song has a simple yet profound message using the analogy of our heart being a castle. Joy will be present and demonstrated in our lives when the King resides in that castle. We who believe in Jesus, are children of the King, King Jesus. Among the blessing of living for Christ is joy. In the angelic announcement to the shepherds we read, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

I read a statement that said, “the Constitution guarantees the American people the right to pursue joy; but you have to apprehend it yourself."

I believe this to be true because true spiritual joy is out there for everyone, but we have to make the effort to apprehend it for ourselves.

In these verses, Jesus gives us a prescription for joy. It’s a nontraditional reading yet, notice verse 17, "If you know these things, blessed are you if ye do them." I believe if we follow this prescription, it will produce the spiritual joy we need in life.

THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL JOY is the result of::

I. LIVING A SERVANT’S LIFE - John 13:3–5 “Jesus ... 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.”

Jesus teaches us how to become servants.

Servants Are Humble – Foot washing was the work of slaves! In fact, Jewish servants were never required to wash their Master’s feet. However, Gentiles slaves, who were considered dogs, were forced to do this demeaning task. It was the most menial and degrading work possible. Why did Jesus do this? He did it to teach the Disciples, and us, a lesson in humility. Jesus Became the Servant of man. Philippians 2:5–8 “Jesus ... 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.” The fact that He willingly left His heavenly glory to come into this world to die like a common criminal demonstrates His great love for us. That He wants us to have all the joy, hope, peace, love that we need. He became the servant to man.

Jesus also became the Servant to Follow – John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Some may ask, "How can I do this? Should I get a pan of water and wash people’s feet here in the church?" Well, nothing would be wrong with that! However, that’s not the totality of what He wants us to do. He is talking about an attitude of the heart more than an activity of the hands. We are to become the servants of those around us. We must be willing to humble ourselves so that others may be lifted up.

It might have been easy to wash John’s feet. John was the "Beloved Disciple." Yet, John and his brother James were always trying to get ahead of the others. What about Simon Peter? He was the one who would deny Jesus three times before dawn. What about Thomas? He was the one who would doubt the word of the others and refuse to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. What about Judas? He was the one who for 30 pieces of silver would sell Jesus to the enemies.

In spite of all these things, Jesus didn’t allow any of these considerations to cloud His service! He treated them all equally and, in doing so, taught us a tough lesson. That if we want to spiritual joy we need to learn to live a servant’s life. When we have to worry about who to serve and who not to serve, we can’t have no joy. Mark 10:45 “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.” So, we must Live a Servant’s Life.

THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL JOY is also the result of:

II. LIVING A SEPARATED LIFE - John 13:6-10

In the midst of his lesson on humility, Jesus takes the time to teach a lesson on holiness to the will of God. He points out that a separated life is essential to spiritual joy. Look at John 13:8 “Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Peter is amazed that Jesus wants to wash his feet, and he flatly refuses to allow it. Peter is apparently bothered that Jesus wants to perform such a menial task upon him. Jesus responds by telling Peter that if He isn’t allowed to wash his feet, then Peter is out of fellowship with Him. Then, Peter decides that he wants the Lord to wash his whole person. If the feet mean that much, then how much more the entire body? Jesus is teaching a lesson about personal cleansing.

John 13:10 “Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” When you have washed your entire person, and you get your feet soiled by walking through the streets, all you need at that point is to wash just the feet. The image here is that when we received Jesus as our personal Savior, He forever washed us from our sins – 1 Peter 1:18–19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things ... but with the precious blood of Christ...” We have been eternally cleansed from head to toe already through His cleansing blood. But as we walk through life, we tend to fall into sin and we need cleansing. Not for the entire person, since that was accomplished when we were saved and need not be repeated. But, for that stain of sin we gathered in our daily walk. And you must take care of that because SIN is a dangerous thing … peeps and creeps – tickles and trickles – beats and batters – stains and strains – sin will ultimately bring about death … but thank God, He knew what to do with my sins.

Psalm 85:2 “covered our sins”

Psalm 103:12 “cast my sins as far as the East is from the West”

Micah 7:19 “cast all my sins into the depths of the sea”

Isaiah 38:17 “put my sins behind his back”

Jeremiah 50:20 “sought for my sins but they could not be found”

Colossians 2:14 “nailed my sins to Calvary’s cross”

You want some joy, live a separated life. A separated life, is a holy life. A separated life is a consecrated life. A separated life is a clean life. A separated life is a pure life. A separated life is a righteous life. 2 Corinthians 6:17

You can’t worship right in sin. You can serve right in sin. You can’t love right in sin. You can’t give right in sin. You can’t study right in sin. That’s why David says, “restore to me the joy of your salvation.” You got to grab hold of this prescription: live a separated life so you can have the spiritual joy you need.

This joy transforms the way we face challenges, the way we navigate the complexities of life, the way we interact with those around us. It’s a contagious joy that spills over into our relationships, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters with Jesus. This joy will wake you up in the morning and rock you to sleep at night. Is there anybody in here that want some true spiritual joy?

THE PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL JOY is that it’s the result of:

III. v. 17 LIVING A SECURE LIFE

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Listen to other translations of verse 17 and I’m done. Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice(GNT). If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them] (AMP). If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. (MSG)

Jesus says you are blessed. It means to “Possess the favor of God, that state of being marked by the fullness of God. It’s the state of the believer in Christ; in Christ, results in us being fully satisfied no matter the circumstances. It is the Greek word makários, “blessed,” equivalent to having God’s kingdom within your heart. It is to say, that because you are secure in Christ, your satisfaction, your joy comes from God and not from circumstances.

You gotta live like your joy is secure. When your joy is in Jesus, He will protect your joy. John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

I can’t be looking all around and expecting joy; I can’t be judging my situation according to other people’s calling and expecting joy; I can’t be judging my gift compared to other people’s talent and expecting to have joy.

Your joy is in the security that if you take the prescription Jesus prescribes, you will have and maintain joy. God gave you your joy. Ask for it, Believe you have it, Receive it, Live it.

When we look at Jesus in Heb. 12:2, “…for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus didn’t find joy in the event; He found joy in the guaranteed outcome of the event.

He did not find joy in the feeling of hanging on the cross, He found joy in the fulfillment of being back with His father. Jesus’ joy had a purpose, and that is why He could endure the pain.

Jesus did not allow the pain of the moment to block what the future had for Him.

Before I could go into the military, I had to have surgery. I had to endure the pain to receive the promise. I did not allow the pain of that moment to block the future God had for me.

And that’s a word for somebody today. That since you can’t see what is about to happen, you have lost your joy. But I come to tell somebody that because God has ensured your security, whatever He has promised you, you can have joy because of the guaranteed outcome.

And, I don’t know about any of you, but I got the joy of Jesus down in my soul.

Maybe somebody needs to put on repeat in their spirit these words:

This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away.

Sickness can’t take, pain can’t take it, hate can’t take it, disease can’t take it, cancer can’t take it, diabetes can’t take it, death can’t take it, divorce can’t take it, break up can’t take it, break down can’t take it, set backs can’t take it, push back can’t take it, failure, fall, fight, fear can’t take it.

Why, This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away. The Lord gave it to me.