WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 Famed hip-hop artist Kanye West wrote in all caps, mind you, 00:00:05.379 --> 00:00:08.080 Yo, won't you let me be great? 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:11.660 Please, I beg you, give me a break. 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:13.960 Please, let me be great. 00:00:14.820 --> 00:00:20.039 Now, hopefully you don't tune me out because I've mentioned Kanye West in the first minute of my sermon. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.019 But the only reason I mention Ye is because of this phrase, 00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:31.879 this let me be great that I started hearing yous colloquially in conversations, particularly among younger people. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.320 I was so struck by the phrase that I was intrigued to find out where it had originated. 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.920 So I went on the mad hunt, as my age group does. 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:45.219 I went to Google, and I Googled, tried to figure out where this phrase came from. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:48.079 And after no luck with Wikipedia nor Elren Dictionary, 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:53.859 it was Time Magazine that said it was first used by Kanye West. 00:00:53.859 --> 00:01:02.460 And it kind of makes sense to me because I don't know if there's a phrase that more epitomizes Kanye West than that phrase. 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:10.359 But Kanye West, there's something about this phrase besides Kanye West that really captures my attention in it 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:18.539 because I think it captures the sentiments of popular culture's insatiable desire to be out front and to be in the spotlight. 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:25.320 I recently came across an article published in Forbes magazine that referenced a survey done that said 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:30.180 one out of every four young people would quit their job in exchange for fame. 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:34.719 And a third of them would rather be famous than become a lawyer. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:38.840 23% would rather become famous than a doctor. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:43.320 And one out of 10 of them would choose fame over a college degree. 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:49.379 And get this, one out of 12 would cut off their family to become a household name. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:56.419 But beyond those stats, the phrase simply hints to the climate of self-promotion and self-admiration 00:01:56.419 --> 00:02:01.639 that seems is so pervasive in our culture, and it's just become embraced as normal. 00:02:02.679 --> 00:02:05.359 However, I would suspect that this phrase, let me be great, 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.519 probably is not the mindset that drives and motivates most of you in the room, 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:11.219 although it may be for some. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.800 But this phrase, let me be great, it got me to thinking, 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:19.520 is greatness something that I should be aspiring to? 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:22.560 Should I be looking for opportunities to be great? 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:26.080 What does it even really mean to be great? 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:28.920 It appears to me, and probably obvious to you, 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:32.660 that our society and our culture, in a subtle way, 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:37.800 endeavors to condition us to assume that greatness is associated with status, 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:46.500 with position, with title, with rank, with talent, with fame, with wealth, with prestige. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:50.280 But what if our culture is wrong about those things? 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:54.620 And what if our society's understanding of what it means to be great is off? 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.000 Does that mean that we should avoid being great? 00:02:59.260 --> 00:03:05.180 While many of us may recognize that the ascent up the hill of what our culture puts forward 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:07.560 as greatness might be slightly off base, 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:13.580 perhaps we should consider whether there's another ascent for us to set our sights on. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.260 Now, as I say all of this, I know many of you, like me, 00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:20.920 would profess that we believe what the scriptures reveal, 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:23.740 that Jesus tells us whoever wants to be great must be servant. 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:26.920 But as I'm honest with you and admit it, 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.879 I have serious trouble with this sometimes. 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:33.500 It's a challenge for me sometimes to be a servant 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:37.579 when in the middle of the night my wife wants me to go get a bottle for our one-year-old. 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:40.079 But from what I've observed, 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:42.919 I'm not the only one who struggles with this, who follows Jesus. 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:47.219 Oftentimes it seems as if Christians have this certain aversion to servanthood 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:49.659 and we even seem to be allergic to serving. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:52.840 We have this certain aversion to aspiring to be great, 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:55.240 even as Jesus defines greatness. 00:03:55.240 --> 00:04:00.560 But what our passage today illustrates for us is that there's this secret, 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:02.600 this truth that Jesus lets us in on. 00:04:02.640 --> 00:04:07.100 And when he lets us in on this truth, it redefines what greatness is. 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:09.180 And as he lets us in on this secret, 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:15.320 he is actually offering us one of the most beautiful, liberating, and helpful truths. 00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:21.139 Indeed, he is offering us what I would say is a better way, 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:24.480 but really it's much more than just a better way. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.720 It's actually the best way. 00:04:27.460 --> 00:04:29.740 It's actually the more blessed way. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:32.460 Listen again, if you will, to what Jesus says 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:36.200 after he finishes washing his disciples' feet in verses 15 to 17. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:36.700 He says, 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:42.160 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. 00:04:42.700 --> 00:04:44.060 Truly, truly, I say to you, 00:04:44.140 --> 00:04:45.900 a servant is not greater than his master, 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:48.280 nor is the messenger greater than the one who sent him. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:49.800 But here's verse 17. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:50.580 Listen closely. 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:55.319 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:57.959 See, Jesus is bidding us. