Sermon Tone Analysis

Maundy Thursday

Comes from the Latin:

“Mandatum novum do vobis” (“a new commandment I give to you”; John 13:34).

John narrates for us that Jesus showed his love for the disciples through:

serving them in footwashing

Serving them in a meal which represents his body and blood for the New Covenant

PEOPLE ARE MESSY

John 13:1–17 (ESV)

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. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, 4 rose from supper.

He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

5 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.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

16 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.

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus cleans our mess and calls us to serve.

INTRO: People are messy.

illust.

- babies, brothers.

This whole account happens because people are messy.

Actually, this whole account happens because of two things: people are messy, and Jesus cleans the mess.

Mess mangles relationships

Why does Peter NOT want Jesus to wash his feet?

He believes to follow Jesus Peter should be the one to serve, not Jesus

Doesn’t want Jesus to deal with his mess.

Why is footwashing awkward?

Our feet are often the dirtiest part of us (at least in summer time and especially in ANE)

You need to take the posture of a servant

– Jesus symbolizes the cleansing that is necessary to have a relationship with him.

Jesus will cleanse the disciples spiritually through what he is about to do on the cross.

13:9-11 – Foot washing also shows that those who have been cleansed completely still and only need periodic cleaning.

Beyond symbolizing how he cleans our mess, Jesus uses this as an example to call his disciples to serve.

We have been cleaned so that we might engage the messiness of life.

How many of you really have dirty feet tonight?

(How many washed their feet before coming tonight?)

It may be a bit awkward to touch someone else’s feet, but we don’t really understand the humility necessary for the disciples to enter into even their friend’s mess.

Tried to think of a modern equivalent, but there is none – we avoid mess and discomfort at all cost.

There is no equivalent example – only practical application.

We don’t enter into each other’s mess by washing each other’s feet, but we do when we serve one another.

Jesus:

knows

- He is not surprised by their mess.

- He knows all their dirt - Judas will betray him.

- What they should have done, but instead of complaining, he does it himself.

He doesn’t consume - he produces.

We wait until things are neat or pretty before we serve.

How many times do we not want to know or want to know only to “pray.”

loves

- He has a heart for his disciples

- He loves them “to the end” or loves them completely – showing them the fullest extent of his love.

Service without love is duty.

serves

- He humbly serves instead of arrogantly demanding

- equally based on his love

even if it is unfruitful or misunderstood.

Service without love is unproven.

Jesus didn’t say, “C’mon guys, I’m about to die here and you want me to wash your feet?!"

Jesus cleans our mess and calls us to serve.

------

A MEAL WITH MESSIAH

Luke 22:14–20 (ESV)

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.

15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

A meal with Messiah gives us strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

INTRO: Famous Last meals

Allen Lee Davis

- Florida

- Robbery, 3 counts of murder

- Electric chair

- Lobster tail

- Fried Potatoes

- ½ lb fried shrimp

- 6oz fried clams

- ½ loaf garlic bread

- 32oz A&W root beer

Angel Nieves Diaz

- Florida

- Murder, kidnapping, armed robbery

- Declined a meal

- Was served the regular prison meal, but he refused to eat this as well

Ricky Ray Rector

- Arkansas

- 2 counts of murder

- Lethal injection