Dirty Work

Introduction

Georgia: CSI crime scene - repainting walls,

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/08/683359201/massive-fatberg-found-blocking-sewer-in-british-seaside-town - Can you imagine being a part of the sewer team? No one wants that kind of work, but it’s necessary!

What odes

Take it in stride - God wants to

No dirtier work than what Jesus has done for us - He’s called us to get involved with Him by getting involved in the lives of people.

No dirtier work than what Jesus has done for us - Die in the place of sinners - redeem those who are broken.

Ministry

Night of Passover - Jesus does something that shocked the disciples - a call to join Him in His dirty work - this was not why they had followed Him! Yet another reminder, that following Jesus was not easy or glamorous, but necessary if people are going to know His work.

Before His death - Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate Passover meal - and He does something to teach them about Himself and about the work He was calling them to join Him in - it wasn’t going to be easy - and at times it would be absolutely humiliating and not glamorous. BUT necessary.

I want to remind us of the kind of work that Jesus has called us to - two tru

This morning, two truths as we consider the work we are called to as followers of Jesus.

Don’t resist the work Jesus wants to do for you.

Gospel of John - later than Matt, Mark, Luke - Evangelistic - “written these things that you might believe” ()

I Am statements, 7 signs - John wants reader to know Jesus’ identity.

Last hours of Jesus’ life “his hour had come.” - Passover Meal.

Jesus knows His time on earth is ending - He will return to the Father. (vs. 1)

Jesus knows Judas will betray him - he’s influenced by Satan. (vs. 2)

Jesus knows He is in control - not Judas; not Satan. (vs. 3)

Jesus knows that He loves His own (vs. 1)- the twelve were dear to Him - they had been with Him for three years. Jesus knows what He wants them to know about His mission as He prepares to depart.

Jesus knows the hearts of His disciples - slow to understand the true identity and mission of Jesus. Instead, quick to fight over who was the greatest. () Jesus about to show true greatness. - The emotions of the moment - Jesus knows what’s coming - and He knows His disciples still do not understand.

Preparing for dinner - a basic task to be done - after traveling the dusty streets of Jerusalem feet were filthy. Typically, the job of the lowest ranked slave of a household - a gentile slave - a Jewish slave would not be asked to do it! The slave would wash the feet of dinner guests - sometimes children of slaves would do it. Dirty job - no slaves -

As they argue -

Maybe as they gathered disciples argued about who would do it. They recline for dinner - no one is going to do it - they recline with dirty feet.

Jesus - the greatest person in the room - gets up, takes off outer garment, puts a towel around His waste, and gets to work.

No one moved. No one tried to stop Him. They sat in silence.

Jesus takes Matthew’s feet in His hands - the feet of a former tax collector who had cheated so many people - He washes. Moves on to Nathaniel - “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Begins to wash his feet. Moved to Judas - knew that Judas would betray - Judas had not gotten what he wanted from Jesus. Washes feet. What was Judas thinking as the Messiah took his feet in his hands and began to do the work of a slave? How could Judas not see the love, the compassion, the humility?

The greatest among them becomes the lowest. ()

Moved to Peter. Peter can’t handle it. He’s been holding his tongue the whole time - probably thinking about how he would react, what he would say when Jesus got to him.

He can’t keep his mouth shut - Jesus bends down - Peter speaks: “Jesus, what are you doing? Why do you want to wash my feet?” - Peter has identified Jesus. The Christ - The Messiah - the King sent by God - Kings don’t wash feet!

Simple rebuke (): “I know you don’t understand now, but you will. My Kingdom is different.” Peter - you still don’t get it - but soon...

Peter - “You will never wash me.”

Jesus - “Then you have no share with me.” Warning: You can’t have fellowship with Christ unless you let Him wash you - Your washing comes at the cross.

Peter doesn’t get it all, but He gets enough to know how desperately He needs Jesus. Encouragement: You may not get it all either, but you know how much you need Jesus.

Peter - “Then wash all of me - I need what you’re offering!” Jesus: “You already have it.” How? Faith! Statement looks forward to the cross - the cross would give Peter the kind of washing He needed - a once and for all washing - all that was left for Peter was foot washing - a daily cleansing - symbolic of the kind of daily cleansing we need .

