Evening folks, delighted to be with you guys again.
In case you haven't met before, I'm Daniel, as Keith said.
! Let me just pray before we read again.
Amen.
We'll be continuing in John 13, from verse 18 to the end.
Jesus said,
I'm not referring to all of you, I know those whom I have chosen.
But this is to fulfill the passage of Scripture,
He who shared my bread has turned against me.
Sorry, I have technical issues. There we go.
I'm telling you now before it happens,
so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am who I am.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me,
and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified,
Very truly, I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which one of them he meant.
One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said,
Ask him which one he means.
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him,
Lord, who is it?
Jesus answered,
It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread
when I have dipped it in the dish.
Then, dipping the piece of bread,
he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
As soon as Judas took the bread,
Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him,
What you are about to do, do quickly.
But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
Since Judas had charge of the money,
some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival,
or to give something to the poor.
As soon as Judas had taken the bread,
he went out,
and it was night.
When he was gone,
Jesus said,
Now the Son of Man is glorified,
and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will glorify the Son in himself,
and will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little longer.
You will look for me,
and just as I told the Jews,
so I tell you now,
where I am going,
you cannot come.
A new command I give to you,
love one another as I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
By this,
everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.
Simon Peter asked him,
Lord, where are you going?
Jesus replied,
Where I am going,
you cannot follow now,
but you will follow later.
Peter asked,
Lord, why can't I follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.
Then Jesus answered,
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Very truly, I tell you,
before the rooster crows,
you will disown me three times.
Amen.
So I first gave this sermon as part of a series on the Christian identity,
and this part was on how Christians are servants.
I wonder what comes to mind when you think of the word servant.
A couple of my friends are big fans of Downton Abbey,
which is all about the lord and lady of the manor,
in like the landed gentry,
the early 20s or something.
I've not seen it myself,
you can probably tell.
But one of my friends is such a big fan of the show,
that it's his dream to become a butler.
I don't know how you feel about that.
If I got an email from work one day saying,
we've had to do some restructuring,
and your new role is a butler,
I'd be quite disappointed.
But in this chapter,
Jesus shows us that if we're Christians,
we are servants of God,
and servants of each other.
The Christian is a servant.
So this passage in particular,
teaches three big things about that.
Firstly, we are servants who follow the example of Jesus Christ.
Then we are servants who are under the command of Jesus Christ,
and we are servants who experience the grace of Jesus Christ.
So firstly, we're servants in the example of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the example servant in the Bible.
He's the archetype.
And if we are Christians,
we recognize that even though we serve God,
God first served us in the person of Jesus Christ.
In his own words,
he came not to be served,
but to serve,
and to give his life as ransom for many.
Jesus came to serve us,
and thereby give us an example,
so that we may serve each other.
Read verse 15 with me.
It says,
after washing his disciples' feet,
he says,
I've set you an example
that you should do as I've done for you.
Very truly, I tell you,
no servant is greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater
than the one who sent him.
Jesus says explicitly,
I've given you an example.
So what servant-like qualities
is Jesus exemplifying here?
Well, firstly,
it's his love for the people he serves.
At this point in Jesus' life,
he's about to leave the world.
He must have had a lot on his mind.
He was about to undergo
the extreme penalty of crucifixion,
and then he would be resurrected
and return to heaven.
He was about to go through
the depths of pain and sadness,
and then ascend
to the highest joys of heaven.
And so in the midst of this,
what was he thinking about?
Well, verse 1 says
that he was thinking about his people.
Verse 1 says that,
having loved his own
who are in the world,
he loved them to the end.
To the very end of his life,
Jesus loved his disciples,
and he loved them
to the fullest extent.
That's another way of understanding
that phrase to the end,
that he loved them
to the uttermost,
the fullest extent
that you can love someone.
And John expresses this love
in a particular way.
He says,
Jesus having loved his own
who are in the world,
he loved them to the end.
He phrases it this way
to make clear
that he's not only talking
about the disciples then,
but he's talking about
all of his people
for all time.
If you're a believer today,
you can read this passage
and know that Jesus
was thinking about you
and that he loves you
to the uttermost too.
Some people say,
I love you to the moon and back.
But if you believe in Jesus
and he loves you
from the depths of the cross
to the heights of heaven,
which is much further
than the moon.
Jesus sets an example
of love.
His love was patient,
selfless,
and went to the uttermost
through the most extreme
circumstances.
Secondly,
he sets an example
of humility.
