Serve One Another ~ John 13:1-5, 12-17 July 14, 2013 ~ New City Church ~ Pastor John Ferguson

Intro: One of my favorite snapshots of Muhammad Ali was a time when he boarded a plane and was asked by the flight attendant to put on his seatbelt. Ali replied, Superman dont need no seatbelt. To which the attendant wisely observed, Superman dont need no plane! I love that story not simply because of the quick wit of the flight attendant, but because it also reminds us that our notions of what it means to be great need to be held in check.

Illus: Miranda 8 yrs old, I want to be a queen! Why? So I can boss everyone around! That resonates with us, doesnt it? How do we get people to do what we want them to do, which is to serve us and make our lives easier?

At NCC, were in a new series exploring a different way of being human together . How are we meant to relate to one another? The early Christians were devoted to one another. Foundation: Love one another. What does it look like to look not only after the interests of others?

In the text that well look at today, Jesus actually redefines True Greatness, and he does it in a rather scandalous way. Text: John 13 Serve One Another

Context: Jesus had entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds. Many were expecting a showdown with Rome. If Jesus was the Messiah, everything was about to change. Israel would be free. Add to that the Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover meala celebration in commemoration of Israels libration from political slavery in Egyptand you have expectations at an almost fever-pitch that big things about to happen. Everyone, it seemed, had expectations and plans for Jesus. But Jesus was dialed into the plans of his Father and the mission that His Father had given him to accomplish. 1 Now before the Feast of 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. Jesus: I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Lk 22). Luke tells us that during the Passover meal, a dispute also arose among them , as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For

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who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves (22:24ff). During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simons 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. Keddie, As Jesus prepared to wash their feet, there were two matters in the forefront of his mind. The first was his awareness of the fact that Judas Iscariot would betray him. The second and overriding consideration was that of his Fathers will for his life. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. We cannot overstate how scandalous and shocking this was. o We need to step into the ancient world of Palestine to understand; dirty feet from dusty, dung strewn roads were common. o For a disciple to serve his master was considered a common duty, but it was considered too demeaning for a disciple to wash his feet. So demeaning it was usually assigned to non-Jewish servants. o Jesus not only reversed the roles of the Master-Disciple, but he intentionally took the place of the lowest servant. He became a servant of the servants. o Andreas Kostenberger, the washing of the feet of an inferior person by a superior is not attested elsewhere in Jewish or Greco-Roman sources. What makes this all the more shocking is that Jesus willingly served Judas Iscariot knowing that Judas was about to betray him and set in motion the events that would lead to his death by crucifixion and death by the next day. 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? Do you understand what I have done to you? Do you understand that I have considered you as more significant than myself? Do you understand that I humbled myself and made myself nothing so that I could serve 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 anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Answers three questions: (1) Who is Jesus? (2) Who are the disciples? (3) What principle must govern their life together?

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o You should take the lowest place with one another, and creatively serve one another, just as I have done for you. 16 17 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. Mark 9:35, He sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

Main Idea: True greatness does not come from demanding our rights, but from serving one another out of humility.

Application: 1. Consider others as better than yourself. Phil. 2:3, Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. o Louw & Lidas Greek Lexicon: to be exceptionally valuable 2. Ruthlessly slay pride in your life. CJ Mahaney, The real issue here is not if pride exists in your heart; its where pride exists and how pride is being expressed in your life. Illus: Knox Chamblin John Stott, At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility is our greatest friend. James 4:10, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

3. Intentionally take the place of a servant. Phil. 2:5-7, 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 made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant. Mindset: I am a servant of the servants of Christ. o We usually approach one another as consumers: What can you do for me. But Jesus calls us to a different way of being human, What can I do for you?

o Key question: How can I help? o Helpful response to gratitude for service: My pleasure. 4. Bank on the promises of Christ. Matthew 25:40, 45, The King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. Matthew 10:42, And whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will be no means lose his reward. o The church, the community of faith, is the bride of Christ. Whatever you do for her, you do for Christ. CH Spurgeon, I do want to get a heavy crown in heavennot to wear, but to have all the more costly gift to give to Christ. And you oughts to desire the same, that you may have all the more honours, and so have the more to cast at his feet, with Not unto us, but unto Your name, O Christ, be the glory.

Conclusion: What would it be like if this calling of Christ to each of us really took root in us as a lifestyle? What if we tried to outdo one another in serving one another? What if true greatness was actually fleshed out among us? Our world desperately needs to see a counter-cultural model of what it means to be human. Christ designed the life that his followers to have together to be an almost irresistibly attractive community by the way they do life together.