Servant of all (3 things)

• 1^st – The last supper… vs. 1-3
  • The day of the Passover had arrived… vs. 1
    • We are familiar with the Passover Feast by a different name – ‘The Last Supper’…
      • Jesus and the disciples had gathered in the ‘upper room’… 
      • Jesus knew the time had come for Him to return to the Father…
      • He never intended to stay – He knew from the beginning He would leave…
      • His plan had always been for these men to establish His church…
      • They would be the ones to share the Good News with the whole world…
      • But there were a many things He still needed to teach them / to prepare them…
      • Jesus knew His time was limited – and the disciples still had a lot to learn…
    • The Last Supper is recorded in all four Gospels – Matthew 26 / Mark 14 / Luke 22…
      • But where the other three Gospels only give you the record of the event…
      • John takes 5 chapters detailing the final teaching of Jesus to His disciples…
      • It is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus in the whole Bible…
      • Concluding with John 17 – the Great High Priestly Prayer…
      • The only recorded prayer in the Bible between Jesus and the Father in Heaven!
      • God has called us to go out and share the Good News – Romans 10:13-15…
      • And the reality is there is a LOT we need to learn to be prepared for that work…
      • The way we are prepared is by listening to Jesus – hearing His Word!
    • Most importantly Jesus wanted them to know He loved them – to the very end!
      • The most important lesson we will ever learn – is how much God loves us…
      • We do not share the Good News because God commands us to…
      • We go tell people about Jesus because of the Love of God!
      • I John 4:7-8 – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God… for God is love.”
  • When it was time for the feast – the devil had already tempted Judas… vs. 2-3
    • The other Gospels record Judas going to the chief priests before the Last Supper…
      • The priests paid him 30 pieces of silver – about P1,500 – Matthew 26:15
      • Then satan himself possessed Judas – Luke 22:3 – inspiring him to betray Jesus…
    • But Jesus knew the Father had given Him all authority…
      • And He knew where He had come from – and He was certain of where He was going!
      • With the events that were about to unfold – the betrayal / trial / crucifixion…
      • It would be easy to make the mistake of thinking things were ‘out of control’…
      • In fact everything that was about to take place – was all according to Jesus’ plan…
      • John 10:18– “No one takes [my life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
      • No matter how dark our circumstances might seem – God is always in control…
      • Men make their plans – they may have nothing but evil intentions…
      • They will say what they want – and do what they want…
      • But in the end – God is in control – and He uses all things for His purpose…
      • Meaning we get to rest and trust – since God is for us who can be against us!
        
• 2^nd – Washing feet… vs. 4-11
  • Jesus stood up after supper – and put a towel around his waste… vs. 4-5
    • He filled a basin with water and began to go around washing the feet of the disciples…
    • It was customary in the days of Jesus for a servant to wash the feet of guests…
    • People wore sandals – and the dust of the arid Israeli climate covered their feet…
    • Foot washing was considered a job for the lowliest servant of the house…
  • Peter argued with Jesus – ‘Are you going to wash my feet’… vs. 6-10
    • I imagine Peter hid his feet – to keep Jesus from washing them…
      • Peter did not understand why Jesus – God almighty – would wash his feet!
      • Jesus told him – you do not understand why I am doing this – but one day you will…
      • Imagine if Nonoy Aquino came to your house – began washing your underwear…
      • You might have the same reaction as Peter – and the same confusion…
      • God will often do things that we do not understand – at least not at that moment…
      • When I was in Bible College – I was asked to work at the campus radio station…
      • I knew nothing about radio / no interest in radio – but the Lord was leading me…
      • Because He knew one day I would be running a radio station in the Philippines!
      • We may not always understand why God does something in our lives…
      • But our responsibility is not to understand – it is to obey – and trust He has a plan!
    • Peter exclaimed – ‘You will never wash my feet!’
      • Jesus answered – if I do not wash your feet – you will not belong to Me…
      • Waiting there with the water Jesus gave Peter the choice – clean or unclean…
      • When I was a kid – I can remember hating taking a bath – the dirtier the happier!
      • But my Dad would hunt me down and MAKE ME take a bath…
      • He was not about to let his son walk around looking like a filthy mess!
      • God wants to clean up our lives – He wants us to be holy and pure…
      • But He will not ‘make us take a bath’ – we have to choose to let Him!
    • Peter exclaimed – ‘Then do not just wash my feet – wash me from head to toe!’
      • Jesus answered – if you bath you only need to wash your feet…
      • This is obviously not referring to hygiene – if you just wash you feet – you will stink…
      • It is a spiritual picture – your feet are affected by where you go…
      • If where you go and what you do is clean – the rest of you will also be clean!
      • We as believers need to be careful where we go – and what we do…
      • We are foolish if we think that our surroundings do not affect us…
      • If you hang out with people who gamble – tell bad jokes – and get drunk…
      • But you think to yourself – I will not be like them – I am a godly Christian – foolish…
      • Choose VERY wisely who you spend time with – because you will become like them!
      • I Corinthians 15:33 – “…bad company corrupts good character.”
      • But if we are attending Bible studies / spending time with Godly believers…
      • We will find we are clean – staying away from sin – walking with the Lord!
  • Jesus told the disciples – ‘You are completely clean – but not all of you’… vs. 11
    • The disciples were already clean because they listened to Jesus Word…
      • John 15:3 – “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
      • The way that God ‘cleans us up’ is by washing us in the water of the Word!
      • Because His Word convicts us of our sin – shows us right from wrong…
      • If you feel like you are covered with the filth of this world – take a Bible bath!
    • But Jesus knew there was one who had not listened – who was not clean – Judas…
      • When we are not in the Word – reading our Bibles / listening to Bible studies…
      • It makes it very easy for us to get pulled into the temptation and sin!
        
