Do Just As I Have Done

Well, if you would, please take your Bibles and open them up to John chapter 13.

John 13 · chapter mention

John chapter 13. If you did not bring your own Bible with you, that's okay.

John 13 · chapter mention

There's no excuse. We got one in the seat back in front of you.

So if you would take that Bible from the seat in front of you,

I think you can find this passage around page 843 or 844.

In that range, if you go to the 840s, you'll find John chapter 13.

John 13 · chapter mention

Our text this morning is John 13, 1 through 17.

So when you've found it in your Bible, let's stand up together if you're physically able

in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come

to depart out of this world to the Father,

having loved His own who were in the world,

He loved them to the end.

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,

Simon's son, to betray Him,

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands

and that He had come from God and was going back to God,

rose from supper.

He laid aside His outer garments

and taking a towel, tied it around His waist.

Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet

and to wipe them with a towel that was wrapped around Him.

He came to Simon Peter who said to Him,

Lord, do you wash my feet?

Jesus answered him,

What I am doing you do not understand now,

but afterward you will understand.

Peter said to Him,

You shall never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him,

If I do not wash you,

you have no share with me.

Simon Peter said to Him,

Lord, not my feet only,

but also my hands and my head.

Jesus said to Him,

The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for His feet,

but is completely clean.

And you are clean,

but not every one of you.

For He knew who was to betray Him.

That was why He said,

Not all of you are clean.

When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments

and resumed His place,

He said to them,

Do you understand what I have done to you?

You call Me teacher and Lord,

and you are right, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and teacher,

have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example

that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

a servant is not greater than his master,

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

If you know these things,

blessed are you if you do them.

This is God's holy word.

Please be seated.

Lord, we pray once more

that as we look to Christ who served us,

we pray that You would stir our hearts

with love for Him

and that You would push us out of this place

to serve one another.

We pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, this passage presents us

with an unthinkable reversal.

The master, Jesus,

becomes the servant.

And the one who is worthy

stoops down to serve

those who are unworthy.

You may be familiar with the TV show,

Undercover Boss.

Has any of you seen that TV show?

The top-level boss of the company

goes undercover,

hence the name,

and he goes to work

amongst the common people.

The boss cleans toilets,

drives buses,

these high-level executives.

They enter into the world

of blue-collar service

and they get their hands dirty.

Every episode is pretty much

the same thing

over and over and over again.

You'd think that people would

be tired of that same story

over and over by now,

but they've had 11 seasons

of this,

Undercover Boss.

Apparently,

the first episode aired

right after the Super Bowl

in 2010.

They had 38.6 million viewers

stick around after the Super Bowl

to watch Undercover Boss.

There's something

about this strange reversal

of roles that piques our interest.

It is fascinating to us

to see the owner

become the servant.

Well, here in John chapter 13,

John 13 · chapter mention

we see Jesus,

the King of kings,

the boss of bosses,

stooped down as a servant.

This passage,

it teaches us

the incredible truth

that the sovereign King

of all the universe

has stooped down

to serve sinners.

The one who is worthy

of all praise and honor

has humbled himself

to honor those

who are unworthy.

And what we learn here

in John 13

is that if he has served you,

if you have received

what he has done,

if you have been washed clean

by this suffering servant,

then guess what?

Now you are called

to go and do

just as he has done.

The king has stooped

to serve.

And the question

that I want us to ask

this morning

from John chapter 13

John 13 · chapter mention

is this,

how should we respond

to the service

of King Jesus?

How should we respond

to the service

of King Jesus?

And I want us to see

two ways

we respond

to his service.

Number one,

let him serve you.

And number two,

let him show you

how to serve one another.

First,

how do we respond

to King Jesus?

First,

let him serve you.

Verse one,

it tells us

that this meal

happened before

the feast

of the Passover.

This was the last Passover

of Jesus' life.

Don't miss

the connotations here.

The Passover meal,

you remember,

it celebrated,

it remembered,

it looked back

to when God's wrath

passed over

the houses

whose door

was covered

by the blood

of the Lamb.

Those who were

covered by the blood

of the Lamb

were spared

the wrath of God.