In Christ, we’re completely clean from sin - positionally saved - but continue to be defiled and affects daily fellowship with God - We daily walk in dirt and daily need confession and repentance so our fellowship with God not hindered.

Looks to disciples: You are clean - you’ve believed. My work at cross will reconcile you. BUT, not all of you are clean. One has resisted my work: Judas.

Don’t resist the work Jesus wants to do for you.

Regeneration - Judas constantly around Jesus but never let Jesus change him. Warning: You can be around the church, hear the Gospel repeatedly, do Christian things, etc. and still have a heart that has not been transformed by the work of God. You are not clean. Some of you like Judas are resisting being washed.

Sanctification - Peter - you don’t understand what I want to do! Some of you still don’t understand - you have a vision of who you want Jesus to be, but you don’t have a vision of who Jesus wants you to be - you're resisting sanctification. You are sanctified by:

Daily confession - - Don’t ignore what’s affecting your daily intimacy with Christ.

Daily Cooperation -

Daily Cooperation - - God at work in you, but you can’t resist. You must cooperate. How? - Put off and put on. There are some sins that you are refusing to put off. There are some things you are refusing to put on - an area of obedience, a character quality, etc.

If no daily confession and daily cooperation - you’re resisting the work Jesus wants for you through His death and resurrection. Stop resisting! Start growing in your knowledge of Christ and the kind of life He has for you.

Dog training - refusal to cooperate with my wife.

Don’t resist the work God wants from you.

The more you understand the work Christ wants to do for you, the more you will understand the work Christ wants from you.

Jesus looks at his disciples who were always fighting over who was the greatest and asks, “Do you understand? I’m a different kind of King, and if you’re going to live in my kingdom, you have to live according to the values of my Kingdom. If I, your Lord and teacher, the One you look to, wash your feet, you ought to follow my example.”

Every disciple - wanted to go high - elevated in society - after all, they were bottom of the ladder socially. Jesus - “You want to go high? You want to be lifted up? Go low. Humble yourself.”

- Jesus humbled Himself to point of death, and the Father raised Him to heavenly places. ()

The work God wants from you: Not to make a name for yourself but to make a name for the One who is exalted by following the example that He set. How do we become people of the towel instead of people of the throne?

Have the same mind as Christ () - Jesus fully God, but did not use His divinity to further His own agenda or His needs but the will of the Father. Do you think you’re better than Jesus? Repent of a “serve me” attitude. That was never the attitude of your Master while He was on this earth. You need to hear this: You are not greater than your master. Does your attitude and actions reveal that you believe that?

Think less of you and more of others () - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit - instead count others more significant than yourselves. It’s an attitude - Who do you do the most for? Even when we serve, we’re tempted to serve for the accolades, pats on back, to be seen, etc. instead of simply serving to bless others.

Consider it a privilege to serve Jesus and His people. If Christ follower - humbling truth: you could be going to hell. But, you’re not! Instead, you’ve been given the gift of new life and the empowerment of the Spirit to live for Him! (I have to vs. I get to)Therefore, it’s a privilege to:

Serve in the nursery.

Visit the sick in the hospital.

Welcoming a new family in the church by taking them to lunch.

Spending time with someone that’s hard to love.

Quit giving excuses - What I don’t have: time, resources, training, etc. You think your excuses are going to hold up? Especially when you consider what you do have? Salvation in Christ, empowering of the Spirit to do whatever God places before you, a church community, etc.

Simple question: when is life going to stop being about you? When are you going to start following the example of Jesus who not only washed His disciples feet in the last hours of His life but did something far more grotesque than holding the feet of the disciples? He would leave the upper room to be beaten, mocked, spat upon, stripped naked and nailed to a tree as the ultimate act of humility, service, and obedience to the Father. He served you by taking your sin upon Himself, suffering your punishment, and ultimately rising from the dead so you could be given the riches of heaven.

Not a follower of Jesus? Let the love of Christ demonstrated in the last hours of the life of Jesus move you. Let His death for you transform you. Let His resurrection empower you. Be saved.

Follower of Jesus -How is God calling you to take up your towel? Who do you need to bless? What excuses do you need to stop making?