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:02.659 He said, consider a more blessed way, a more beautiful way. 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:07.880 Even though many of you would not ascribe to Kanye West's idea of what greatness is, 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.160 more of us than would probably admit, 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:14.480 we oftentimes fall prey to the aspirations for title, 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:18.720 and for position, and for wealth, and for power, 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:22.560 and for comfort, and convenience, and for titles. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.019 We often fall prey to those aspirations. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.579 And so while it may not be new and novel that Jesus redefines what greatness is, 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:36.019 perhaps we should consider, once again, this more blessed and more beautiful way. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:40.199 In order for us to consider this more blessed way, thank you for that amen, 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:44.819 I think we need to be reminded, though, of how in the scriptures, 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:50.240 Jesus constantly flips the value system of this world on its head. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:56.040 His kingdom values are mostly the reverse of our culture's value system. 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.460 Not only does he reveal to us that the great is to be servant, 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:06.680 but in Matthew 23, 11, he also said that the one who exalts himself will be humbled, 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.800 and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:13.939 Elsewhere, he said that the first will be last. 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:19.019 Another occasion, he said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:20.599 Here's the thing, folks. 00:06:20.740 --> 00:06:28.259 Jesus consistently and constantly challenges our notions of what is actually valuable, 00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:33.019 what is truly significant, and what is really meaningful. 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:39.299 And most often, he is flipping our culture's value system upside down on its head. 00:06:40.159 --> 00:06:47.479 In fact, the truth is, Jesus, he came to untangle us from these constricting and deceptive mindsets. 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:54.660 Too often, we rely on the measures of this world to evaluate progress and to evaluate success. 00:06:55.420 --> 00:06:59.379 And when we use those measures, we need to recognize that they are not the measures 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:03.640 that God says we should use to evaluate greatness or success. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:10.180 Our culture tries to feed us this notion that somehow greatness has to do with how much talent you have, 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:15.259 or how famous you are, or what position or rank you have, or what title you have, 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:20.040 or how many followers you have, or how many likes you can generate, 00:07:20.400 --> 00:07:24.480 how much knowledge you have, how many degrees you have, how wealthy you are. 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:30.319 But those measures are not what God says we should use to evaluate greatness or even success. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:36.939 Jesus makes it explicitly clear for us that greatness is directly correlated to serving. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:42.279 But the good thing about it is that, as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put so well, 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:46.439 anybody can be great because anybody can serve. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:53.379 In our passage today, I love how John invites us to lean in and peer into this scene 00:07:53.379 --> 00:08:00.899 by giving us inspired insight and commentary on how Jesus was evaluating this whole situation. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.240 I want you to notice and I want you to listen to the language John uses 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:08.959 to pull our attention to Jesus' assessment and evaluation of what's happening in the room. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:16.279 In verse 1, John tells us that Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father. 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:20.300 And then in verse 3, John tells us that Jesus, here's the word again, 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:23.620 John knew that the Father had given all things into his hands 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:27.420 and that he had come from God and was going back to God. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:33.620 And then again, down in verse number 11, John tells us that Jesus knew who was going to betray him. 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:40.320 I hope you hear the language that John is using to help us see how Jesus is evaluating 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.899 and he's assessing the situation. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.159 He's looking around the room and he knows what's going on. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:51.959 The first thing it says that Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into his hands. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:53.879 Listen, y'all know it. 00:08:54.699 --> 00:08:58.279 No one else in the room had more than what Jesus did. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:01.000 And Jesus knew it too. 00:09:01.819 --> 00:09:06.279 Andy Stanley points out that Jesus was the most powerful person in the room. 00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:12.919 No one else in the room had more clout, had more power, and had more authority than Jesus did. 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:19.459 One of my good friends, Pastor Patrick Walker, he pastors New Macedonia Baptist Church over in Southeast D.C. 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:20.639 He says it this way, 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:26.159 No one has ever been more overqualified for a job than Jesus was for the job of foot washer. 00:09:27.959 --> 00:09:31.279 But Jesus didn't just evaluate what he had in his hands 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:33.919 and that he was the most powerful person in the room, 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.599 but Jesus also evaluated and assessed his relationships with the Father. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.500 Also in verse 3 it says this, 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:44.700 that Jesus knew that he had come from God and that he was going back to God. 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.120 This speaks to Jesus' relationship with the Father. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:52.340 Jesus knew that his relationship with the Father was completely solid. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:56.000 He was sure he belonged to his Father 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.440 and that he was accepted by his Father. 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:02.259 And his relationship with the Father was totally secure. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:07.919 And that his Father's love for him was completely unwavering. 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:11.460 There was no doubt that the Father loved Jesus. 