Those doors

who were not

covered by the blood

of the Lamb,

not washed

by the blood,

so to speak,

were judged.

And here,

John tells us

that Jesus,

the Lamb of God

who takes away

the sins of the world,

this Lamb

who is preparing

to go to the slaughter

to cover the sins

of His people,

He's spending

some of His last moments,

His final hours,

eating with His disciples.

Picture the scene

with me.

They would have been

lying down,

reclining at table

is the term

that's often used.

They didn't sit

in high chairs

at a raised table

as we do.

We're about to have

Thanksgiving meal

here in a couple of days.

I can't imagine

sometimes I have

a hard time

getting out of my seat

after I eat a big meal.

Imagine lying down

on the ground

and having to get up

after you finish

your dinner.

They reclined.

They laid down

in mats on the ground

and their feet

were laid out

behind them

away from the table.

And John tells us

that Jesus,

knowing that His time

had come,

knowing that His hour

was finally here,

knowing that the Father

had given all things

into His hands,

knowing that He had come

from the Father

and was going back

to the Father,

knowing even,

in verse 11,

it tells us,

knowing even those

who were preparing

to betray Him,

did something

completely unexpected.

Verse 4,

it tells us,

Jesus rose from supper,

laid aside His outer garments,

took a towel,

tied it around His waist.

You can imagine

the disciples' confusion.

Jesus had done

some strange things

up to this point,

but what in the world

is He doing here?

He is putting on

the apparel

of a servant.

He took the form

of a servant,

and then He did

the work

of a servant.

John tells us

He poured water

out into a basin,

and He began

to wash

the disciples' feet

and to wipe them

with a towel

that was wrapped

around Him.

This was

servants' work.

Washing someone's feet

in this culture,

we have to understand,

in this culture,

washing someone's feet

was some of the lowest,

dirtiest work imaginable.

It was reserved

for the lowest

of the lowest

of the lowest

of servants.

In fact,

many of the Jews

in this day,

they said Jewish servants

weren't even allowed

to wash Jewish people's feet.

That was reserved

for the Gentile servants,

if that.

And again,

you might think back

to John the Baptist

in John chapter 1.

John 1 · chapter mention

Do you remember

what he said?

He said he wasn't

even worthy

to untie Jesus' sandals.

He's not even worthy

to be the lowest

of the lowest

of Jesus' servants.

That's how wonderful,

how worthy

he viewed Jesus.

But here,

everything is reversed.

It's not the disciples

washing Jesus' feet.

It's Jesus

who gets out the bucket.

It's Jesus

who wraps a towel

around His waist,

and it's Jesus

who stoops down

to serve.

This is a spectacular display

of the heart of Jesus.

I want you to think with me

here for a moment

about what this shows us,

what this teaches us

about who Jesus is

and what He's come to do.

And this is, of course,

it's a spectacular display

of humility.

It's a spectacular display

of humility.

Mark 10, verse 45,

Mark 10:45

tells us,

The Son of Man

came not to be served,

but to serve

and to give His life

as a ransom for many.

That's a verse worthy

of our meditation, isn't it?

Think about that.

The Son of Man,

the one who is worthy

of all worship,

worthy of all praise,

worthy of all adoration,

worthy of all service,

came not to be served,

but to serve

and to give His life

as a ransom for many.

See, humility is at the very core

of the person

and the mission of Jesus.

The incarnation itself,

God becoming man,

is a spectacular display

of divine humility.

I heard Christmas music

on the radio this week,

so I think I'm safe

to make this illustration,

this reference.

One of my favorites,

one of my absolute favorite

Christmas hymns,

is Thou who wast rich

beyond all splendor.

Do you know that one?

Thou who wast rich

beyond all splendor,

all for love's sake

becameest poor.

Thrones for a manger

did surrender,

sapphire courts

for stable floor.

Thou who art God

beyond all praising,

all for love's sake

becameest man.

Stooping so low,

but sinners raising,

heavenwards,

by thine eternal plan.

This is a radical,

spectacular humility.

And you ask,

well, what could motivate

such humble service?

