The Order of the Towel/ Joining the Order
... And it happened in an Upper Room. • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 80 viewsNotes
Transcript
The lifestyle of a servant leader
The lifestyle of a servant leader
Introduction:
In 2006, Veronica and I were officially appointed as missionaries, being sent by our local church to a foreign field. On that day back in 2006, when Veronica and I were appointed… we were given a small towel. Odd gift right?
The towel was more than just a towel… it is a symbol. The towel symbolizes the fact that we had officially been inducted into the Order of the Towel. What is the order of the towel? It is a dedication to a lifestyle of servant leadership.
This lifestyle of servant leadership is not reserved for super Christians, missionaries and pastors.... No, it is a call that Jesus gave to everyone who expresses faith in Him.... to everyone who calls themselves a Christian.
Today as we open our bibles to the 13th chapter of John’s gospel, each of us is going to be challenged from God’s Word to wholeheartedly commit to Join the Order..... the order of the towel and commit to a lifestyle of service for Christ.
Please open your Bibles to John 13 this morning. As we continue our study through the Gospel of John, we are going to be beginning a mini-series today titled: “It happened in an Upper Room”. As you guessed it, this series will cover chapters 13-17 of John’s Gospel… because those chapters cover the time frame when Jesus is with his disciples in the Upper Room.
In today’s message we will mainly be focusing on verses 1-17 of John 13.
I trust you have found your place… let’s begin by reading verses 1-20 together to help us understand the overall context of the situation.
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had 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 back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, 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 also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
As Christians, we are to be like Christ. — It’s in our name!
Paul further clarifies that call and tells us in Romans 8 that the believer in Christ has actually been predestined to be conformed into the image of Christ! If you are a Christian today… then you have been called by God… to become like Christ.
What does that call entail? It includes a call to join the order of the Towel..... a call to a commitment to pattern our lives after Christ.
Let’s consider the first step in Joining the Order of the towel. The commitment to pattern our lives after Christ. Let’s see what the details of that step looks like as it is expressed through the humility of Christ in verses 1-3.
I. The Humility of Christ: (Expressed) (1-3)
The humility of Christ is highlighted in these verses as Jesus pours out his heart to his disciples and begins to illustrate the importance of having a servants heart.
Let’s look back at verse 1...
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Now before the Feast of the Passover…
By the use of that phrase, John is telling us “Hey! pay attention! There is a scene change coming!”
If you will remember from last week, as chapter 12 ended Jesus had gone away from the religious rulers and had spent time alone talking with God the Father. Now as we come to chapter 13, there is a scene change… Jesus is now in the upper room…. having his last supper with his disciples… with his apprentices… with the men he had poured his life into for the last 3 and a half years. The men who would soon be on the front lines… as the pioneers of the new church era that would soon be born.
Notice that in John’s account of the upper room he does not give us all the details of the preparation. We don’t have the details of Jesus and the disciples working through the logistics of finding the prepared room.
If you want to read about those details then you can find them in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. Those passages tell us about how the room was identified and the Passover meal was prepared.
Why doesn’t John include those logistical details?
They are not important to John’s purpose and focus. John wants his readers to see Christ… as the Son of God.... who so loved the world that He came.... was born in the flesh while still maintaining His identity as God… lived a perfect sinless life.... fulfilled prophecy.... demonstrated the truth of who He is.... and is now making His way to the cross where He would willingly lay down His life… so that you and I might live.
John wants to make sure his readers.... that’s us by the way.... see the love of Christ.... while not getting bogged down in the logistics of Christ.
We’re back to that head knowledge versus heart embracing thing again. John wants us to see… know… and fully embrace the heart of Jesus.
In the last phrase of verse 1, John records for us an expression of Jesus’ heart.
“… having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
The phrase, “… he loved them to the end”, expresses that Jesus loves His own (all who have responded in faith to Christ as Savior and Lord) with the fullest possible amount of love.
There are different words for Love used in the Greek speaking world. We are familiar with a few, right?
Phileo (Philadelphia)= brotherly love = I love you because you are just like me
Eros = erotic love
Agape (the word used here) is an expression of love that is not a emotional reaction or response, but a commitment to love. It is the type of commitment that chooses to love even when there is no possibility of that love being reciprocated.
The phrase, “He loved them to the end” is an expression of the perfection of His love towards those who belong to Him.
While it is true that God loves the world (John 3:16), and lost sinners (Matt. 5:44-45; Titus 3:4).
God loves His own with a perfect, eternal, redeeming love… a love “which surpasses knowledge” according to Ephesians 3:19.
Paul speaks about the love of Christ for those who belong to Him in Romans 8:35-39...