00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:14.539 And Jesus knows that he belongs to the Father 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:17.000 and he's fully accepted and loved by the Father. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.379 And this speaks to Jesus' identity. 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:24.419 Because Jesus is assured that he is fully accepted and loved by the Father, 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:30.559 it frees him and it liberates him to not care about what other people in the room 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.099 were going to think of him if he starts to wash the disciples' feet. 00:10:35.339 --> 00:10:38.919 Washing the disciples' feet was something that would have been considered to be beneath Jesus 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:41.059 and that others would sneer at. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:44.659 But because of the love and the acceptance of his Father, 00:10:45.099 --> 00:10:47.559 he was supremely satisfied by that love 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:52.379 and he did not feel that he needed to be concerned about the approval of anyone else in the room 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:54.639 or the acceptance of anyone else in the room, 00:10:54.939 --> 00:10:58.399 only the acceptance and the approval of the person who counted most. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:02.379 The Father's opinion was the only opinion that mattered. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:06.100 And as a result, he was able to do something transformational. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.700 The assurance of the Father's love gave him the courage 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:14.220 to risk his reputation and risk it all. 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:19.179 But also, Jesus assesses and evaluates the timing of it all. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:23.039 In verse number one, it says that Jesus knew that his hour had come 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.419 to depart out of this world to the Father. 00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:29.319 Jesus knows that you can't waste time 00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:32.879 when you have the opportunity to make an eternal impact. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:37.959 There are points in history when we have to seize the moment 00:11:37.959 --> 00:11:40.539 and make the most of every opportunity. 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:45.299 Sometimes you can't waste time for a more convenient time 00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:47.419 because that time may never come. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:50.719 Our days are not promised and they are fleeting. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:54.019 And so we must use time wisely. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.139 But Jesus also assesses who's in the room. 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:00.479 Did you notice it down in verse number 11? 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.919 It says that Jesus knew who was going to betray him. 00:12:05.719 --> 00:12:09.419 This gives us great insight into how Jesus doesn't just make the decision 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:12.759 to serve those that it's most convenient to serve 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:15.879 and those with the squeakiest clean track record 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:19.419 or even those who Jesus thinks will give him something in return. 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:23.360 Jesus looked in the room and he saw the God Judas 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.179 who he knew was about to stab him in his back 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:29.659 and Jesus still washed his feet. 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.860 That wasn't convenient. 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.580 That wasn't easy. 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:37.059 It was the person that was not going to give Jesus anything in return. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:43.299 And yet Jesus assessed the room and still had the courage to do what he did. 00:12:44.119 --> 00:12:47.399 It takes an assessment and evaluation of who's in the room 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.939 and to know that he's called to serve those in this world who least deserve it 00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:55.979 and even when it might be inconvenient to serve them. 00:12:57.099 --> 00:13:02.119 I think we too need to evaluate and assess situations more often. 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:05.600 I think we need to assess what's in our hands. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:09.620 Yes, Jesus discovered he had everything in his hands 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.440 and you're thinking, well, I don't have what Jesus had to offer 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:15.340 but you also don't have as much as Jesus did 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:18.039 so you don't have as much to lose as Jesus did. 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:21.879 So you should be willing to risk it even quicker than Jesus did. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:27.320 Plus, Jesus really is a concern about how much you have in your hands 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:30.759 but rather what do you do with what you have in your hands? 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:36.879 I would venture to guess that most of us in this room have more in our hands than we realize. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:45.220 We have more at our fingertips, more influence, more power, more money than we realize. 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:48.840 Jesus isn't concerned about how much or how little you have 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:51.480 because he can take whatever little means you have 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:55.159 and then turn it into something meaningful for somebody else. 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:57.759 Because you don't have to have means 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:02.460 nor do you have to come from means in order to do something meaningful for Jesus. 00:14:03.819 --> 00:14:08.580 I think it's imperative that we evaluate and take honest assessment of what's in our hands 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:12.139 and recognize whatever has been placed in our hands. 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:15.319 It is all a gift from God. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.779 And we ought to be careful not to simply use it on ourselves 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:21.120 but to leverage it for the sake of others. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:26.179 See, what we're able to see here is that Jesus, because he knew all of these things, 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:29.240 because Jesus evaluated and assessed the situation, 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:33.500 Jesus was liberated to rise to the occasion. 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.899 In fact, Jesus rose to take a knee. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.779 Richard Foster in his book, Money, Sex, and Power, 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:46.180 he says that true power has as its aim to set people free 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:49.579 whereas pride is determined to dominate. 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:55.959 Jesus would take the most menial task reserved for slaves and servants 00:14:55.959 --> 00:15:01.000 and he would do what most people paid other people to do. 00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:07.739 He was able to seize the moment to do something even more remarkable than just washing feet. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:11.159 And I believe that if we evaluate our situations 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:15.959 and we see that God, he's been so good to us. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:22.679 We'll see that he has accepted us and he has loved us in spite of ourselves. 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:28.120 And we can seize opportunities to make a difference for somebody else, 00:15:28.219 --> 00:15:29.980 to serve other people. 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:33.980 And perhaps we could even change the trajectory of somebody else's life 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:36.299 just like Jesus does for us. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:40.639 But after Jesus has this enlightening evaluation of the room, 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:45.019 we see Jesus engaging in this exchange with Peter. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:49.600 Jesus engages Peter in this seemingly trivial exchange. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:53.799 And some of you know it's always Peter that's sticking his foot in his mouth. 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:58.840 But I'm actually happy that Jesus indulges Peter and engages in this exchange 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.879 because of what is revealed as a result of this exchange. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:06.860 See, I don't know about you, but I'm happy that God will even engage me 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:11.500 even when I'm being simple-minded and foolish and ignorant and shallow in my thinking. 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:15.080 Because what I have realized is that God can use those times 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:19.600 to reveal my foolishness to myself and my ignorance and my simple-mindedness 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:23.639 and to show real truth to me and to show me something more powerful 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.180 than I would ever understand otherwise. 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:30.399 Because of this enlightening, of this exchange, 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.739 and engaging in this exchange, 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:34.459 this enlightening truth comes out of this engaging exchange. 00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:36.579 Jesus has this exchange with Peter, 00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:38.179 and he tells Peter, 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:39.579 what I am doing for you, 00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:42.139 it's actually pointing to something else 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.839 than just washing feet. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:46.559 It's actually pointing to something else 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.839 greater than I'm going to do for you, Peter. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.279 In verse 8, 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.039 it goes like this. 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:53.959 Peter says to Jesus, 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:56.559 Jesus, you're never going to wash my feet. 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.959 And Jesus answers Peter and says, 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.500 if I do not wash you, 00:17:01.099 --> 00:17:02.959 you have no share with me. 00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:06.879 See, the enlightening thing that comes out of this exchange 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:08.639 that's revealed to us is that 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:10.779 if Jesus does not wash us, 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.740 we are unclean. 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:14.420 Jesus was trying to tell Peter, 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:16.220 Peter, if I don't wash you, 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.259 you are going to remain unclean. 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:20.460 You are dirty unless I wash you. 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:22.500 See, many people today are not interested 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.600 in Jesus washing them, 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.019 and they think it doesn't make sense, 00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:27.279 but they don't realize that we are all dirty, 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.620 and we are all unclean 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:30.240 when we come before a holy God. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.220 We need to be washed by the blood of Jesus. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:37.600 Peter, you need to have your life washed clean. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.740 You need to have your life be made new. 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.539 And the good news is this, 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:45.340 that Jesus sheds his blood to wash us clean. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.660 Hebrews says it so wonderfully, 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:49.600 there is no remission of sin 00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:51.920 without the shedding of blood. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.240 And I don't know about you, 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:56.400 but I'm so glad that Jesus shed his blood 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.340 to wash me clean. 00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.740 This washing of the feet isn't just so 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:03.300 that we would serve for the sake of serving. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:06.180 It was actually to point us to something greater 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:07.160 that Jesus would do, 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:08.759 that he would wash us clean. 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:12.560 And so we shouldn't serve just for goodness sake. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.899 We should serve for God's sake. 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.639 Serve for the gospel's sake. 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:19.559 Because really what is happening here 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.679 is that Jesus is doing this for them 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:26.379 in order to reveal the gospel to them. 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:30.179 His actions in serving them in this way, 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.379 washing their feet, 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:35.539 it was actually to put on full display the gospel 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:39.339 so that we would see the gospel on full display. 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:42.799 My prayer is that our service to others 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:47.099 would be a canvas that puts the gospel on full display. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.059 That as we serve people, 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:51.939 that people would see the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:18:51.939 --> 00:18:53.819 because they know that we're not just doing it 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.559 for goodness sake, 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.339 but that we're doing it for God's sake. 