Well, this service,

John tells us,

is motivated by love.

All for love's sake

becameest man,

the hymn says.

All for love's sake

becameest poor.

This is a spectacular display

of love.

Look again to verse 1.

John told us,

when Jesus knew

that His hour had come

to depart out of this world

to the Father,

having loved His own

who were in the world,

He loved them

to the end.

John is remembering

the spectacular love of Jesus,

not only in this moment,

but throughout His entire life,

but exemplified here

in this moment.

This is a display

of selfless,

humble love.

And not for those

who have earned it.

Pay attention to this here.

This is not love

for those who are worthy of it.

Far from it.

This is love for those

not who have it all together.

This is love for sinners.

You remember what Jesus knows

about His disciples here.

What does He know

about His disciples?

Those whose feet He's washing.

He knows everything

about them.

He has perfect knowledge

of what Judas is about to do.

Sell them off

for 30 pieces of silver.

We'll deal with him next week.

He had perfect knowledge

of what Peter was about to do.

Deny Him three times.

I don't know Him.

I don't know Him.

I don't know Him.

He knows their sin

backwards and forwards,

inside and out,

and yet here He is

with a towel around His waist,

stooping down to serve

those who are unworthy

of His love.

This is good news

for sinners like us,

isn't it church?

And what does this tell us?

It tells us His love

is not based on our worthiness.

He doesn't love us

because we are good.

He loves us because

He is good

and gracious

towards sinners like us

and merciful

towards sinners like us.

Jesus knows all

about your sin.

He doesn't love you

because you're clean.

His love

makes us clean.

This is what we learn

from His interaction

with Peter,

isn't it?

Look there with me.

Peter,

as he usually does,

he has something to say

about this.

There in verse 6,

He said,

Lord,

do you wash my feet?

Jesus answered him,

what I am doing now

you do not understand,

but afterward

you will understand.

But Peter wouldn't have it,

would he?

He said,

you shall never

wash my feet.

And look at what He said

here in verse 8.

And Jesus answered him,

if I do not wash you,

Peter,

you have no share

with me.

So what did Peter do?

He did a full 180,

didn't he?

Lord,

don't only wash my feet,

wash my hands,

wash my head,

wash me completely,

Lord,

whatever it's going to take.

Which, of course,

this points us

towards what we already know,

which is that this act

of washing feet

is actually

a spectacular display

of a greater,

more humble,

loving service

to come.

This act of washing feet

is a small picture

of the love of Christ

who came to live

and to die

and to rise

for sinners like us.

John's telling us,

if it's shocking to you

that Jesus would stoop down

and wash your feet,

just you wait.

The King has come to die

for His people.

And where do we see

the love

and the humility

and the service

of Jesus

more clearly

than on the cross?

Where are sinners

like us

cleansed completely

of our sin?

Totally cleansed,

but at the cross.

Romans 5.8

God shows His love

for us

in this.

That while we were

still sinners,

Christ died

for us.

Why?

For what purpose?

Paul tells us

in Ephesians 5.

Christ loved the church

and gave Himself

up for her.

Why?

That He might

sanctify her,

having cleansed her

with the washing

of water

with the Word

so that He might

present the church

to Himself

in splendor

without spot

or wrinkle

or any such thing

that she might be

holy

and without blemish.

This passage

isn't about

our feet.

Jesus here

in washing

His disciples' feet,

He was pointing

them forward

towards a greater

cleansing to come

not just of our

stinky feet,

church,

but of our

sin-stained soul.

And when we realize

this,

don't we want to

cry out like Peter,

Lord,

wash me.

Lord,

wash me clean.

Whatever it takes,

Lord,

wash me.

And Jesus said to Him

in verse 10,

The one who has bathed

does not need to wash

except for his feet

but is completely

clean.

At our house,

we got three boys,

right?

The effects of a good

bath do not last long.

And it has happened

often.

They will get cleaned up,

they'll get themselves

a bath,

we think all is good,

next thing you know,

you look out the window

and they're running

in the yard barefoot.

Their body may be clean

but as soon as those feet

hit the bare ground,

guess what happens?

