194 Inverted Kingdom; John 13:1-20; Humility Brings Exaltation
Inverted Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 24 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro
Intro
So much of life seems to be about tryin to climb the right ladder
last week I mentioned...
Church leaders in the news
Planes
You get promoted at work - now you don’t have to do that job anymore
Yachts
People submit out of...
It’s easy to shake your head but
Your son becomes a teen - you don’t have to mow anymore
Your daughter becomes a teen - you don’t have to do the dishes anymore
You become a grandparent - load ‘em up with sugar and send ‘em home!
That’s not my problem! I’ve arrived! At the very least; if I’m going to do that job, I want everyone to know that I did it!
Near the end of the first century all but one of the Apostles but one were dead. There would be struggles for leadership and power-brokering in the years to come.
But, it that the way the Christian life operates? Should this be the way the church operates? Is the Christian life about climbing a ladder?
What should leadership in the church look like? How should leadership be modeled? More importantly, what is the model all christians should follow?
Inverted Kingdom. Death brings life. Today we will see that humility brings exaltation.
Transition
Transition
It is like Speedway in May
People are talking about Jesus. Gentiles have come to him. But now he wants time alone with his followers.
Throughout this entire passage only four names are mentioned; Satan/Jesus and Judas/Peter. This is all very intentional on the part of the apostle John.
Texts
Texts
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Just before the Passover
Having loved his own - he loved them to the end. What does that mean?
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
We are about to see the clash of kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God. One is driven by a thirst for power and domination, the other is driven by love. These kingdoms continue to clash today in our churches. We face the struggle of these kingdoms here each week. These kingdoms intentions play out in these verses.
Satan had already hatched a plan in Judas’ heart. Literally, the text says it was; thrust or thrown into Judas’ heart.
So is Judas off the hook? No, the heart that wants what Satan wants, wills what Satan wills. (no demons in John)
Iscariot? thief (John 12)
Satan is after the destruction of the Son of God and his plans.
Jesus had real authority. God the Father had given Jesus all authority. He came from Heaven and he was returning to Heaven.
Jesus had real authority. God the Father had given Jesus all authority. He came from Heaven and he was returning to Heaven.
The amount of authority Jesus has is utterly overwhelming. If you had the same authority how would you respond?
These kingdoms will clash in the greatest battle a the cross in just a few days. In light of the impending spiritual battle, Jesus loves his own to the very end:
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
What?! This isn’t the way to establish a kingdom. This is servant stuff! There is no record anywhere in Jewish or Greco/Roman literature of anything like this.
And don’t miss something. The disciples were above this. Are weakness and humiliation what it looks like to follow Jesus?
And don’t miss something. The disciples were above this. Does weakness and
The disciples could have done this; but why would they?
Jesus shocks everyone with inverted understanding of the Kingdom.
The table would have been very low to the floor so that you rested on the left side. Notice the eye-witness details - this isn’t legend.
But why would he do this?
being in very nature God, didn’t consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
The disciples didn’t expect or deserve this, neither did Judas. This is as undeserved as it is shocking. Jesus washed their feet anyway.
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
who was by very nature God did not...
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
Notice throughout this entire passage only four names are mentioned; Satan/Jesus and Judas/Peter. This is all very intentional
Peter starts off indignant!
We could easily throw on the false-humility. I had my chance but now that I see its a big deal.
But Jesus quickly corrects him. This is a much bigger deal than you think. Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.
Unless you come to the point where...
When Jesus cleans your life, you become new and part of a Kingdom that operates differently than the rest of the world. It functions differently. It’s not about us, real-genuine joy and life are found in ways different than the world offers.
Last week we saw that death brings life and now we see that humility brings exaltation.
Part with him? inheritance?
But Judas? Satan has planted the idea in his heart. Judas literally sits at the crossroads of the kingdoms. Satan has planted the idea while Jesus washes his feet. People will sometime ask if Judas could have repented. At this point I believe he could. However, there comes a time repentance is no longer an option according to .
Jesus still washes Judas’ feet.
Peter on the other hand says, “Let’s do this!”
Again Jesus takes a bi-focal look
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:12-17
Do you understand?
Teacher - the One who teaches us about the Kingdom
Lord - the one who has authority over my life.
Jesus is more than an example, but he’s not less than an example. Here he provides a pattern for the church to live out.
Very truly - truly truly - amen amen offers a warning. the servant is not greater than the master.
There is a certain tendency to give a big amen here to the strong demands of discipleship but rarely does anything about them.
The true disciples of Jesus follows Jesus - not just in theory but in practical actions.
Foot-washing story
We minimize the great cost of following Jesus by relegating it merely to a ceremony. This is an attitude that guides actions.
Applications
Applications
Bowl in my office
How does this look in the home?
How does this look in the church?
Blessed