Journey to the Cross

The Cost of Love: The Last Supper

Scripture: John 13:1-17, 34-35 (LSB)

**Date:** March 23, 2025

**Theme:** Christ, the sovereign Lord, displays the cost of love through humble service and commands his people to follow in his steps.

**Goal:** Exalt Jesus as the King who washes feet and dies for his own, calling us to love as he loved.

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

- "We’re on a journey to the cross. Week 1, in Mark 8, Jesus set his face toward death—resolute as the King who’d suffer and rise. Last week, in Matthew 16, he revealed he’s the Christ, God’s Son, building his church against all odds. Today, John 13 shows us the heart of this King—love that costs everything."

- "The Last Supper isn’t just a meal—it’s Jesus showing who he is and what he’s about to do. He’s hours from the cross, and what does he do? He washes feet. Then he says, ‘Love like this.’ Way back in Genesis 3:15, God promised a seed to crush the serpent—sin and death—though it’d cost him a bruise. That’s Jesus—his love takes the hit to win us back. Let’s see the cost of his love—and what it means for us."

2. Expositional Walkthrough of John 13:1-17, 34-35 (20-25 minutes)

A. Verses 1-5: Christ’s Love in Action**

- "Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end… He rose from supper… laid aside His garments… and began to wash the disciples’ feet…"

- "His hour had come"—Jesus knows the cross is near, fulfilling God’s plan. In Exodus 12:13, the Passover lamb’s blood shielded Israel from death—Jesus is that Lamb, ready to spill his blood for us. "To the Father" shows his victory beyond death, promised long ago."

- "‘Having loved His own… to the end’—perfectly, fully. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 says God loved Israel not for their greatness, but because he chose them. Jesus loves us the same—unearned, faithful, to the end. Isaiah 53:5 says, ‘He was pierced for our transgressions’—his love costs his wounds."

- "Washing feet—a dirty job, slave’s work. Yet Jesus, knowing all power was his, stoops low. Zechariah 9:9 calls him a king, humble on a donkey—this is that king, serving. It points to the cross—cleaning us from sin with his own hands, his own blood."

- "He’s not a victim—sovereign, in control, he loves by choice. His service shows his reign, fulfilling every promise from the start."

B. Verses 6-17: Christ’s Lesson in Service**

- "So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, ‘Lord, You are washing my feet?’… Jesus answered… ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me’… ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord… If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example…’"

- "Peter’s stunned—‘Lord, you?’—like we’d be. Jesus says, ‘If I don’t wash you, you’re not mine.’ Leviticus 16:19 shows the priest sprinkling blood to cleanse—Jesus does that for us, ultimate and final. Psalm 51:2 has David crying, ‘Wash me from my iniquity’—Jesus answers, ‘I will, with my life.’ It’s his way or no way—union with him means his cleansing."

- "‘Lord and Teacher’—he’s master and guide. Isaiah 42:1-3 calls him God’s servant, gentle, not breaking the weak—he washes feet like that, showing us how to live. In 1 Samuel 20:17, Jonathan risked all for David out of love—Jesus risks more, gives us an example that costs."

- "He’s the Lord who serves, cleansing us by his blood. His power demands we follow—not to earn, but because he’s made us his, fulfilling the old cries for mercy."

C. Verses 34-35: Christ’s Command to Love**

- "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you… By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

- "‘New commandment’—not new like it’s never been said, but new because it’s his kind of love—as he loved, to the cross. That’s the measure. Hosea 11:4 says God led his people with ‘cords of love,’ bending low—Jesus does that, washing feet, dying for us."

- "‘All will know’—our love shows the world who he is, marks us as his. It’s not about power or show—it’s about him shining through us, blessing all nations like Genesis 12:3 promised through Abraham’s seed—Jesus."

- "His love—costly, selfless—defines his reign. He commands what he first gives, holding us by his grace, fulfilling God’s heart from the beginning."

3. Theological Reflection (5-7 minutes)

- "Jesus fulfills the old Passover—the lamb who cleanses and binds us to God, like Exodus 12 promised. His love renews us, gives us a new heart, as the prophets foresaw."

- "We love because he loved us first—his grace moves us, not our works. His washing is our righteousness, answering every OT plea for mercy."

- "The cross beats sin, his reign showed up in history when the old ways fell, and his return will perfect this love—crushing the serpent fully, as Genesis 3:15 said from the start."

4. Conclusion and Response (5 minutes)

- "The cost of love—Jesus paid it. He washed feet, then washed us with his blood. He’s the Christ who loves to the end—your King, your Savior. Follow him in awe."

- "Meditate on John 13 this week—pray his love sinks in, live it out humbly. Rest in his cleansing."

- "The Lord served, died, and rose. His love holds us—promised from Genesis, perfected on the cross. Praise him."

5. Transition to the Lord’s Supper (2-3 minutes)

- "And now, we don’t just hear about this love—we taste it. Jesus didn’t stop at washing feet; that night, he took bread and wine, said, ‘This is my body, broken for you; this is my blood, poured out for you.’ Today, we take the Lord’s Supper to remember his love—the cost he paid on the cross, the cleansing he gives us. If you’re his, washed by his grace, come to the table. Eat, drink, and know the Christ who loves you to the end. Let’s prepare our hearts as we come."

---