Upper Room Discourse: You Gotta Serve Somebody! John 13:1-17; Luke 22:24-30 (28 minutes)

Transcription

1 Upper Room Discourse: You Gotta Serve Somebody! John 13:1-17; Luke 22:24-30 (28 minutes) Beginning three week series on Upper Room Discourse of Jesus in John (get to why it is called the Upper Room Discourse in just a minute) I. Main Upper Room Theme. A. Intro question: One day to live, wisdom to impart to loved ones? Tell the person next to you one thing you would say. 1. My Dad: love your family, read the red book, and potato in the sock. a. Have red book, potato in sock. b. potato. B. For Jesus: Upper Room Discourse takes place evening before death. 1. Last shot at implanting truth s in 12 disciples mind. 2. Disciples not getting it, slow learners. Got maybe 10% of what Jesus said over three years. Disciples, no Holy Spirit. I wouldn t have gotten it either. II. Context of Upper Room Discourse. A. Passover Season. April 2, 33 AD; Jerusalem 1. Commemorates: Exodus of Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 12). a. Last plague in a series of plagues in which the angel of death would kill the firstborn sons of those without the marking of blood on their doorposts. If the blood was there he would pass over or 8 days 3. Thursday night before Friday night of start of Passover. Jesus would die on cross next day, Friday 4. Upper room in house in Jerusalem 5. 3 million people in Jerusalem at the time (goal to get to Jerusalem) 6. Must commemorate within city walls 7. Next day, Friday between noon and 3 pm when all lambs are slaughtered for Passover feast; Jesus died on cross between noon and 3 pm the perfect sacrificial lamb for our sins. B. John presents Upper Room Discourse. 1. How Upper Room Discourse starts:

2 1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. NIV 2. John 13:1: Loves the disciples to the end. If it were me I would have been focusing on myself and worrying. 3. Brett Derr Student Ministry Director, Dr. Dan Gottwerth Pastor of Care Ministries will follow III. John 13:1-17: Title of Mine: The Foot Washing 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. NIV 1. John doesn t start with a story of what Jesus said, but what he did. It is an action metaphor. 2. Disciples all have dirty, nasty feet. Sandals and walk through all sorts of stuff. Taken bath earlier that day to ready for feast but feet would be very dirty. 3. Normally, Gentile servant/slave, the lowest of lowest, would wash the feet. a. When they eat they recline and could be near each other s feet. 4. Jesus, highest status participant, takes place of gentile slave, lowest of the lowest, washes disciples feet including Judas. a. Highly shocking to the disciples. b. Something respected rabbi would not do. c. Not just a respected rabbi but God himself! d. Why didn t the disciples think to wash Jesus Christ s feet? e. Get some insight from Luke 22:24.

3 24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. NIV f. Luke 22 about same event. 1) When we read one of the four gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke, and John) we should check the same episodes in the others to get more complete picture. 2) Some believe Jesus washed feet in response to disciple debate. 3) Jesus washes their feet in response to debate. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? 7 Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. 8 No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. NIV g. Peter interesting reaction. No way you are going to wash my feet. We will speculate on why later. h. Jesus washes their feet then presents moral to story in John 13:12-15: 12 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. NIV i. In parallel to this in Luke 22:25-26: 25 Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. NIV

4 j. Key theme and moral: Greatness in the Kingdom of God is connected to service. IV. 2 points I want you to remember: A. Point 1: To Be the Greatest in God s eyes and the Kingdom of God we must be a servant to others, We Gotta Serve Somebody. 1. Count of three say with me I Gotta Serve Somebody. 2. Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming, It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody. a. How many of you have heard of Bob Dylan, raise your hand? If you like his music raise your hand. b. Main point got in exploration of Christianity. 3. As Jesus did in Sermon on the Mount in Matthew he totally stands the world s beliefs and concepts on its head. a. Jesus consistently says the world is this way, but the Kingdom of God is this way. We gotta serve somebody in total alignment with Jesus statement that even though He was God he came to serve and not be served (Matt 20:28). The God of the universe came to serve not to be served. Wow. b. He says that world presents concept that goals of person who wants to be considered greatest, privileged, first, highest in status are to have: 1) Power, control, popularity, prestige, their rights and needs as priority. 2) Given all advantages and thought of more highly than others and others thought of as lesser, less valuable, a bother, servants, maybe even slaves and losers. Needs and rights of others not important. 3) However Jesus says the Kingdom of God is not that way. c. In a culture or life where Christ reigns, the person with the greatest prestige in God s eyes is person who is greatest servant. 1) If you want to be a leader and considered greatest in the Kingdom you must be the greatest servant. This was modeled by God, Jesus Christ, to us. If God

5 can serve humankind then are we greater than God? No we follow suit. 2) So if I want to please God I have to have the attitude of servanthood. I must look to serve and be sensitive to those opportunities. a) Lay down life, forego comfort, lift others up, advance others, deny self. 4. On the count of three, I Gotta Serve Somebody. B. Point 2: We Must Give Others the Privilege to Serve Us. 1. Peter uncomfortable with Jesus washing his feet. Was it ego, pride, feeling not worthy? We are unsure. But it is clear Peter didn t want to be served. 2. But Jesus said that he needed to let himself be served or he could have no part in Jesus Christ. 3. In Kingdom of God important that we allow ourselves to be served. a. We need to realize that others need to serve and we should receive it and not deny it out of pride, selfsufficiency, or unworthiness. God transforms people as they serve. We should not deny them this. b. On the count of three let myself be served. V. What Does it Mean to Serve and Be Served? A. What does it mean that I Gotta Serve Somebody? 1. To serve in Christ-like way is to focus on needs and rights of others and do for them something that helps them to advance and grow as a person. Serve them so they advance and grow. a. Scott s sermon last week: submit to one another in marriage. Marriage on Mission: serve on another. 2. Don t force it. Avoid being controlling. a. Barb and Mom and Kitchen (Asked Barb). 3. Serve people in the way they would like to be served. a. Listen and observe well so you can find this out. b. Bowling ball and Barb. 4. Don t have a life focused on your needs and rights. a. Frequent complaining is sign of this. 5. Sometimes serving means doing hard things that can make it hard on a person. Serving sometimes means letting them do it themselves. a. No door-mat.

6 6. The helper s high. a. Endorphins, oxytocin. b. Marge story. 7. Always be watchful of opportunities to serve big or small. a. One act or conversation can change a person s whole life. b. Examples: 1) Derek and albums (serve by including people) B. What does it mean to allow others to serve you? 1. Letting someone serve you allows them to experience the blessings of service. They can experience the helper s high. 2. Don t let self-sufficiency and desire for control prevent it. 3. Don t let sense of unworthiness prevent it. 4. When people offer, express to them how you would like to be served. 5. Allow other people to speak into your life. Welcome it. 6. Show gratitude. VI. Apply It (Tell someone about this sermon within 24 hours). A. Ask God to show us people to ask this question, What are three things I could do to make you feel (loved, accepted, honored, respected)? 1. Shock people. B. Then do them. C. Serve others by really listening to them. Use tell me more. 1. Homeless man Bill. D. Ask people to speak into your life. E. Ask other people to help you. Do one of these within the next 48 hours. Finish: Say to the person next to you, Serve and Be Served for the Kingdom