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you are a born again believer.... then God loves you with a perfect, eternal redeeming… mind blowing love! Amen!!! (its ok to get excited....)
When we get to chapter 17, we’ll see this even more clearly. In fact, as we work through the entire Upper Room event (ch. 13-17), we are going to see that love for the disciples, and love for those who would come after the disciples is an overarching theme. Teaching people to love was one of Jesus’ overall purposes that is highlighted quite on often in these 5 chapters.
Even while sitting at supper under the pressure of His own imminent death… under the cloud of the cross.... there was no diminishing of Christ’s love for his disciples.
Often people ask… how much did Jesus really know while he was ministering on earth? (good question)
Verses 1-3 help us to understand that Jesus was not ignorant of who He was or what was to come.
Verse 1: “… Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father”
Verse 2: “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, “
Verse 3: “… Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,”…
So, what all did Jesus know?
- His time: He knew that it was time for his passion to begin.... his journey to the cross was imminent.
His betrayer: He knew that Judas was going to betray him.
His position/ His possessions: He knew that God the Father had already given Jesus.. God the Son full ownership and sovereign authority over all things....
His identity: Jesus knew who He was… where He came from… and where He was going…
Knowing all of that.... Jesus goes on to express the greatest act of humility and humble love… by showing love to an enemy. This event highlights the stark contrast between Jesus’ love and Judas’ hate.
Jesus was getting ready.... as the Master and Lord of the Universe.... to humble himself and wash the feet his friends, his apprentices… and of an enemy who had already betrayed Jesus in hear heart… and would soon complete that betrayal with his actions....
That is the kind of love that Jesus wants us to grow in.
Jesus wants us to love Him so much that we are willing to be humiliated.....
Jesus wants us to love Him so much that we are willing to love people who may not ever love us back....
Jesus wants us to love Him so much that even though we know there may be consequences..... we still radically love Him and others no matter the cost.
One author pointed out that Jesus was specifically saying to his people in this passage, “If you want to be my servants, if you want to grow in this authentic aspect of discipleship, if that is what you really desire, you must allow your hearts to deepen in love.” (Hughes)
If we want to grow as disciples.... as followers of Christ.... Christ is calling us all to grow in love.
In verses 1-3, John showed us the Humility of Christ. Christ expressed his heart.... his love for all those who belong to Him.... Christ calls us to love like He loves… He is the one after whom we are to pattern our lives.
Next, beginning in verse 4, Jesus lives out the example of service... demonstrating his radical commitment of love… even to the one who would betray him.
The next step in joining the order of the towel… is to follow the example of Christ.
II. The Example of Christ: (Demonstrated) (4-11)
At this point we remember the scene. Jesus and his disciples are in the upper room together. No one else is looking. The world is moving ahead, but in this upper room it almost seems like time is standing still as Jesus stands from the meal and begins the process of washing everyone’s feet.
John masterfully paints the picture, demonstrating Christ’s servant leadership.
Let’s look at the picture being painted in our minds. It was the Passover meal. That means that the disciples would have been reclining in the traditional posture around the table. Each person would have been leaning on their left to support their body and head. They would have had their right hand free to reach the food on the table and feed themselves. Their feet would have been stretch out behind them… pointing away from the table.
Jesus gets up from the table.... and begins to illustrate his entire earthly ministry in this selfless act of service.
Jesus rises from supper just like he rose from his place in heaven to become a man in the incarnation.
Jesus laid aside his garments just like he had temporarily laid aside his glory as God the Son
He takes a towel and wraps himself, just like he did when he took on the form of a servant… the form of a man. Wrapping the towel around his waist shows us that he came to serve.
He pours the water in the basin, just like he would soon pour out his blood so that our sins might be washed away.
He washes his disciples’ feet just like he cleanses the souls of those who respond in faith to Him.
On this monumental occasion, Jesus humility of washing the disciples feet was a dramatization of what Paul would write later in Philippians 2:5-9:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
The whole life and ministry of Jesus was dominated by service. Matthew 20:28 records the words of Christ when he said,
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I bet you could have heard a pin drop in the uncomfortable quite of the upper room as Jesus moved from disciple to disciple washing their dirty feet.
Just imagine the tension as Jesus came to the feet of Judas… Jesus knowing that these feet will soon leave the room and go out into the darkness to betray him. Judas knowing… that he was to betray the very man who had humbled himself and was in the very act of washing his feet.
Then, in verse 6 Jesus comes to Peter.
We can always count on Peter to tell us what the other disciples may have been thinking but were too afraid or maybe embarrassed to say out loud.
Peter says.... Lord, do you wash my feet?