In verse 3,
John gives us a look
into the mind
of Jesus.
It says,
Jesus knew that the Father
had put all things
under his power
and that he had come
from God
and was returning
to God.
So it says that Jesus
knows that he's from heaven
and that all things
are in his hands.
he was the Son of God.
I was thinking about
what I might be like
if I knew this
about myself.
I might get a bit
of a power trip
from that.
Maybe if someone
crossed me,
I would say,
do you have any idea
who I am?
The Son of God.
Jesus,
on the other hand,
knowing that he's
from heaven
and that all things
were in his hand,
serves sinners.
He did not consider
equality with God
something to be grasped
for his own selfish gain.
Instead,
as we read in verse 4,
it says,
he got up
from the meal,
took off his outer clothing
and wrapped a towel
around his waist.
After that,
he poured water
into a basin
and began to wash
the disciples' feet,
drying them with a towel
that was wrapped
around him.
In the ancient
Middle East,
servants would show
themselves to be servants
by wearing minimal,
simple clothes.
And one of the most
humiliating duties
of a servant
that they'd be expected
to do was to clean
the feet of their masters.
So when Jesus
takes off his
outer garment
and puts on the towel,
he's dressing up
as a servant.
Then he takes the role
of the servant
by washing
his disciples' feet.
Jesus is not
someone who,
when slighted,
would be thinking,
do you have any idea
who I am?
He's not someone
who would say
that this person
is beneath me
or this act of service
is beneath me.
He was prepared
to wrap himself
in a towel
and wash
his disciples' feet.
He sets the example
of humility
by extremes.
Though he was
the very highest,
and is the very highest,
he made himself
the lowest.
Though he is
the immortal,
invisible God
who wraps himself
in light
and is served
by myriads of angels,
he humbly
washes the feet
of those
that he loves.
So how are we
to respond to this?
Well, firstly,
we're to simply
receive Jesus' service
with thanksgiving
and accept it.
And secondly,
we must follow
his example.
If you read
verses 6-9
with me,
it says,
He came to Simon Peter
who said to him,
Lord,
are you going
to wash my feet?
Jesus replied,
you do not realize
now what I am doing,
but later you will
understand.
No,
said Peter,
you will never
wash my feet.
Jesus answered,
unless I wash you,
you have no part
in me.
Peter protests
at Jesus'
act of service.
He doesn't feel
worthy.
He doesn't want
to receive
Jesus' service.
He wants to earn it.
But Peter
has to accept
that it's not
about how he feels.
If he's going
to be clean,
Jesus has to do
it for him.
He can't do it
himself.
Ultimately,
the act of
washing of the feet
points towards
Jesus'
death on the cross.
His extreme
act of service
for our forgiveness.
we can't save
ourselves,
and we have to
accept that.
We have to
simply receive
with gratitude
that Jesus
has done
the work of
saving us
on our behalf.
Perhaps this is
something you
personally
might struggle
with.
Maybe life
is a bit of a
mess,
and you feel
like Jesus
wouldn't help
you,
and that
you're
beneath him.
Well,
we must remember
that he was
glad to descend
from heaven
to die for you
and forgive
your sins.
Romans 5 says
that while we
were still
sinners,
Christ died
for us.
If he was
willing to
die for us
while we were
still his
enemies,
how much more
will he help
us now that
we're his
friends?
Christ.
So Jesus
is the
example
servant
whose
service
we first
must gratefully
accept,
and then
whose pattern
we have to
follow.
As well as
being the
servant in
this picture,
he's also
the Lord.
He's the
one who
dishes out
the commands
to a
servant.
That's my
second point.
Christians
are servants
under the
command of
Jesus Christ.
verse 13
says,
you call me
teacher and
Lord,
and rightly
so,
for that is
what I am.
Jesus is the
teacher and
Lord of his
people.
They're right
to call him
teacher and
Lord,
because he
came from
God,
and the
Father has
put everything
in the world
under the
lordship and
authority of
Jesus.
There's
nothing in
the world
that doesn't
belong to
him,
and there's
no person
in the
world who
won't
ultimately
answer to
Jesus.
In verse
14,
we get the
implication of
this in
this passage.
You call me
teacher and
Lord,
and rightly
so,
for that is
what I
am.
Now that
I,
your Lord
and teacher,
have washed
your feet,
you also
should wash
one another's
feet.
I have
set you
an example
that you
should do
as I
have done
for you.
