Intro. Jesus used shocking statements and actions to teach
A. Beatitudes, camel through eye of needle, etc.
B. Today analize lesson through shocking action _Jn 13
1. Just finished passover (vs 3,4) what was about to happen? Imagine that you are one of the disciples and are watching Jesus.
C. Vs 5 Wash feet, incredible, shocking - responsibility. of slaves
D. From this shocking action, 3 applications
I. (vs 6,7) Many things we will not understand until later
A. This made do sense at all to Peter
1. He acknoweldged Jesus as Son of God (Matt. 16:18)
2. Attitude similar to John Baptist (Matt. 3)
3. Can you imagine Queen Elizabeth washing dishes?
B. Did Jesus try to give lengthy explanation?
1. Peter would not have understood,
C. Appealed to him not on basis of explanation, but of trust
1, It had been built up over a period of three years. No leap of faith. Not Irrational
2. Peter had reason to trust! had seen miracles, never heard lie
D. Applications
1. Many things difficult for us to understand - no sense
a. suffering, (b) hell, (c) sincere people in error (Cincinnati), (c) those who have never heard gospel
(d) age of the earth? (e.) how providence work?
2. God does not give us lengthy explanations, perhaps unable to grasp and understand.(none of our bsiness)
a. Get in trouble trying to explain what not revealed
3. Appeals to us to accept on basis of trust and that all will be revealed later (I Cor. 4:5)
4. We have reason to trust (not irrational leap of faith): miracles, truth, highest moral standard ever known
5. Instead of dwelling on difficulties, accept fact not going to understand all. Reason to trust, und. later
6. Some don't want to be baptized into Christ because don't think they understand consequences
a. They say, "Not many people believe it... " "what's going to happen to them?"
b. "What about family members?", etc.
II. (vs 8,9) We must accept God's gift even though unworthy of it
A. Peter, unworthy of having feet washed by the son of God
1. Perhaps conscious of blunders, walking water, trans.
B. Jesus's point, not matter of your worthiness, you must accept
C. Peter's feet washed by grace, not merit, yet he still had to acept
1. Could he have said "I'm so great, fantastic, son of God felt compelled to wash feet? No! it was grace
2. Peter still till had to let Jesus wash them!
3. Because of baptism, could someone say "God saved me, washed me, because I'm so good?" no grace
4. Still have to accept baptism! John 3:5;
5. Grace and acceptance of foot washing not incompatible
6. Grace and baptism not incompatible.
D. Another application: Some are overcome with guilt feelings, are sinners
1. God still offers forgivenes, cleansing, wants us to accept
2. Some doubt their forgiveness. They say, "I don't know if I'm saved."
3. Not saved on basis that you are worthy of it or earned it. He has washed you!
4. Peter wasn't worthy, but that wasn't the issue. What was important was allowing himself to be washed
5. We're not worthy! Not issue. Are washed, do allow ourselves to be cleansed by walking in light.
vs 10,11 Already been clean through my teaching (John 15:3), need this lesson on humility. One remained unclean
III. (vs 12-15) Better to Serve than Be Served
* Be a giver, not a taker: Everyone can be divided into two categories, Giver, taker
A. Apostles self centered, constantly thinking "what about me?" "who is greatest?"
B. Jesus many efforts to turn them around: little child, parables (laborers, rich young ruler), first last, last first
C. Perhaps strongest lesson here
D. A lesson badly needed today's self centered society
1. 60's saying, "me generation"' "My hangups" "my insecurities" (Self help psycological books) everyone so worried about themselves. Psyc. tell self
2. Generation of takers, more mixed up than ever
E. Solution by Jesus: You worry about serving others GIVE
1. Acts 20:35, Matthew 20:26-28
2. So busy concerned with helping others, happy seeing others made happy, forget about self.
F. So many of apostle's problems came from being self centered
1. How will I look, washing feet, humiliate self
G. Same true of us" What keeps us from serving? Constantly thinking, "What will they think of me?"
1. Christians seldom have others in their home. The think, "I have no fancy crystal, demitast cups. In stead I have plates they gave away at Shoprite, open cupboard, plastic cup from McDonalds
H. Jesus, you don't worry about what people will think of you. You serve them, be hospitable, concerned
I. One of the biggest challenges in teaching children:
1. Teaching them to avoid being self centered
2. Suggestions: teach them to write notes, cards to others, take to visit sick
J. LET'S BE A CONGREGATION OF GIVERS, NOT WORRIED SO MUCH ABOUT SELF, BUT OTHERS.
Conclusion
A. In this Simple act we find profound lessons for happiness and eternal life
1. We must learn to Trust God even when we don't understand. We will understand later.
2. We must learn to accept God's gifts though unworthy of them.
3. We must learn to serve
B. Will someone follow Jesus tonight? You must be washed! How? ,Acts 22:16
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