March 11-12, 2006, John 13:1-17

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DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY!

*** Luke 2:46-52 "After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. [47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. [48] When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." [49] "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [50] But they did not understand what he was saying to them. [51] Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." [New International Version]
*** Matthew 4:25 "Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him." [NIV]
*** Matthew 7:28 "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching..." [NIV]
*** Matthew 15:30 "Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them." [NIV]
*** John 6:66 "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." [NIV]
*** Matthew 26:3-4 "Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him." [NIV]
*** Luke 22:24 "Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest." [Message Bible]

1. WHAT JESUS DID!

*** John 13:4-5 "...so [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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]

WHAT HE GAVE THEM WAS AN EXAMPLE!
A. "Jesus got up from the meal..."

B. "...took off his outer clothing..."
IF I’M GOING TO ADD SERVICE, I HAVE TO SUBTRACT SOMETHING!

C. "wrapped a towel around his waist...poured water into a basin..."

ONE GOAL - TO PREPARE YOU TO SERVE!

*** Eph. 4:11-12 "Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong." [Contemporary English Version]

GOD'S PASSION FOR HIS CHURCH ISN’T THAT WE BECOME BETTER STUDENTS BUT THAT WE BECOME BETTER SERVANTS!

*** John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [NIV]

D. "...and began..."

*** Matthew 20:28 "Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many." [Living Bible]
*** John 13:8-9 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" [NIV]
***John 13:10 "Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean..." [NIV]

2. WHAT JESUS KNEW!

*** John 13:1-3 "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. [2] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, 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..."

A. HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD SOON GO BACK TO HEAVEN!

B. HE KNEW WHO HE WAS AND THE POWER THAT HE HAD!

C. HE KNEW THAT JUDAS WAS GOING TO BETRAY HIM!

*** John 13:11 "For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean." [NIV]

3. WHAT JESUS TAUGHT!

A. HE BEGINS WITH A QUESTION!
*** John 13:12 "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?" [NIV]

B. HE CONTINUES WITH A LESSON!
*** John 13:13-16 "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." [NIV]

C. HE ADDS A BONUS!
*** John 13:17 "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." [NIV]

HAPPINESS DOESN'T COME TO THOSE WHO KNOW BUT THOSE WHO SHOW LOVE FOR GOD BY SERVING OTHERS!