Very
truly I
tell you,
no servant
is greater
than his
master,
nor is a
messenger
greater than
the one
who sent
him.
So that
means if
Jesus was
humble,
making himself
the servant
of people
who didn't
deserve him,
who couldn't
repay the
favor,
then we
must do
the same.
Otherwise,
we're saying
with our
actions that
we're greater
than the
master when
we're not.
God.
Imagine being
in the
upper room
with the
disciples
and Jesus
that night.
Jesus took
off his
robe,
imagine him
washing Peter's
feet,
and John's
feet,
and James'
feet,
and Andrew's
feet,
the disciples,
and then he
comes around
and washes
yours.
And then he
says to you,
now you must
follow my
example,
you should
wash each
other's feet.
You wouldn't
think of
saying,
no way,
would you?
You wouldn't
think of
saying,
washing feet
beneath me,
it would
be crazy.
Who would
you think
you're talking
to?
All things
are in
Jesus'
hands.
He's God
in the
flesh.
But sometimes
we do find
reasons not
to follow
Jesus'
example.
We find
reasons not
to serve
other people.
But when we
realize that
our Lord
made himself
a servant
for his
people while
they were
still sinners,
all those
reasons and
excuses melt
away.
Because no
servant is
greater than
the master.
So in a
church family,
we're all
servants.
None of us
are the
masters.
Do we
insist on
getting our
own way
rather than
seeking the
benefit of
the other
person?
Perhaps we
have less
time for
certain
people in
the church
because they
rub us up
the wrong
way.
We must
follow Jesus'
example instead.
Thinking a bit
beyond the
church family,
are there
people out
there in
the world
that we
think are
beneath us?
Are there
people for
whom we
feel, I
don't need
to respect
this person?
Maybe it's
because their
politics is
wrong.
Or maybe
they're a
drain on
society.
No servant
is greater
than the
master.
And if
Jesus is
willing to
welcome
sinners and
show kindness
to them,
working to
bring them
to faith,
then we
must do
the same.
Otherwise,
we're saying
with our
actions that
we're greater
than the
master.
father.
The other
thing to
see is
that Jesus
issues his
commands
through his
words.
If you
read verse
20, it
says,
very truly
I tell you,
whoever
accepts anyone
I send
accepts me,
and whoever
accepts me
accepts the
one who
sent me.
Jesus there
is talking
specifically
about the
disciples.
When they
go out and
evangelize and
put scriptures
into writing,
they teach
with Jesus'
authority.
They speak
his words.
So when the
apostles preached
and gave
commands to
the churches,
they did so
with the
authority of
Christ.
That's why we
have all the
other writings
in the New
Testament.
What this
entails is that
how we respond
to Jesus'
commands in
the Bible
displays how
we respond
to him
personally.
When we
listen to
his word,
do we do
it and
accept it
with
thanksgiving?
Or do we
try to get
around it,
find
reasons not
to obey?
Remember that
Jesus said,
whoever receives
the one I
send receives
me.
In this
particular
chapter,
Jesus'
commands are
about loving
each other
as a church
family.
He expresses
this in two
ways.
First in
verse 14,
it says,
now that I,
your Lord and
teacher,
have washed
your feet,
you should
wash one
another's
feet,
one another
being your
fellow believer.
Then he
says in
verse 34,
a new
command I
give you,
love one
another.
As I
have loved
you,
so you
must love
one another.
I mentioned
earlier that
Jesus washing
his disciples'
feet was
pointing to
how he
would deal
with their
sins on
the cross.
The washing
represented how
forgiveness
covers over
their sins
and washes
them away.
Jesus took
the extreme
penalty on
their behalf
so that
their sins
would not
be counted
against
them.
So when
Jesus says
to wash
each other's
feet,
what does
he mean?
We're not
like Jesus.
We can't
take away
someone's
sin,
that was
his job.
But we
can say to
each other,
I forgive
you for
what you've
done against
me.
To wash
each other's
feet means
that we
must forgive
each other
and be
gracious to
each other.
Listen to
a part of
Colossians
chapter 3.
Put on
then as
God's
chosen ones
holy and
beloved,
compassionate
hearts,
kindness,
humility,
meekness and
patience,
bearing with
one another.
And if
one has a
complaint against
another,
forgiving each
other.
As the
Lord has
forgiven you,
so you
also must
forgive.
church needs
to be a
family where
forgiveness is
abundant,
where we
frequently let
go of the
things we
have against
others.
We let
go of our
anger at
their failings.