They're dirty.

And of course,

the same is true

in this culture,

probably even more so.

You can get a bath,

you can get yourself

cleaned up

but once your feet

hit that dirty,

dusty ground

with bare feet

or open sandals

at best,

well now,

guess what?

Your feet are dirty.

So let me ask you

this question,

I want to see what you think.

If you have bathed yourself

totally clean

and yet you have

dirty feet,

are you completely,

absolutely,

totally clean

or are you dirty?

It depends on if you ask

mom or dad,

doesn't it?

Dad might be inclined

to say it's clean enough,

come on in,

you're fine,

come on in the house.

Mom doesn't say that,

does she?

Mom says,

no, you're filthy,

get inside,

you need to wash up,

come on,

you're dirty,

go wash up.

Church,

unfortunately for us,

I'm afraid God

takes mom's side

on this one

because even

the tiniest

speck

of sin,

even the tiniest

stain

of sin

makes you

totally,

completely

unclean,

which is a problem

for us

because you must be

totally clean,

totally pure,

or you must be

totally innocent

to be in right relationship

with a totally

holy God.

God is

holy,

holy,

holy.

He does not

tolerate clean

enough.

You must be

perfect

to enter into

the kingdom of heaven.

This is a problem

for us.

Who can enter

into his presence?

Who can be

accepted

in the sight of God?

Who among us

can be accepted?

Who among us

is qualified?

Jesus tells

us here

in this passage,

only he

who has been

washed clean

by the Lord

Jesus Christ.

If you would

have a share

in me,

Peter,

you must

let me

wash

you.

It's the bad

news.

All of us

are unclean.

But the good

news of the

gospel,

Jesus says,

I will

wash you

clean.

I

will

serve

you.

I

will

love

you.

I

will

bring

you to

God.

I

will

wash

you.

If I

don't,

you have

no part

in me.

But if I

do,

you are

totally

clean now

and forever.

Isn't this

wonderful news

for sinners

like us?

It's

wonderful news.

And it is

so upside

down from the

way we think,

isn't it?

You see,

the way into

the kingdom

of God is

not by

serving God.

It's by

being served.

The way we

get a share

of the king

is not by

doing,

it's not by

giving,

it's not by

earning,

it's by

receiving.

We don't

clean ourselves

up and then

come to God.

God comes

down to us

to wash

us clean.

Every other

religion in the

world,

is asking

the question,

what must

I do

to earn

my place?

What must

I do

to earn

a good

standing with

God,

to get right

with God,

to earn

my way

to God?

You know,

Christianity,

the gospel,

is the only

message in

the world

that says

you don't

have to do

anything

to be made

right with

God.

If you

would be

made right

with God,

there is

one way

and one

way only.

You receive

the finished

work of

Christ by

faith alone.

Did you

pay attention

to the words

we just

sang?

A rock

of ages

cleft for

me.

Nothing in

my hand I

bring,

simply to

the cross

I cling.

Naked

come to

thee for

dress,

helpless

look to

thee for

grace,

foul eye

to the

fountain

fly,

wash me

savior,

or I

die.

Church,

the first

way we

respond to

the work

of King

Jesus is

to receive

what he

has done.

Let this

humble God

serve you

and wash

you completely

clean from

all your

sins.

Trust his

word that

he alone

can make

you clean.

Let him

serve you.

Then,

then,

let him

show you

how to

serve one

another.

Look there

to verse

12 with

me.

Jesus makes

a transition

here in

verse 12

from serving

to sending.

Those who

have been

served now

are sent

to go out

and to

serve one

another.

Look at what

he says in

verse 12.

When he

had washed

their feet

and put on

his outer

garments

and resumed

his place,

he said to

them,

do you

understand

what I

have done

to you?

You call

me teacher

and Lord

and you

are right

for so

I am.

If I

then,

your teacher

and Lord

have washed

your feet,

you also

ought to

wash one

another's

feet.

For I

have given

you an

example

that you

also should

do just

as I

have done

to you.

Truly,

truly,

I say to

you,

a servant

is not

greater than

his master,

nor is

a messenger

greater than

the one

who sent

him.