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.599 But don't forget, 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:01.279 Jesus knew who was going to betray him. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:04.559 And that's why he says in the next verse, 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.899 not every one of you are clean. 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:10.000 I just humbly say to somebody today, 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:13.780 please don't be the one who will not be clean. 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.400 Please don't be the one who is unclean. 00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:20.620 Don't be the one who hears the gospel message 00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:23.420 and decides to keep your heart hardened. 00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:25.440 Receive Jesus today. 00:19:25.560 --> 00:19:27.160 Allow him to wash you clean. 00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:29.280 Allow this message to let you know 00:19:29.280 --> 00:19:31.580 that Jesus shed his blood for you 00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:34.420 to clean us and to wash us of our filthy sins 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.440 and repent and believe on him today, 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.200 allowing him to wash you clean. 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:41.779 This is your opportunity to receive Jesus. 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:46.279 But after Jesus finishes and goes on, 00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:49.820 he has finished washing the disciples' feet. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.120 In the next few verses, in verse number 12, 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.360 he says to them, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.019 do you understand what I have done for you? 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.320 That's an interesting question. 00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:00.160 I think that we need to ask ourselves too. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.420 Do we understand what Jesus has done for us? 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:07.080 Has it really sunk in? 00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:11.920 Do we understand what the cross liberates us from? 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:16.580 That the cross liberates us from the bondage of sin? 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.200 Do we understand that it makes us clean 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.759 when we could not clean ourselves? 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.920 If we understand these things, 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:26.600 we ought to follow this example that Jesus gives us. 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:28.639 We should be asking ourselves, 00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:30.199 how can I be great? 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.039 And we should be asking our neighbor, 00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:33.779 would you let me be great? 00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:36.000 Maybe that's even something 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.179 that you can adopt for yourself 00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:40.259 that people may not understand why you're saying, 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.799 but you say, 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.000 would you let me be great 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.740 and take your plate and put it in the trash? 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.839 Would you let me be great 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:46.359 and watch your kids for you? 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.419 Would you let me be great 00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:49.659 and serve the children? 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.639 Amen, Jane? 00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.879 Can I get an amen? 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:52.939 Amen. 00:20:52.939 --> 00:20:53.159 Amen. 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.179 Amen. 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:58.539 Jesus gave us this example, 00:20:59.179 --> 00:21:00.599 but he closes by saying, 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:03.139 if you know these things, 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:05.000 blessed are you if you do them. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:08.159 See, many of you know these things, 00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.919 but the question is, 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.000 are we doing what we know? 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:15.579 Because if we do them, 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:18.199 Jesus says we are blessed. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:20.679 It's a more beautiful way. 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.879 It's the best way. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:26.960 I recently had one of those invaluable opportunities 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.680 to hear one of those life-changing stories 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:33.540 that leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life. 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.780 I was having lunch with two fellow local pastors, 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:38.260 one black brother and one white brother, 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:40.000 and we were having a conversation 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.200 around the issues of race and racial reconciliation. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:46.980 As we started by taking turns telling our story 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:50.420 and essentially why we felt compelled to invest 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:52.700 and carve out time to come to lunch 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.840 with our busy schedules 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:56.279 and meet and engage around this conversation. 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:59.059 But when he came around to our white brother, 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.720 he began telling us his story 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:03.059 by actually telling us his father's story. 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:06.180 He shared with us how his father grew up poor 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.000 in the panhandle of Florida 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:10.480 with a father who was an alcoholic 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.220 and not very present in his life. 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.680 But he would tell us how, 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.119 in spite of all of that, 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.339 his father would excel 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:18.539 and through some unusual circumstances, 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.859 he would eventually become 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:22.039 Attorney General of the state of Florida. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.900 And he would be Attorney General 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.779 in the state of Florida 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.940 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.240 in 1964. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:31.660 He would actually help to arrange the safety 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.160 of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.319 when he would come into town. 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.960 In order to give us context 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.500 for the racial climate of this time, 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.539 he shared a story 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.100 how one day his father 00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:44.360 was taking their black maid home, 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.759 their maid who was black home, 00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:47.400 and she was sitting in the back seat. 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.340 And as they were driving, 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.819 they were driving down the road 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:51.740 and they came up on a large crowd 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.200 that was gathered in the road. 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:55.660 And it seemed to be a rather unruly crowd. 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.259 And as he got closer, 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.620 his father realized what was going on. 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:02.059 His father realized 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.600 that it was a lynching taking place. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:06.579 He had to turn around 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.119 and tell his maid who was black 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.259 to get down 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.980 as they would drive by. 00:23:12.439 --> 00:23:13.619 But here's where it got good. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:16.039 After serving as Attorney General, 00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:18.179 his father would move to Tampa, Florida 00:23:18.179 --> 00:23:20.319 and become a corporate lawyer. 00:23:20.719 --> 00:23:22.079 And he told us how his dad 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:24.519 would become a very well-connected, 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:26.559 very highly respected, 00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:27.819 revered businessman 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.079 in the Tampa community. 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:31.299 And then he landed the bombshell 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.599 and he shared how his father 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:35.339 was the first corporate executive 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:38.199 in Tampa to hire a black lawyer. 00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:40.480 The black lawyer's name 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.740 was Charles Wilson. 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:44.299 He hired Charles Wilson 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.980 as general counsel 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.179 of the company 00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:49.799 that his father was vice president of. 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.379 In addition to that, 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.939 he told us that his father 00:23:52.939 --> 00:23:54.740 would later take Charles Wilson 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:57.939 to lunch at the all-white golf club 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.140 that he was a member of. 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:01.299 As I was sitting there 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.259 hearing him lay out 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.860 his father's life 00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:05.240 and his tell us his father's story, 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:06.880 I was completely amazed. 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:09.019 I was amazed that this man 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:11.400 would risk such high stakes 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:13.259 and leverage his position, 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.000 his power and influence 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.519 and even his reputation 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.120 for the sake of someone 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.200 who at that time 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.880 would otherwise 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.080 never have been afforded 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.759 that opportunity. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.400 I was so impressed 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.039 that his father 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.940 could take such a risk 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:30.240 in such a racially charged environment. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.779 I was impressed 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.359 that his father 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.099 had the courage 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.659 to risk his reputation 00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:36.379 and even potentially 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:38.039 risk his life 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.659 to do something 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:41.019 truly meaningful, 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.619 something truly great, 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:46.099 putting all of it aside 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:48.039 to serve someone else 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.259 who otherwise 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.599 may never have had 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.659 the opportunity. 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:54.400 even as great 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.420 as that act was though, 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.380 Jesus' act 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.420 was even greater. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.440 It says in the first few verses 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.740 that when Jesus knew 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:06.380 that the father 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.220 had given all things 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.980 into his hands, 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:09.160 in verse number four, 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.440 it says, 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.680 he rose from supper 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.480 and he laid aside 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.460 his outer garments 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:15.560 and taking a towel, 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.800 he wrapped it around him 00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.940 and he knelt 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.400 and began to wash their feet. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:22.000 This wasn't the first time 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.080 that Jesus laid aside 00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.500 his garments. 