We let
go of our
pride to
forgive people
who have
hurt us.
We make a
special effort
as God's
people to
forgive people
in our church
family.
And we're
unable to do
this because
the Lord
himself has
forgiven us.
That's what
Colossians says.
Our sins in
God's sight have
been dealt
with.
They're gone.
So we can
share with
each other the
forgiveness and
grace that God
has shown us.
we saw earlier
that Jesus is
love for us.
His people is
committed to the
end and full of
humility, willing
to do the
servant's job for
the other person.
And our love must
follow that
example, our love
for each other.
There's a part of
the Westminster
Confession that we
follow as a church
that teaches us
very clearly.
It says,
all saints,
that's believers
or Christians,
are united to
Jesus Christ,
their head,
by his spirit
and by faith,
have fellowship
with him in his
graces,
sufferings,
death,
resurrection and
glory.
And being united
to one another
in love,
they have communion
with each other
in each other's
gifts,
and are obliged
to the performance
of such duties,
public and private,
as do conduce
to their mutual
good,
both in the
inward and outward
man.
In other words,
we're united
to each other
in love,
and therefore
obliged to serve
each other.
We're obliged
to work for the
good of other
people in our
church family.
I was reflecting
on this,
that obliged
is a strong
word.
It goes further
than advised
or suggested
or recommended.
An obligation
is something
you must do.
There's also
a few helpful
distinctions
it makes there.
It says that
we're to perform
public and
private duties
for each other.
Some things
we do for each
other can be
seen,
like hospitality,
having someone
over for a meal.
Other things
are private.
People won't
see you
praying for them.
The other
distinction
that's made
here is
looking for
the needs
of the
inward
and the
outward
man.
What this
is meaning
is the
inward
man
is the
spiritual
aspect
of
someone's
life.
And the
outward
is the
practical,
physical
aspect.
Maybe
someone is
struggling
spiritually
and is
deflated
and discouraged
and needs
someone to
talk to
and pray
with them.
Maybe on a
physical level
someone is
ill and
needs help
or struggling
financially,
struggling to
keep the
heating on
or to
stop the
fridge being
empty.
If we're to
love and
serve each
other as
Christ has
commanded us
to, we
look to
the good
of both
the inward
and the
outward
person.
So if
we're to
fulfill
Christ's
command to
love each
other, then
we love
each other
in public
and private
ways and
inward and
outward
ways.
And the
wonderful thing
is that because
we're united
to Christ, we're
enabled to do
this for each
other.
It's not just
left to us.
When we're a
believer in
Jesus, we're
united to
Jesus.
His life is
in us and
his love
overflows in
our hearts,
reaching the
people around
us.
In verse
35, Jesus
talks about the
outcome of
this love for
each other.
He says,
by this,
everyone will
know that you
are my
disciples if
you love
one another.
Our love
for one
another shows
the world
that the
gospel is
true.
By this,
all people
know that
you're my
disciples.
How will
the people
in this
area of
Edinburgh
hear the
gospel?
They'll
hear it
from you
guys as
you tell
them about
Jesus and
invite them
to church.
And how
will the
people in
this area
of Edinburgh
know that
that gospel
you told
them is
true?
Well, it's
because they'll
see the love
of God
in your
hearts.
They will
see you
living with
faith and
assurance that
Jesus loves
you to the
uttermost,
having given
his life for
you.
And they
will see you
loving each
other, living
in the light
of the gospel.
By this,
all people
will know that
you're my
disciples if you
have love for
one another.
Now, what
happens if we
fail in our
service to
Jesus, if we
fail to
follow his
commands and
fail to love
one another
properly?
The last
part of the
passage shows
that we're
servants who
experience the
grace of
Jesus Christ.
Servants who
experience the
grace of
Jesus Christ.
I don't know
how you guys
feel about
dogs.
I love them
personally,
always had
them growing
up.
And something I
noticed is that
you can always
tell the
difference between
a well-trained
dog and an
untrained dog.
Well-trained
dogs love their
owners and are
incredibly obedient.
When the owner
says to the
dog, go, he
goes.
And when he
says return, he
returns with no
hesitation.
There's not much
thought that goes
on in their
minds, really.
It's quite
funny.
But wouldn't
it be wonderful
if we were
like that for
Christ?
If we would
understand his
commands and
just do them?
If we
realize that, you
know, God
told me through
his word that I
need to forgive
someone, so I
forgave them.
No hesitation.