If you

know these

things,

blessed are

you if

you do

them.

The point

is,

I hope

you see,

it's not,

well,

you've seen

me wash

feet,

now you

go wash

feet.

The point,

I believe,

is that we

who have been

the recipients

of the

humble,

loving service

of Christ

ought to

be marked

by humble,

loving service

to one

another.

We're

called

believers

as we

have

opportunity

to do

good to

everyone

and especially

to those

who are

of the

household

of faith.

And so

here in the

second point,

I want to

focus on

five ways

to do

this.

Five ways

to go

and do

for one

another

just as

Jesus

has done

for us.

I want to

be very

practical

here.

And let me

say again,

just by way

of preface,

do not

jump straight

to doing

before receiving.

That's our

natural bent.

We want to

do,

we want to

do,

we want to

do.

That will

never work.

We can

only serve

one another

out of

receiving

Christ's

service to

us.

We can

only love

one another

out of

receiving

Christ's

love for

us.

Don't

pass go,

don't

skip to

step number

two,

before you

have received

the work

of Christ.

Now,

five ways.

Five ways.

Number one,

pray for

a humble

heart.

Pray

for a

humble

heart.

God,

make me

humble.

Be warned,

that is a

dangerous

prayer.

Pride is

not easily

killed,

it is often

painfully

removed from

a sinner's

heart,

but the

fact is,

you will

not genuinely

truly serve

others if

you think

you're better

than them.

If you

place your

needs above

theirs,

you will

never truly

serve others.

Pray God

would reverse

your idea of

greatness so

that it looks

less and less

like the

world's view

of greatness

and more

and more

like his

true definition

of greatness

in the kingdom

of God.

God,

what is it?

Those who

are first

will be

last.

Those who

are last

will be

first.

The way

up is

down.

The greatest

among you

are those

who are

humble

and lowly

and gentle.

If you

have anything

to boast of

from a

worldly

perspective,

riches,

status,

influence,

position,

authority,

count it

as loss.

Lay it

aside,

humble

yourself

and become

a servant.

I will

never forget

I was a

part of a

church in

Charlotte.

I served

there as

a pastoral

assistant

and then

senior

pastoral

assistant

which was

basically

a learning,

a training

role.

I got to

have a

front row

seat to

the ins

and outs

of church

life.

I sat

in on

membership

interviews

and counseling

sessions

and elders

meetings and

I was like a

sponge just

soaking it

all up.

But I

will never

forget

one of the

elders who

was by all

worldly

standards

very extremely

successful.

He had a

successful career

as a lawyer

there in

uptown

Charlotte.

I came

back after

a service

back into

the building

to find him

all alone

sweeping up

the floors.

He never

saw me,

didn't know

I saw him

but there

he was

bending

over

cleaning

the floors

on his

hands and

feet.

And of all

the things

I learned

that was

a lesson

that stuck.

Now that

might seem

out of place

to the world

but that's

meant to be

ordinary

behavior

for Christians.

And Paul

calls us

in Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2

in humility

count others

more significant

than yourselves.

How do we

do that?

have this

mind among

yourselves

which is

yours in

Christ Jesus

who though

he was in

the form

of God

did not

count

equality

with God

a thing

to be

grasped

but emptied

himself

by taking

the form

of a

servant

being born

in the

likeness

of men

and being

found in

human form

he humbled

himself

by becoming

obedient

to the

point of

death

even

death

on a

cross.

Therefore

God

has

highly

exalted

him

and bestowed

on him

the name

that is

above

every name

so that

at the

name

of Jesus

every knee

should bow

in heaven

and on earth

and under

the earth

and every

tongue

confess

that Jesus

Christ

is Lord

to the

glory

of the

Father.

Church

pray

for

humility

like

Jesus.