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.320 I don't know if you know 00:25:24.320 --> 00:25:25.800 but in Philippians chapter two 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:27.000 it tells us how Jesus, 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.580 he emptied himself. 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.200 Really, 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.080 it's the picture of 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.120 he took off 00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:32.360 his heavenly garments 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:34.360 and he came down to earth 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:35.980 and he put on human flesh 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:37.019 these garments 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.460 in order to serve us 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.940 and he would die. 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.920 The scripture says 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:42.160 that he became obedient 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.620 even till death 00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.420 on a cross. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.000 It wasn't the first time 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.960 Jesus laid aside 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.440 his garments. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.380 It wasn't the first time 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.800 that he gave up 00:25:50.800 --> 00:25:52.140 and laid aside everything 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.520 in order to serve us 00:25:53.520 --> 00:25:54.800 and we see it best 00:25:54.800 --> 00:25:55.440 on the cross 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.580 when he dies for us 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.540 and he sends his blood 00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:59.040 but I love that the passage 00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:00.320 in Philippians two 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:00.840 says that 00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:02.360 once he does all of that 00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.940 it is then that God 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:06.080 gives him the highest name. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.100 He exalts him 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.340 and gives him the name 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.580 that is above every name 00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:11.100 and that at the name of Jesus 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.900 one day every knee will bow 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:14.400 and every tongue confess 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.360 that he is Lord. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.199 See if we'll leverage 00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:19.899 what we have 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.779 and give it to God 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:23.079 and take risks 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:25.119 to serve somebody else 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.839 and look for ways 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.419 to be great 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.379 Jesus 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:29.599 what we see in him 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.339 we are sure 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.459 will happen for us 00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:33.339 that if we'll lay it all down 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.899 that God will exalt us 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:36.839 God will reward us 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.819 in the world to come 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:39.019 when Jesus comes back 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.259 we are going to be 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.399 rewarded for it. 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:44.220 Are you going to look 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.280 for moments to be great? 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.259 Are you going to allow 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.480 the example that Jesus 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:51.060 shows us 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.300 to help you to do likewise? 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:55.500 You will be really blessed 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:57.519 if you do them 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.860 if you wouldn't just 00:26:58.860 --> 00:27:00.540 know what he does 00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:01.960 but if you would actually 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:03.259 do what he did 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.880 maybe this week 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.560 you can consider 00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:07.460 how you can serve your neighbor 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.880 be inconvenienced 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:10.240 not just for your church neighbor 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.440 but your real neighbor 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:13.400 maybe it's your co-worker 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.440 that you can serve for 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.799 again 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.700 maybe it's serving the children 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:18.039 maybe it's serving 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.839 somebody who has four sons 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.940 like my wife and I 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.980 and giving us a break 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.620 during the week 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:26.880 you have more in your hands 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.660 than you realize 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:32.759 you can do something great 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:35.579 by laying aside 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:37.660 and being really willing 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.620 to risk it all 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:41.039 for the sake of somebody 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:43.679 whose life you can change 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:46.599 just because of what you lay aside 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:48.379 I thank you Jesus 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:49.159 for this time 00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:50.139 that we had in your word 00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:52.319 I pray that you would seal it 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.819 for your glory 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.979 we thank you for what you did 00:27:55.979 --> 00:27:56.699 for us 00:27:56.699 --> 00:27:59.239 so grateful 00:27:59.239 --> 00:28:01.259 it's in your wonderful 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.119 matchless name 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:02.739 that we pray 00:28:02.739 --> 00:28:03.719 amen 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:33.700 thank you for that