Discovering Jesus | 11-03-24 | The Portrait of a Servant

Dr. Chuck Herring | John 13:1-20In chapters 13 through 17, Jesus turned from apublic ministry to those who rejected Him to aprivate ministry to those who received Him.These chapters cover approximately 24-36hours of Jesus’ ministry.John 13:1… Now before the Feast of thePassover, Jesus knowing that His hour hadcome that He would depart out of this worldto the Father, having loved His own who werein the world, He loved them to the end.Jesus knew that “His hour was come.” It wastime for the Lord Jesus to be glorified throughHis death, resurrection, and ascension. John,more than any other gospel writer, emphasizedthe fact that Jesus lived on a “heavenlytimetable” as He did the Father’s will. BecauseJesus knew who He was, where He came from,1November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)what He had, and where He was going, He wascomplete master of the situation.1“He loved them to the end”— This means thatHis love for them was perfect and complete.Paul described the Lord’s love for those whoreceive Him by faith…Ephesians 3:17–19… so that Christ may dwellin your hearts through faith; and that you,being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may beable to comprehend with all the saints what isthe breadth and length and height and depth,19 and to know the love of Christ whichsurpasses knowledge, that you may be filledup to all the fullness of God.Interview Mike and Allison Amick—Allison,what would you consider to be your mostselfless act of serving the Lord and others?Mike, what are two or three blessings you havereceived as a result of serving the Lord byserving others?1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol.1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 345.2November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)I suppose you’ve already guessed thefoundational truth of today’s sermon—SERVETHE LORD BY SERVING OTHERS! Grab one ofthe “serve cards” from the seat back in front ofyou. You will notice several opportunities toserve. If you use the QR Code on the screen,you will be introduced to even more chances toactively serve the Lord by serving others.John 13:2-4… During supper, the devil havingalready put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus,knowing that the Father had given all thingsinto His hands, and that He had come forthfrom God and was going back to God, 4 got upfrom supper, and laid aside His garments; andtaking a towel, He girded Himself.Verse 2— The attention shifts from Christ’slove to the satanic darkness of Judas’s heart. Inthis surreal scene in the upper room, the devilhad already planted within the heart of JudasIscariot a sinister desire to betray the dear Sonof God.Verses 3-4— Having walked through the dirtstreets of Jerusalem to the upper room, the3November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)disciples’ feet would have been dirty. One ofthe Twelve should have volunteered to washthe feet of the others. But, according to Luke’sgospel, they were too busy arguing about whowas greatest among them. They totally ignoredthe Lord’s clear teaching…Matthew 23:11… “But the greatest among youshall be your servant.”By stressing Jesus’ exaltation, John is about toreveal the depth of His humility and love.1. THE EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOODJohn 13:5… Then He poured water into thebasin, and began to wash the disciples’ feetand to wipe them with the towel with whichHe was girded.The Gospel of John has been building to thispoint, when the Lamb would offer His body andHis blood as the perfect, atoning sacrifice forthe sin of a broken, fallen world. For him tostop at this tender moment to wash the feet ofhis disciples is significant. This task was4November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)normally assigned to Gentile slaves. Jewishslaves could not be forced to do this.The idea of serving the Lord and serving peopleshould not have caught these guys by surprise.It’s a common theme throughout the OldTestament and the New Testament.Psalm 100:2… Serve the LORD with gladness;Come before Him with joyful singing.Joshua 24:15…“If it is disagreeable in yoursight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselvestoday whom you will serve: whether the godswhich your fathers served which were beyondthe River, or the gods of the Amorites inwhose land you are living; but as for me andmy house, we will serve the LORD.”Romans 12:10–11… Be devoted to oneanother in brotherly love; give preference toone another in honor; 11 not lagging behind indiligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.Mark 10:45… “For even the Son of Man didnot come to be served, but to serve, and togive His life a ransom for many.”5November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)Romans 1:1… Paul, a bond-servant of ChristJesus, called as an apostle, set apart for thegospel of God.2 Peter 1:1… Simon Peter, a bond-servant andapostle of Jesus Christ, To those who havereceived a faith of the same kind as ours, bythe righteousness of our God and Savior, JesusChrist.Jesus is the perfect example of a servant. Now Iwant you to notice…2. THE EXPLANATION OF SERVANTHOODJohn 13:6–11… So He came to Simon Peter. Hesaid to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I doyou do not realize now, but you willunderstand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him,“Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesusanswered him, “If I do not wash you, you haveno part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him,“Lord, then wash not only my feet, but alsomy hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him,“He who has bathed needs only to wash hisfeet, but is completely clean; and you areclean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the6November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)one who was betraying Him; for this reasonHe said, “Not all of you are clean.”Peter was appalled and shocked. For a superiorto wash the feet of an inferior was unheard ofin either Jewish or Roman culture. He and therest of the disciples could not grasp the fullsignificance of this moment until Jesus had diedon the cross for their sins and had beenresurrected from the dead.“Washing (bathing)” is a common biblicalmetaphor for spiritual cleansing (Ezek. 36:24–27; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22). Only those whorepent and place their faith in Jesus Christ asLord and Savior receive forgiveness and the giftof eternal life.Peter missed the Lord’s point. Jesus explainedin greater detail,“He who has bathed needsonly to wash his feet.” Spiritually speaking,those who have already bathed (beenredeemed and saved) do not need to takeanother bath every time their feet get dirty.This refers to the sin believers commit. They7November 3, 2024CFBC…“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)simply need to wash their feet—to confesstheir sins to the Lord.1 John 1:9… If we confess our sins, He isfaithful and righteous to forgive us our sinsand to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.To be a true servant of our Lord and to be ableto serve others effectively we need to besaved, to be clean before the Lord, and to befilled with love and humility!3. THE EXPECTATION OF SERVANTHOODThe primary truth Jesus wanted the disciples tolearn and to implement was that of humble,loving service.John 13:12–20… So when He had washed theirfeet, and taken His garments and reclined atthe table...