Jesus told me
to, through his
word, to stop
getting drunk, and
so I did.
Jesus told me to
put off anger and
malice and sexual
morality, and so I
have.
Wouldn't it be
wonderful if we
were like that?
I was convicted
writing this that I
don't live up to that
standard, and maybe
you're feeling that
too.
But there's good
news for servants of
God who fail.
We're servants who
experience the grace
of Jesus who
covers over our
sins.
In this part of
John, there's two
disciples who fail
him that Jesus
talks to in this
chapter.
There's Judas and
Peter.
We see in Judas
that doubling down
on sin leads to
death.
I wonder if you've
ever come to the
realization that
there's some area in
your life where
you're sinning
against God.
Maybe it's your
attitude or bad
habit.
I think in those
situations we have a
choice between
doubling down,
pretending it's not
true, covering it
up, or owning up
to it, confessing it
to God, asking for
his forgiveness and
striving to change.
The story of Judas
warns us against the
first option, against
doubling down.
The Gospel of John
makes clear that
Judas had a problem
with money.
In the chapter
before, there's an
incident where someone
anoints Jesus with
expensive perfume and
it says, but Judas
Iscariot, one of the
disciples, he who was
about to betray him,
said, why was this
ointment not sold for
three hundred denarii and
given to the poor?
And John helpfully tells
us that he said this
not because he cared
about the poor, but
because he was a
thief.
And having charge of
the money bag, he
used to help himself
to what was put in
it.
Judas loved money,
and despite hearing
Jesus' preaching and
Jesus' teaching, he
couldn't give it up.
He must have heard all
the things Jesus said
about money, but Judas
doubled down and
hardened his heart, and
in the end he fell
away and betrayed
Jesus because of his
love for money.
When we're confronted
with our own sin, when
we realize that we're
being disobedient to
Christ, we mustn't
double down.
It can be tempting to
pretend something's not
a problem, but we
must not do that.
It can be tempting to
keep it a secret, hoping
it will go away, but it
won't help.
It's best to talk to an
elder or your minister,
or get someone who's
maturing Christianity to
help you deal with that
sin in your life.
But let Judas be a
reminder not to double
down.
He couldn't give up
his love for money, no
matter what Jesus
said.
I mentioned earlier
that in a church family,
forgiveness must be
abundant.
This shows us so much
repentance.
When we sin against
others, our instinct must
be to repent and
reconcile.
When we are sinned
against, our instinct
has to be to forgive
and to seek
reconciliation.
We see in Judas that
doubling down leads to
death.
We can see through
Peter that repentance
leads to life.
Peter also failed
Jesus.
He denied knowing
Jesus three times.
But the difference
between Peter and
Judas was that Peter was
repentant.
Jesus knew the difference
between the heart of
Peter and the heart of
Judas.
Judas didn't really love
Jesus.
He loved money.
Peter sinned, but he
loved Jesus.
When he realized he
denied him, he wept and
had deep remorse.
And when Jesus rose
again, Peter ran to see
him.
He didn't double down.
He ran back to God.
And so Jesus issues him
a great assurance.
Verse 36, it says,
Simon Peter said to
him, Lord, where are you
going?
Jesus answered him,
where I'm going, you
cannot follow me now,
but you will follow
later.
You might remember at
the start of the passage
that Jesus knew he was
going to the Father.
So in this verse, Jesus
is telling Peter, you
can't come to the Father
with me now, but you
will go after.
And that's a promise to
anyone who follows
Jesus.
There's a song that says
our sins are many, but
his mercy is more.
And his mercy will bring
you to heaven to be with
him.
If you're a servant of
Jesus who's failed and
sinned, it's not the end.
Simply ask him to forgive
you and he will.
Strive to put the sin
away forever and he will
help you and you will
follow him to heaven.
So to be a Christian who's
a servant, we're to be
servants in the example
of Christ.
He's shown us true love
and humility, ultimately
by serving us on the
cross.
And so we accept his
service with thanksgiving
and strive to follow his
example.
Christians are servants
under the command of
Christ.
He's our Lord and
teacher.
We belong to him.
We follow what he says
through his apostles and
scriptures.
And we show the whole
world that the gospel is
true through our love for
one another.
And we're servants who
experience the grace of
Jesus Christ when we fail
and when we sin.
He has mercy on us so we
must not double down and
hold on to it.
We have to give up our
sin.
We must repent with the
assurance that Jesus will
bring his people to eternal
life with him in heaven.
who has mercy on him so