As you probably know, footwashing was a task reserved for servants… never the master. In Jewish society the master of the house would have never dressed in a servant’s towel.. That would have been absurd!
Look at Jesus’ answer in verse 7:
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Peter promptly answers Jesus by putting his foot in his mouth in verse 8:
“Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”
The Greek is a bit more forceful than the English translation reveals. The verse could be translated as “Never shall you wash my feet until eternity!”
Then Jesus responds: “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
Not wanting to be separated from Christ, Peter then quickly comes back with his response in verse 9,
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Peter is like a pendulum. He swings back and forth based on the passion of the moment. When Jesus began washing feet he swung one way.... Never Lord… you can’t do this....
Now, he swings to the polar opposite potions and says.... we’ll if you’re going to wash me then wash every square inch of me!
Noticing Peter’s lack of understanding, which Jesus predicted in verse 7, Jesus lovingly helps his apprentices… his disciples understand in verses 10-11.
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Jesus’ comment has a spiritual meaning but it is based in Jewish culture.
When you had bathed and then would walk to another person’s house, the only thing needed was to have the guests feet washed in order for them to be considered clean. There was no need for an entire new cleansing.... just a need to wash off the contamination that had been picked up from the walk from one house to the other.
As believers, the disciples didn’t need a new spiritual cleansing, but what they did need was a daily spiritual cleansing from the contaminating effects of sin.
The same is true for us. As believers in Christ living in a sinful and fallen world, we daily get contaminated with sin. Each time we sin.... we don’t need a full cleansing… we just need to be spiritually cleansed from the contaminating effects of sin.
That is why having a close walk with the Lord is so important. The closer our relationship with the Lord, the more sensitive we will be to our sin… and the more often we can recognize those areas and ask for forgiveness.
It is so important to keep short accounts..... the more time we spend with Jesus through the Word and Prayer, the more sensitive we will be to our own sinfulness, and the more often we will come to Him for those daily spiritual cleansings…
We are constantly comforted by the fact that God has revealed to us that, “if we confess our sins… he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.”
Our forgiveness… our spiritual cleansing isn’t based on us.... it is rooted in the Character of God.. the fact that He is faithful and Just.... and His character never changes…
Jesus’ words help the disciples understand that those who have responded in faith to Christ… were clean already! They had been forgiven… their place in God’s family had been confirmed.....
But, sadly not all of them were clean. Judas would soon live out his lack of faith.... his rejection of Christ as he betrays him to the religious leaders.
We are told that Jesus finished washing the disciples’ feet, rose again, put on his garments and took his place reclining at the table.
The writer of Hebrews, in 1:3, parallels Jesus’ actions here as he shares about Jesus’ role as our source of reconciliation....
“After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Christ is our example… and He is the example that we are to pattern our lives after.
So far in this passage, John has pointed out attention to the humility of Christ expressed through the heart of Christ. He has drawn our attention to the example of Christ. The perfect pattern of love and service that we are to model our lives after.
Now, John shares with us the next step in joining the Order of the Towel. Embracing the Challenge from Christ.
III. The Challenge from Christ (12-17)
Look with me at verse 12.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
At this point I’m fairly sure they had a pretty good idea, but as we read it seems like Jesus still takes time to clarify the command he has just given them.
Luke’s gospel gives us some more details about what took place in the Upper Room.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
The cross was just hours away and what were the disciples doing? Arguing about their pride!
Jesus had told them several times that in order to be a leader.... you must be a servant. He lived it… He illustrated it....
Usually when there was a meeting or supper and there were no servants to wash the guest’s feet, the first fe people to arrive would perform the ceremony for the rest of the guests.
We can only imagine when exactly this argument took place, but it very well could have happened as they arrived and were deciding who would draw the short straw and wash feet.!
As the disciples argued about who would sit on the throne.... Jesus began serving with the towel.
Jesus helps his disciples further understand by giving them a challenge in verse 13.
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, 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 also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Jesus clarifies his command… his challenge to his apprentices with a logical argument.
“If it is true for me (the greater… teacher / master), how much more is it true for all of you (the lesser)?
If I (the Creator, Lord, and Master of the Universe) am not too proud… or too good good to bend down put on the towel of a servant.... and get dirty while washing feet... then why do you think you are?
In 1878 a man named Samuel Brengle, a man who had once aspired to the high office of Bishop crossed the Atlantic ocean from America to England with hopes of joining a newly formed organization called the Salvation Army. Brengle was a bright and highly qualified Methodist minister.
William Booth, who began the Salvation army was reluctant to accept his service. You see, Brengle had been his own boss for too long. So, in order to help Brengle learn humility, Both put Brengle to work cleaning the boots of the other trainees.
