Sermon nuggets Fri Aug 22
Theme Showing Love
Verses-
John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (NIV)
A Sharing Love
Jesus tells his disciples to follow His example. The example that we need is not only to serve others in humility and love, but share with them the truth and story of God's love.
Some people think Jesus was instituting the ordinance of foot washing for the church, and there are some groups that practice foot washing. That is fine, but when Jesus said that he does this as an example he was saying, "behave in a manner as I have behaved." The example is humility. The result of that kind of humility is loving service doing the menial and humiliating tasks for the glory of Jesus Christ.
When we realize how we have received God's love only then can we give of it. The greatest enemy of service is pride. The person preoccupied with impressing others and receiving their approval and adulation is unable to love because the flow of attention is moving in the wrong direction. Everything is directed inward. Godly love, instead flows outward. If I am preoccupied with what you think and feel about me then it is not focused on the other.
Love is also giving. We are told even to give to those who can't give back. We must do good to one another. Jesus was been our example. We will be blessed in these activities.
No service is insignificant for the Kingdom and as it is done unto the Lord. We do it because He wants us to do it. Our motivation is out of obedience and love for the Lord. If Jesus is our teacher, then we learn from Him. If he is our Master then we obey Him.
Church splits, and fights, and squabbles most often come not from honest doctrinal differences but rather from personality clashes and power struggles. I think many groups and individuals feel their power or prestige is being challenged and they fight for control or recognition. The Lord desires to clean those whose feet are unwashed, whose hearts are proud, competitive and filled with strife and hatred toward one another. ,
Rev. Bob Brunco says, "As far as Jesus was concerned their problem was not so much their dirty feet, it was their spirit of competitive pride and that's why he asked, do you really understand what I have done to you? If you do you will reveal it by your willingness and readiness to wash each other feet?
When we are tempted to think of our dignity, our prestige, our place, our rights, then we need to see again the picture of the Son of God, gird with a towel, and kneeling at His disciples' feet. If Jesus can step down from a position of deity to become a man, and then further humble Himself to be a servant and wash the feet of twelve undeserving sinners, we ought to be willing to suffer any indignity to serve Him. That is true love and true humility.
Do you know what I have done to you? If you know then, happy are you if you do them" Jesus said it. Share His love.
Pastor Dale
