WTTW: HIS WORD

SUNDAY

“Love, Compassion, Humility & Sacrifice”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 13:1-17

Paraphrase

At a meal just before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that in coming from God everything had been placed under his power but that now his time had come to return to God and leave the world and those whom he loved. The meal progressed with the devil having already incited Judas to betray Jesus as he stood up, took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist, took a basin of water, began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel.

When Peter asked him if he was going to wash his feet, Jesus told him he didn’t understand what he was doing now but would later on, although Peter protested anyway telling Jesus he should never lower himself to washing his feet. Jesus responded by telling Peter that unless he washed his feet he had no business being with him which led to Peter quickly changing course and asking Jesus to wash his entire body instead. Jesus answered by telling him that since he had bathed his body was clean and only his feet were dirty and in need of cleaning – indicating that not everyone of them had a clean body in the sense of sin knowing that Judas was planning to betray him.

When he was done washing their feet he returned to the table asking them if they understood what he had just happened telling them that they correctly call him Teacher and Lord yet he had lowered himself to serve them by washing their feet as an example for how they are to serve one another. Jesus told them since a servant isn’t greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one with the message, He had done this so they would be able to humble themselves as servants knowing it was blessed to do so.

Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that Jesus taught his disciples how to serve one another.

II. INT: How did Jesus teach his disciples to serve one another?

III. ANS: Jesus taught his disciples to serve one another through:

A. Love (people) v 1

B. Compassion (power) vv 2-3

C. Humility (serving) vv 4-11

D. Sacrifice(example) vv 12-17



B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that Jesus teaches us how to serve one another.

II. INT: How does Jesus teach us to serve one another?

III. ANS: Jesus teaches us to serve one another through:

A. Love – Neighbor as Self

B. Compassion - Non-Abusive Power

C. Humility - Serve Others First

D. Sacrifice - The Cross



Prayer

Our Father, Teach us to love as You Love.

Our Father, Make our servant hearts humble.

Our Father, Fill us with Your compassion.

Our Father, Keep us from abusing power & authority.

Our Father, Give us courage to sacrifice in Your Name.

Our Father, Help us to put others first like Your Son.

Our Father, We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.