Sermon Tone Analysis

Welcoming you are probably are wondering what in the world is going on with the pews and seating arrangements, you will find out as we go, we have a special service planned this morning, and prayer and then into meaning of Baptism

The Meaning of Baptism

Here we see the example of Jesus’ baptism, before he started his earthly ministry, he went to John the Baptist in the wilderness along the Jordan River and had him baptism him.

We also see the trinity here, Jesus the Son of God, being baptized, we then see as Jesus comes up out of the water, that the heavens open up that a dove comes down to Jesus which we are told is the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit.

Then we see that a voice from heaven spoke saying this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, this is God the Father.

Jesus went out into the river with John the Baptist, John would then dunk Jesus under water, because we are told that Jesus went up immediately from the water, that is he came up out of the water.

We need to understand that Baptism does not get you into heaven, and the lack or the missing of baptism does not keep you from heaven, but it is a form of obedience and also a form of worship to Jesus.

We are given a great meaning of what baptism represents in Romans 6:3-5

See when we go down into the water we are symbolically representing that we are dying to our old way of life, just as Jesus died for our sins, we have been forgiven of those sins and are putting them behind us.

As we are under the water we symbolize that we are buried with Christ in the death of those sins, meaning that we are going to strive to not sin, and we are putting that old way of life away.

Then when we come up out of the water, we are symbolizing that we are following Jesus in his resurrection, in a new life, as followers of Jesus, to strive to live like him, each day we will strive to walk closer and closer to him.

Again we must remember baptism does not save us, it does not get us into heaven, but it shows our obedience, and it shows the world that we are a follow of Jesus Christ and we are going to strive to walk in the newness of life to live a life fully commited to Jesus.

I am now going to turn it over to Pastor Wayne, for announcements and a song, as I go to prepare for a Baptism.

Why Did Jesus wash the feet of the Disciples?

Jesus and the disciples are preparing for the Passover Festival, Jesus knows his time to be arrested and crucified was getting close, and then to return back to heaven.

Judas Iscariot had already been deceived by Satan to betray Jesus and turn him over to the Jewish officials, and it was time for Supper.

During the Passover Festival which last a week long, there is a whole process the actual last supper, or what we refer to as the Lord’s Supper is the meal of the first night also called the Seder by the Jewish people.

At this meal there is a lot of customs that are included such as telling the story, discussing the story, drinking four cups of wine - which they each have a meaning, partaking of symbolic foods, and reclining in celebration of freedom.

The story that is told is that of the Exodus from Egypt, where Moses lead God’s people out of bondage.

So as we see that the meal was a process, not just sit down eat, get up and leave, Jesus and the disciples had come in and sat down to what we call the last supper, or Lord’s Supper.

At some point Jesus gets up takes his outer clothes off, and ties a towel around his waste and takes a basin of water and begins to wash the feet of the disciples.

Now we must understand that touching feet was regarded as menial slave work and as such was primarily an assignment given to Gentile slaves and women.

It definitely was not something the master, or Rabbi was going to do, as it was the job of the lowliest servant.

But as we see in Philippians 2:7

Philippians 2:7 (CSB)

7 Instead he emptied himself

by assuming the form of a servant,

taking on the likeness of humanity.

Here Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Son of God, has taken on the lowliest of servants jobs and is washing his disciples feet.

Jesus was not just doing this task to do it, but as He says in verse 15, I have given you an example.

Jesus was modeling to the disciple, servanthood, and humility in order that we may also show humility and be servants to others.

We are to serve others, especially when things get dirty, there are a lot of times, when people are going through tough times and we do not want to get involved, or we want to just stay away from the situation, but Jesus showed us here that is when we need to step up to the plate.

Later on in this chapter Jesus gives us a new command, John 13:34-35

Jesus tells us to love one another, and by this love will others know that we are his disciples.

When we truly show the love of Christ to others, it means we have to get down and dirty.

In the account that Luke gives of the Lord’s Supper, the disciples were discussing who was the greatest, if we were to try to fit this all together, we might think or assume, that Jesus hears them in this discussion, and then just gets up and starts his preparation for washing their feet, without even saying anything.

