Becoming People of the Towel
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Greatness… What comes to your mind?
Tom Brady vs Joe Montanna
Lebron James vs Michael Jordan
IU vs Purdue
When you start talking about Greatness, we begin to tread into the territory of legacy.
The world has some requirements on how one achieves greatness...
Success, Wealth, Title, Accomplishments, Power
Jesus had a completely different way of achieving greatness...
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
“A great man is always willing to be little.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
So here we have 2 conflicting World Views.
This life is about Me and What I can achieve for myself.
This life is about God and What he can do through me.
The Choice that “we” make have eternal consequences… Choosing to live a life sold out to God will leave a legacy within our family and will have rewards on the other side of eternity.
Knowing your purpose is the key to discovering True Greatness
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
What I love about Jesus and the word he left us is this, He never asks us to do something he himself was not willing to do.
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
It’s hard to follow someone who says “Do what is say not what I do”
Jesus left us an example of what true greatness looks like.
The Lesson
The Lesson
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.
The Setting… Harmonizing the Gospels We can understand that the disciples were just in argument about who was the greatest...
The Timing… Jesus was merely hours away from the cross
The Heart… He loved them to “end” ie. Uttermost
Who all was present?
Jesus was not only modeling how to serve. In Humility
Jesus was also modeling who to serve. Even those who are against you.
The Security… Who knew who he was, He knew where he was going.
Knowing who you are brings clarity and purpose
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19
Knowing where you are going brings perspective
The Service… He girded himself, poured some water, and began to wash the disciples feet.
Some facts… This was a tasked reserved for the servants of the home… (however this was not there house, it was a room provided for them)
Used this moment to teach… Imagine the tension in the room...
Q. How many footwashing seminars do you think Jesus attended?
Q. How many books do you think he studied about the art of washing?
He saw a need… & Met It
The Exchange
The Exchange
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 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.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
I identify with Peter… Lord are you washing my feet? I should be washing yours.
Notice what Jesus says… It’s bigger than washing feet.
What i am doing now you do not understand now, but you will know after this.
The time of reflection after the crucifixion and His accension.
We know this moment had a lasting affect on Peter… In Fact in his Epistle he paints a beautiful word picture.
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Check out Peter’s repsonse.
From No to
Examining the exchange between Jesus and Peter, What was Jesus trying to teach Peter?
Picture of our Assurance - We don’t have to fear losing our relationship. We are already cleansed
Assurance we have as Believer and followers.
The affects of Living in a sinful world-
The Application
The Application
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.
john
You are never to Good to serve someone.
The question is not who am I willing to serve, the question is who is God placing in my path?
Discipleship is Messy.
There are times when serving others isn't fun and isn't something we would choose.
Effective Ministry is rarely scheduled...
Serving others is the path to Blessing.
To be a person of the towel is to be to hands and feet of Jesus.
Left a towel under your chair… Put it in your pocket
How can you serve your spouse this week?
How can you serve your Kids this week?
How can you serve a Co-Worker this week?
How can you got out of your way to embrace an opportunity to serve someone.