God is love and desire that all sinners should come to repentance
We love because God first loved us
If there is any service in us - it is because He has first loved us
A love that stoops
This passage is only found in the Gospel of John
Why is this so?
Shortly after the institution of the Lord's Supper - Christians could misunderstand this practice - not a regular practice/ordinance like the Lord's Supper
Things that are glorious only need to be written once
v3-4: Jesus gets up ...
... and surely will do something awesome
... but laid aside His garments, took a towel and washed the disciples feet
An act of the lowest servant
A condescending act of love
People knelt/worshipped at Jesus feet - why should He kneel at our feet?
It would have taken some degree of time
This was a usual Jewish practice - to clean their feet after coming into a house
Jesus ministers to us day-by-day
We are often taken up with things - yet Jesus cares for us
Jesus knew that His hour had come: the night before His crucifixion, to be offered as a Passover Lamb on the altar of Calvary - Yet Jesus washes the disciples feet
Would you be considering others the day before your death?
It was a very personal act
He probably washed the feet of Judas
He gives an example of loving our enemies
Example of King Henry
Exposition of Matthew Henry
Jesus who was rich became poor for us, so that we who are poor can become rich
Jesus still loves us without change
How will we respond to this?
A love that serves
"It is not chore to serve"
It was no chore for the Lord Jesus Christ to wash the disciples feet
A thing never done by the master of the house
Jesus loved not just in word but deed
Personal example
Jesus "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many"
He laid down His life for His friends
A love that sanctifies
Do you understand the interaction between Jesus and Peter?
Astonishment
Pride
Simon Peter often resisted Jesus
Jesus is tender with Him - He knows he will not understand
He challenges Peter that he cannot have a stubborn heart
The washing has spiritual significance
The 11 disciples have known the washing of regeneration and the work of the Spirit in their lives [not Judas]
The cross has cleansed people of their sin
There is continued regeneration
There needs to be daily repentance and confession of our sin
We cannot cleanse ourselves or redeem ourselves
We go to the blood of Christ at the cross
We ask for fresh forgiveness
We do not believe that good works or religious rituals erase our sin
Example of song "Nothing but the blood of Jesus"
Have you come to this fount?
A love that demands a right response from us
v12-17
The place of blessing and happiness is in the will of God serving Christ
We ought not to be miserable Christians
There are examples of servants of Jesus Christ within our church
Are we prepared to be the least and last?
Like the apostle Paul
Like the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 2:5-7)
Read 1 John - a challenging book on loving the brethren, in word and in deed