Brengle said to himself.... did I cross the Atlantic ocean in order to polish boots!
Then.... almost like in a vision.. Brengle saw Jesus bending over, washing the feet of a group of rough, unsophisticated fisherman...... then he whispered… “Lord.... you washed their feet..... I will polish their boots.”
If we say that we are Christians.... followers of Christ. That name badge comes with a commitment for humble service. It comes with a lifetime membership to the Order of the Towel.
And that doesn’t just mean to wash the feet of all those people outside of the church... No, it means that we are to humbly serve… washing the feet of one another.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t exclude people outside of the church (unbelievers), but his challenge is primarily meant for brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Which sometimes is much more difficult.
Right? Sometimes it is much easier to humble ourselves and serve people we don’t know.
But, when we begin to think about the people in our own families? When you think about washing the feet of your little sister or big brother… then that changes things!
Jesus’ instructions are clear in verses 14-15:
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 also should do just as I have done to you.
Jesus is telling us that the church… all those who have responded in faith to Christ as Savior and Lord have received the essential cleansing by him for the forgiveness of sins. Praise the Lord!
We can’t be forgiven any other way!
But, in our day to day ministries, we can help to reduce the dirt of the world.... by humbly serving one another and by encouraging one another to godliness.
Conclusion/ Application:
Notice the words of Jesus in verse 17.
Christ challenges the disciples and every one of us with a refrain that should echo in our hearts and minds...
“If.... or now that… you know these things, blessed (fortunate or happy) are you if you do them.” (Jn. 13:17)
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say… happy are those people who have these things done to them. Or, happy are the people who think really hard about doing these things.... or study them on Sunday morning.
Jesus says, happy/ fortunate are those people who do them!
Serving people is dirty work. We can’t make people clean by lecturing them, scolding them or patronizing them. We have to get our hands dirty if we are going to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation and helping one another to grow in godliness.
Main Idea:
A life truly patterned after Christ demands a dedication to love and serve like Christ. (that includes one another… as well as all of the unbelievers that God brings into your path).
Truths to Apply:
What are the indicators that we have joined the Order of the Towel?
Adopt the heart of Christ.... —> knit our hearts together with Christ.... desire that your heart beats with the same cadence and rhythm as Jesus’ humble servants heart.
Embrace the example of Christ.... —> Pattern our lives after Christ
Commit to the Challenge of Christ… —>
“now that you know these things… blessed are you if you do them.” That is a convicting challenge!
If this is true.... and based on our understanding of God’s Character and His Word… we can believe that it is.... then that means that the opposite must also be true.
“… now that you know these things.... cursed are you if you do not do them...” — how sad would that be… to know we are to do something… but because of our own pride.... our busy lives.... we just never get around to doing them....
Christ has given us a pattern to follow..... He initiated the “Order of the Towel”..... He demonstrated what it means to be a servant leader.... with humility, with purposeful intent.... with a submissive attitude… putting the needs of others before his own comfort...
Let me ask you.... how much margin do you have in your schedule for being a servant? For loving and serving those in the body.... the believers that are part of our local church?
For encouraging other Christians that are members of another local church? For spending time with an unsaved neighbor, friend or acquaintance?
The enemy of the gospel is hurry! Hurry/ business and love are incompatible. (Dallas Willard)
When we fill our lives and our schedules with seemingly good things.... we rob ourselves of the blessing of being involved in the best things. The things that will have an eternal significance!
Joining the Order of the Towel requires time.... and we only have so much of it. Christ has called us to serve one another.
How much time do you have factored into your schedule so that you can be spontaneous and serve others when the need arises.... so that you can drop everything and just love on someone who needs it?
Very often, truly loving others is not easy.... very often, truly loving others in a sacrificial way is not comfortable… it is difficult… and it may result in some hard decisions. — But God’s glory is worth it... The unity and effectiveness of Christ’s church is worth it....
Being a servant leader.. requires intentionality and the dedication of time, talents, and treasures. How many of those things are will willing to freely give to serve our Lord and Savior?
He gave everything for us.... the least we can do is dedicate our lives to Him by loving and serving others for Him… advancing the gospel.... bringing glory to God as people are given the opportunity to respond in faith to Him and His glorious gospel.
If God is working in your heart today… don’t suppress it. Don’t try to justify it away.... deal with the Lord today.
As we sing the song, “He will hold me fast” as our song for response, talk with the Lord today.
If you would like to talk with someone, please see me after the service and we would be happy to take you aside and talk with you in private about your spiritual needs.
Let’s pray: