Introduction:

*Review of past weeks:

1.                   The Drive For Royal Service (v.1b-2)

a)                   He knew that His hour had come (v.1a)

(1)                 Jesus “knew” many things: He “knew”:

(2)                 He knew How To Live With A Sense of Timing.

(3)                 We Must Use Our Time For Our Father.

(4)                 The Bible Warns Those Who Think They Will Always Have Time To Do What They Should.

(5)                 He knew not The Time Of His Return.

(6)                 We don’t know the time of His return.

(7)                 He never knew you.

b)                  He knew that He that He should depart from this world to the Father (1b.)

(1)                 We don’t know when we are going to depart to the Father.

(2)                 Paul Explained That He Had The Desire To Depart And Be With Christ. 

c)                   He loved His own to the very end (v.1c)

d)                  | Jesus demonstrated His love for them by washing their feet, as this woman demonstrated her love for Jesus by washing His feet (Luke 7:38).   Here Jesus served them, to those who are faithful, when He comes again He will gird Himself and serve them (Luke 12:37) |

He knew His enemies (v.2)

2.                   The Demonstration Of Royal Service (v.3-5)

a)                   He knew His mission (v.3)

b)                  He laid aside His garments (v.4)

c)                   He Washed the disciples’ feet (v.5)       

d)                  The style of Jesus vs. the style of Satan.

(1)                 The Style of Jesus.

(2)                 The Style of Satan.

(3)                 God Has The Final Word.

3.                   The Prerequisite For Royal Service: Washing And Cleansing (v.6-11)

a)                   Washing is misunderstood (v.6)

b)                  Washing has a deeper meaning: Spiritual cleansing (v.7-8)

c)                   Washing is requested (v.9)

d)                  Washing is thorough and permanent (v.10)

e)                   Washing is not automatic nor by association (v.11)

!! A.                 To Finish the Work (v.12).

1.                  Washed their feet, took His garments, and sat down (v.12a)

a)                  Whatever Jesus starts, He finishes.

(1)                 The Apostle Paul was confident of this very thing:

Paul assured the Philippians that God will finish what He started: "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again (Philippians 1:6, NLT)…  "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6, NKJV)

(a)                 Confident—“to be persuaded of” and “have confidence in God’s promises”.   

(b)                Began—“to begin in.”  It is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in reference to salvation.

Paul rebuked certain believers who believed that they could finish in their own power what God had divinely begun in their lives solely by the power of His Holy Spirit: “Are you so foolish?” he asked rhetorically.  “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”  (Gal. 3:3).

Lydia, the first convert in Philippi, believed the gospel of Christ, Luke made it clear that “the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

(2)                 The Lord Begins The Work In Us, And Perfects It By The Power Of The Holy Spirit.

To the Galatians Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).

(a)                 To perfect—“to complete” to give the intensified meaning of “fully completed.”  Paul was absolutely certain that God will fully complete His work that he started in the Philippians.  There is no possibility of failure or of partial fulfillment.

Jesus said “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”  (John 4:34)

Our Lord also said "The works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”  (John 5:36, NKJV)

In His prayer to the Father, He said "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”  (John 17:4, NKJV)

The Last words of Jesus on the cross was "It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV)

Paul’s said his life was worth nothing unless he used it for doing the work assigned to Him by the Lord: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  (Acts 20:24, NKJV)

In his letter to Timothy he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  (2 Timothy 4:7).  How are you going to do this?

(3)                 You Need To Count The Cost (Luke 14:25-30).

The Cost of Discipleship "Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “ If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life.  Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.  And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.  “But don’t begin until you count the cost.  For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?  Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you! They would say, ‘ There’s the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!   "Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counselors and discussing whether his army of ten thousand is strong enough to defeat the twenty thousand soldiers who are marching against him?  If he is not able, then while the enemy is still far away, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace.  So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me." (Luke 14:25-33).

Keep your eyes on the Lord "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

2.                  Jesus then asks’ them a question (v.12).

a)                  Do you understand what I have done to you (v.12b)?

(1)                 It is not likely that they did.  So, He explained it: He had given them a lesson in humble service, an example for them to follow.  The world thinks that happiness is the result of others serving us, but real joy comes when we serve others in the name of Christ.

B.                To Serve Jesus As Master And Lord (v.13).

1.                  You call me teacher and Lord (v.13).

a)                  The servant of Jesus must serve Him as Master and Lord.

(1)                 The servant of the Lord Jesus is not just a follower of Jesus.  He is a servant, a slave (doulos) with no rights of his own whatsoever.

(2)                 Paul viewed the ministry primarily as serving the Lord and commonly referred to himself as a “bond-servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom.1:1; Gal.1:10; Col.1:7;  4:7; Titus 1:1).  The Lord was the one Paul wanted to please, not men.

In the midst of a raging storm at sea, he testified of that devotion to serve his Lord by telling the others on board, “This very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me” (Acts 27:23).

To the Galatians he wrote, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?  Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

In  1 Thessalonians 2:4  he declared, “Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.”

Paul knew well the truth that “the fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted” (Prov. 29:25).

(3)                 Everything Believers Do, First Of All, Is Service To Him:

Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. " (1 Corinthians 10:31).

On the day that Jesus judges the nations He "Will say to those on His right, ‘ Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘ Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘ When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “ The King will answer and say to them, ‘ Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine , even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ " (Matthew 25:34-40, NASB95)

Paul writing to the church in Colosse says, "You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord.  Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.”  (Colossians 3:22-24, NLT)

!! C.                To serve other believers, leading them to be washed and cleansed (v.14)

1.                  You also ought to wash one-another’s feet (v.14b).

a)                  We are to serve because of Jesus’ example.

(1)                 It would be easy to wash Jesus' feet, but to wash each others' feet is where the difficulty lies. 

(2)                 Is there someone's feet I am unwilling to wash?  Remember Jesus washed even Judas' feet.

We are to follow God’s example in everything we do "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."  (Ephesians 5:1-2, NKJV)

(3)                 What kind of fragrance do you leave behind?  Perfume of cigarette smoke? 

b)                  Serving others: being others centered, not self-centered.

(1)                 Being Self Centered Is A Destructive Sin:

According to the New Testament, the church in Corinth had this problem, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For it has been declared to me concerning you… that there are contentions among you.”  (1 Corinthians 1:10-11, NKJV)

2 Chapters later he says "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.  For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, NKJV)

Selfish ambition is produced by and is a clear mark of the “deeds of the flesh” "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies… "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. " (Galatians 5:19-20; James 3:16, NASB95)

(2)                 Being Others Centered Is A Great Need.

Paul wrote to the Philippians saying, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, NKJV)

Remember the man who wanted to know who his neighbor is, Jesus said "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands? ” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “ Go and do the same.”" (Luke 10:36-37, NASB95).

(3)                 One-Another Ministries.

(a)                 Serve one another (Galatians 5:13-15, 25-26); Do not lie to one another (Col. 3:9-10)

(b)                Love one another (John 13:34-35); Wash one another’s feet (John 13:3-5)

(c)                 Pray for one another (James 5:16); Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50)

(d)                Edify one another (Romans 14:19); Do not judge one another (Romans 14:13)

(e)                 Forgive one another (Eph.4:32); Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21; 1Pet.5:5)

(f)                  Prefer one another (Romans 12:9-10); Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet.4:7-9)

(g)                Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1-5); Encourage one another (1Thess.5:13; Heb.3:13)

(4)                 One-Another’s We Are Not To Do.

(a)                 Devouring and biting one another (Gal.5:15)

(b)                Slandering one another (James 4:11)

(c)                 Grumbling at each other (James 5:7-9)

! II.                  The Determinant (Reasons) For Royal Service (v.15-17)

A.                 Because of Jesus’ example (v.15)

1.                  I have given you and example (v.15)

a)                  As I have done to you. 

