Humility and Service (Communion and Foot washing)
Gospel of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 160 viewsHumilty and Service (Communion and Footwashing)
Notes
Transcript
John 13
1It 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.
2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
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. 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; 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. 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. 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.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10Jesus 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.”
11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
Understandably you get out of humility and service exactly what you put into it. It is all about the attitudes and activities that you have regarding service to others.
12When 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.
I took communion first as a Roman Catholic kid. The mystery and majesty of this is still as clear as a bell to me. Some of that mystery and majesty went away with we snuck into the Sacristy and sampled this nasty wine and ate some wafers
13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Do you remember the 1st time you took communion? What was your tradition? What if any effect did it have on you?
I remember distinctly the first time I washed my feet (Ha, Ha) Had my feet washed… It was embarrassing, it tickled but it was very humbling.
Communion and foot washing was done by the early church and we should not leave this behind.
“As often as you do this…remember me
14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
“As often as you do this…remember me
17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Communion
“As often as you do this…remember me
“As often as you do this…remember me
Jesus calls together his closet associates, his disciples for his final meal.
They gathered in a room that was made ready for them when they came to Jerusalem for Passover.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
This meal happened during the Passover, Jesus is the Passover Lamb but this was modified by Christ in relation to him and his mission that night during the meal.
This meal happened during the Passover, Jesus is the Passover Lamb but this was modified by Christ in relation to him and his mission that night during the meal.
This meal happened during the Passover, Jesus is the Passover Lamb but this was modified by Christ in relation to him and his mission that night during the meal.
What is the Passover?
What is the Passover
Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.
This is the meal that is first served as a sign, a sign of redemption that reflects on the exodus of the Hebrews from captivity
This is the meal that is first served as a sign, a sign of redemption that reflects on the exodus of the Hebrews from captivity
Next it is a sign of God’s continued faithfulness to future generations.
Passover is celebrated in the month of Nisan 14, it varies, but is in the spring
Jesus as a the Passover Lamb
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Part of the Passover ritual is the killing of a lamb without blemish (a perfect lamb) as an atonement ( a covering, a payment) for sins.
Part of the Passover ritual is the killing of a lamb without blemish (a perfect lamb) as an atonement ( a covering, a payment) for sins.
Jesus is called the Passover Lamb…the perfect, sinless, blameless, innocent sacrifice that is made available for us.
Jesus is identified as the Passover Lamb and is the one who will take away the sin of the world
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
29
At the same time he is the Son of God
John
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
He is the Messiah, the chosen one the Savior
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
We are reminded strongly of the Old Testament passage from . “The suffering Servant”
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
A Biblical Theology of the New Testament The Lamb of God in the Gospel of John
Another possible Old Testament allusion suggested by the Lamb imagery in the fourth gospel is the Passover lamb. Passover symbolism is certainly present in the gospel of John, especially in relation to the death of Jesus. According to John 19:14, Jesus was condemned at noon on the day before the Passover at the very time the priests began to slay the paschal lambs in the Jerusalem temple
In relation to Jesus death, we have to be aware of His coming again. Jesus is called the “Lamb” some 27 times in Revelation.
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
JESUS ANSWERS ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AND ALLUSIONS FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH THROUGH THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
Let’s return to the upper room. Jesus is there with his disciples, with his inner circle of disciples, with Judas (the one who would betray Him)
With the servers of the meal, both men and women probably more women.
Jesus proceeds to lay out all of history of human kind from Genesis through Exodus, to The Law and to The Prophets. Through the New Testament.
He specifically talked about the one who would betray him
He uses the “Son of Man” from Ezekiel
He uses the “body broken” from Isaiah
He uses the blood of the old and new covenant from .
Then he says he is going away and do this supper continually in remembrance of Him.
Then he says he is going away and do this supper continually in remembrance of Him.
From this we gather, our communion service.
We hold these truth about communion
It is only a remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Jesus body is not present in the wafer, cracker or pie crust we use
Jesus blood is not present in the grape juice or wine
We place no catechism around receiving these elements… except faith in Christ for what he has done
This only a remembrance!!
Humble Service - Foot washing
In the ancient Near East, dust was common, footwashing was a common provision for travelers.
Humble Service
We now come to the idea of “foot washing”
In the ancient Near East, dust was common
Obviously not regularly done in our culture
Most would be embarrassed to have there feet washed
Some would saw this represents the cleansing His death will have for the human race that has all been defiled with sin…He washed all their feet even Judas. He died for ALL, even those who don’t deserve it.
It will be practiced this year at our Maundy Thursday service. We will be washing each other hands as a symbol of the “cleansing effect of Christ’s death was for all of us.”
I hope that we can celebrate today our remembrance of the Last Supper and sacrifice of Jesus for us on the cross.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
1Co 11
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 co
We are doing communion a bit different this month
We will have two stations set-up here on either side. You can come up alone, or with your friends and family. Take the bread and juice back to your seat and take it
We do celebrate open communion here. If you are a follower of Christ you are welcome at our table.
If you have NOT yet committed your life to Christ or are holding a sin or grudge against someone else take this time to reconcile with God and allow him to lead and guide your next steps.
Vegetable dipped in bitter herbs “horseradish” this is bitterness of captivity
Matza - This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come.