Number

two

pray

for a

heart

of love

pray

for a

heart

of love

love

the Lord

your God

with all

your heart

all your

soul

all your

mind

all your

strength

and

love

your

neighbor

as

yourself

if we

could

just

get

those

two

right

we'd

be

doing

okay

pray

for a

heart

that

genuinely

loves

one

another

not

just

that

feels

love

but

that

moves

in love

not

just

that

expresses

love

verbally

but

lives

that

exemplify

love

for one

another

love

that

says

and

love

that

shows

you know

John

you might

remember

called

himself

the

disciple

whom

Jesus

what

you remember

the

disciple

whom

Jesus

loved

and

most

of his

writings

there's

no mistake

most of

his

writings

are

categorized

by

love

in fact

one of

the early

Latin

church

fathers

named

Jerome

he said

that

John

in his

old age

he lived

in Ephesus

until he

was extremely

old

his disciples

could

barely

carry him

into church

and he

couldn't

muster up

the strength

to say

much

but he

was still

asked

to speak

and to

deliver

sermons

and so

during

individual

gatherings

he usually

said

nothing

but

little

children

love

one

another

and the

church

became

annoyed

because

they always

heard the

same

sermon

over

and over

and over

and over

again

so finally

they said

teacher

why do

you always

say this

and he

said

because it

is the

Lord's

commandment

and if

it alone

is kept

it is

sufficient

little

children

love

one

another

why do

you think

he made

such a big

deal out

of that

command

it's

because

he heard

it

expressed

as a

command

by

Jesus

and he

experienced

it

exemplified

in the

life

of

Jesus

he was

loved

and so

he

loved

have

you been

loved

by

Christ

have

you been

loved

by

Christ

so

love

one

another

members

of

Seaweed

Bay

we

affirm

a

church

covenant

it

details

out

the

commitments

that we

make

to one

another

as members

of one

body

and in it

there's a

section

that says

this

it says

we will

walk

together

in

Christian

love

now that's

easy to

say

and then it

spells out

what that

might look

like

for us

we will

walk

together

in

Christian

love

as we

care

for

and watch

over

one

another

seeking

one

another

spiritual

good

at all

times

we will

pray

for

encourage

warn

rebuke

and admonish

one another

as occasion

may require

we will be

slow to

take offense

and will

eagerly

seek

reconciliation

without

delay

forgiving

one another

as God

in Christ

has forgiven

us

would you

would you

pray that

God would

give us

a heart

that loves

one another

like that

pray

for a heart

that loves

like Jesus

and if you

aren't sure

where to

start

number

three

number

three

look

around

at those

who you

think

are doing

this

well

and join

them

number

three

look at

those

who

are doing

this

well

and

join

them

have you

ever

heard

of

Pareto's

law

Pareto's

law

says

80%

of the

results

are caused

by

20%

of the

causes

you apply

that to

the church

people apply

it to

the church

and say

well 80%

of the work

is done

by 20%

of the

members

that may

be true

in some

places

I want to

encourage you

actually

because I

don't think

that that's

true here

this is a

church

that serves

and so hear this

as an encouragement

to you

do so

more

and more

and if you

look around

and you see

others serving

faithfully

and you're not

sure where

to serve

you see others

in certain

service positions

and spots

please don't

interpret that

to mean

well that

spot

is taken

you ask

anyone

who serves

regularly

and faithfully

and I

promise you

they are

willing to

share

with you

jump in

ask them

how you

might join

them

have them

teach you

how to

serve

go learn

how to

run sound

so Randy

can see

what these

chairs feel

like out

here

and try

and wrestle

the hospitality

tent

the cookies

the juice

away from

Craig and

Patty

if you can

learn how

to make

a pot

of coffee

wrestle

that away

from Miss

Ann

if you

can do

it

ask Pete

men

women

even

ask Pete

if he'd

teach you

how to

work the

lawn mower

out there

he's been

trying to

teach me

since I

got here

I've kept

him at

bay

find others

who are

serving

faithfully

and join

them in

what they're

doing

but know

this

that serving

one another

it does

not have

to be part

of a

formal

ministry

in fact

often times

the way

love

happens

it's not

structured

it's not

organized

but it

is

intentional

and we

often want

to have

the church

maybe

program

just give

me an

hour a

week

where we

come

together

and do

life

and serve

one another

and that's

when we

love one

another

and then we