(1)                 The Lord will not tell us to do something that He has not done himself: 

Remember when Jesus said in the Sermon On the Mount, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," (Matthew 5:44, NKJV)

Jesus loved His enemies enough to die for them, Paul wrote saying “scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die…  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…  "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  (Romans 5:7, 8)

Jesus taught over and over about prayer and forgiveness "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots." (Luke 23:34, NKJV)

Jesus said "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”" (Mark 10:45, NKJV)

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV)

Paul writes about the "meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:1, NKJV)

Paul wrote about having the same attitude at Jesus saying "Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8, NLT)

Peter wrote "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: " (1 Peter 2:21, NKJV)

"For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:17-18, NKJV)

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin," (1 Peter 4:1, NKJV)

b)                  That you should do (v.15b)

(1)                 No task is beneath you!  Be willing to give yourself to serve another persons need.  Don't put yourself on pedestals.  Don't exalt yourself.  Don't get so high and mighty that you begin to demand people to serve you.  When I'm not willing to serve, and to take care of someone else's needs, then I've become bigger than my Lord and then I'm in big trouble. 

(2)                 Ask yourselves the question, “Is there someone’s feet I am unwilling to wash”?  Remember, Jesus even washed Judas’ feet!

(3)                 Don’t be a Diotraphes  (3John9), desiring to be first, not serving anyone, but always wanting to be served.

!! B.                Because believers are not as great as the Lord (v.16)

1.                  A Servant is not greater than his master (v.16).

a)                  A Disciple is not above their teacher. 

(1)                 I’m sending you.  You are My servants.  You’re not greater than I am.  If I, your Lord, am willing to serve you, then you must be willing to serve others.  I’ve set the example for you.

Jesus himself said "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master…  "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. “  (Matt.10:24; Luke 6:40, NASB95)

"Remember the word that I said to you, Jesus said “A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20)

(2)                 The recurrence of "sent" at this point is a reminder that Jesus was constantly conscious of being commissioned by the Father.  Jesus included his disciples in the commission and also included them in the action of servanthood.

(3)                 The Lord had given them an example, an object lesson of what they should do to one another spiritually.

(4)                 If pride or personal animosities prevent us from stooping to serve our brethren, we should remember that we are not greater than our Master.

Servants Do Not Tell Their Masters What To Do—"James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You."  (Mark 10:35)

                Remember Peter told Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8).

In the book of Acts God told Peter to eat food that was on the blanket “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! (Acts 10:13-14, NKJV)

C.                Because of resulting joy (v.17)

You will notice in the text that there are two “ifs”

1.                  Knowing these things (v.17a).

a)                  All Service Of Christ Is Based Upon Intelligent Knowledge.

(1)                 There are thousands who will never know these things because they don’t know their creator.

(2)                 There are those who do not know these things even though they do hear them.  Why? 

(a)                 They come to church never giving deep attention to the hearing of the Word. 

(b)                Some just have no care to know at all.

(c)                 Some think they already know, “Iv’e heard this before”.  They have already made up their mind that they do know, and he who thinks he knows will never learn (1Cor.8:2)

2.                  You are blessed if you do them (v.17b)

a)                  Knowledge put into practice.

(1)                 The theory of being a servant isn’t worth very much. But the practice of being a servant pleases God and fulfills our calling.  The real blessing comes in doing not just knowing. 

True way into the kingdom & the Parable of the two builders "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”" (Matthew 7:21-27, NKJV)

Jesus said "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”" (Luke 11:28)

James writes "He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25, NKJV)

(2)                 A believer is to serve because of resulting joy. The Greek tense is continuous, “Happy you are if you keep on doing them [these things, serving].” Just knowing the truth is not enough. We must do the truth and keep on doing the truth. When we do, we are filled with joy. (Cp. John 15:11.)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

“Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).