Jesus telling a parable tells the disciples and the crowd, in Matthew 20:16

We have to realize it is about doing what God has called us to, not about what we necessarily want to do.

Now at this time we are going to do something that I have never seen done, that I do not know if it has even ever been done in this church, but is what God has directed me and Wayne to do, we have discussed it and planned it and feel that it is what God is leading us to do, and is why the pews are moved back, and the chairs are set up like they are.

We are going to come and go down each row and wash one foot of each person, we are not using soap as we know some people are allergic to types of soap, so we have just plain water, and then towels.

We will also have soft music playing as we do this, as we show our humility and servanthood to this congregation that God has instructed us to lead and shepherd.

Foot Washing.

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper

Again they are participating in the Passover Festival, this is the meal of the first night and again there is a whole process that goes with it.

It is not clear to exactly what point in the meal process that they were at, possible preparing to eat the main course or just finishing the lamb shank.

When Jesus takes the bread and gives a new meaning to the bread and eating it.

The unleavened bread symbolized the severing of the Israelites from the old life in Egypt, it represented a separation from worldliness, sin, and false religion and the beginning of a new life of holiness and godliness.

From then on in the Lord’s Supper, the bread would symbolize Christ body, which He sacrificed for the salvation of men.

Next Jesus takes a cup, and they drank from it, this is believed to be the third cup of the meal.

Jesus says about the cup, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, now the wine, or as we use the juice does not turn into blood, but is symbolic of Jesus’ blood that He shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, and to establish the new covenant, between men and God.

Jesus then tells the disciples I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God, this does a couple of things here, He is telling the disciples, this is the last time He will participate in the Passover meal with them here on earth until His return, and it also serves as a promise that He will return and that He will return to set up His millennial reign.

After they finished they left the upper room singing a hymn.

As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he gave them some warnings about partaking in the Lord’s Supper in the wrong manner which is found in 1 Corinthians 11:27-33

First, we are told in an unworthy manner, that is with an unrepentant heart, or a spirit of bitterness, or any other ungodly attitudes in their life they will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.

Another words you need to examine yourself before accepting the Lord’s Supper, making sure there is nothing that is being harbored in your heart that will cause you to sin against the Lord.

If we judge ourselves and are honest with ourselves, and ask God to convict us if there is something that we need to repent of or to go ask for forgiveness of someone that we have wronged, once we are clear, clean then we can take the Lord’s Supper with a clean heart.

But if we do not do that and we just take the Lord’s Supper without checking ourselves first, we are going to bring judgment on ourselves.

Verse 30 tells us that is why many are sick and ill, and some have even fallen asleep - and that is not that they have taken a nap.

That is they had some serious offense and still participated in the Lord’s Supper and they died.

We are told that if we would properly judge ourselves, then God would not need to judge us, but when we are judged by the Lord we will be disciplined, God is a just God.

Therefore, only you and God truly knows your heart, we are going to have a song of invitation, and I believe due to having the Lord’s Supper we are going to just allow the video to play this morning in order to give every single person the opportunity to come to the altar if they need too.

If you need to just come and talk to the Lord you can do it right there in your seat, but these altars are open, and I don’t know but I love to pray on these steps.

I have already this morning.

If you need to go to someone and ask for forgiveness, then take this time to do that, if you need to step outside and make a phone call, to ask for forgiveness then please do.

I truly believe in being right with God and others before you partake in the the Lord’s Supper.

If you need to come and commit to follow Jesus in believer’s baptism, I will be right down front here, if you need to come and talk about church membership, then again I will be right down front here.

If you are here this morning and God has been speaking to your heart, and you have never called on the name of the Lord for salvation, to make Jesus to the Lord of your life, then please do not hesitate, you do not know when your life will end, when you will step into eternity and at that point it will be to late.

Will come this morning believing in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross to shed his blood for the forgiveness of your sins, three days later God raised him from the dead to give us victory over death and sin, and now reigns in heaven.

If you believe that will you come and confess him with your mouth before man that you want him to be your Lord and Savior.

It is that easy.