• 3^rd – Follow the example… vs. 12-17
  • When Jesus finished He asked – ‘Do you understand what I have done’… vs. 12
    • I like that Jesus asked if the lesson was clear – did they have any questions…
      • At that point the disciples had NO IDEA what Jesus was talking about…
      • But notice that no one said a word – not a one of them asked a question…
      • I love it when people have questions after a Bible Study…
      • Many times they things the Bible talks about are hard to understand…
      • And if people do not have questions – it is either because they are not listening…
      • Or because they have no idea what I was talking about – all the more reason to ask!
      • The mark of a true disciple of Jesus – is not the one who understands everything…
      • It is the one who asks because he does not understand – questions are GOOD!
    • Jesus washed their feet because of an argument they had after the supper…
      • Luke 22:24 – “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”
      • I am amazed that right up to the crucifixion – the disciples did not get it…
      • They were still looking for Jesus to set up His Kingdom here on earth…
      • They were still jockeying for position – looking for power and prestige…
      • It is important for us to remember – it takes time and patience to grow in Jesus…
      • Sometime we have to learn a lesson – more than one time – before we understand…
      • God is patient with us – we also should be patient as we teach and disciple others!
  • Follow the example of Jesus… vs. 13-16
    • With the cross just hours away – Jesus took the time to show them…
      • Luke 22:27 – “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
      • Who is greater – the person who serves food / or the one who is served their food…
      • If you walked into a house – who is the owner – the one serving or being served…
    • The disciples called Jesus their teacher – their Lord – yet He washed their feet…
      • If He was willing to humble Himself and minister to them…
      • Then they should also be willing to humble themselves and minster to others…
      • They should follow Jesus example and ‘wash each others feet’…
      • There are some who take this command VERY literally – and wash feet…
      • Jesus point is not that we should go around cleaning feet…
      • The point is that we should be willing to serve each other in humility!
      • Too often we look for others to serve us – we want to have our ‘feet washed’…
      • We come to church – but rarely ever think who cleaned it up for us…
      • We leave to go home – without a though of who washes the soup cups…
      • It is easy to be served – but we are called to serve others!
      • Philippians 2:5-7 – “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…”
    • A servant is not greater than his master…
      • Nether is a messenger greater than the person who sent the message…
      • Jesus – God almighty – came to give men the message of salvation – the Good News…
      • But He did not come to be served – but He gave the message by serving…
      • Mark 10:45 – “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
      • God has sent us out into the world to give sinners the Good News of Jesus…
      • But just as important as the message – is how the message is delivered!
      • We are called to serve others – so we can show them the Love of Jesus…
      • Jesus did not just wash the good disciples feet – He also washed Judas…
      • Especially when we serve those we do not like – people will take notice…
      • It opens the door to share love of Jesus – the Gospel of Grace!
  • It is not enough to know these things – you are blessed if you do them… vs.17
    • If I told you the combination to a safe full of money – but you did not open the safe…
    • Knowledge is not enough – we are blessed when we put knowledge to work!
    • Knowing what God expects us to do is the easy part…
    • The real question is are we doing it – are we actually being obedient to the command…
    • The blessings of God come as we step out to serve others – follow the example of Jesus!