Humble Servant (Part 2 of 2)

Well the disciples were arguing about who among them was the greatest Jesus quietly took a towel in the basin of water and began washing his friends feet this weekend on Truth for Life. Alastair beg helps us understand what it means for the son of God to be a humble servant. Our study is rooted in the Gospel of John chapter 13 let's move on from the humility that Jesus displays the clarity that if you like.

Jesus provides the roads of Palestine were on surface they were they were unclean in dry weather, the traveler's feet would be dusty and wet weather they would squelch through the mud and they would be quite challenging. Consequently, the wearing of open sandals would bring their feet at the end of a journey into the context of a whole in need of attention before they went very far as a result of that water parts of the door to parts were there in order to be used for the washing of the feet long with water parts was often a servant, the servant would then know what he was was the duty of the water wash the feet let the people and for the meal. The server wasn't present in the person who was responsible for all would then exercise due humility in fulfilling the role of the servant so that you haven't been welcome to the house would enjoy the privileges we been doing much the same and enjoying the hospitality of someone around the lake eventually had one of those coolers with with water in it all week so that when we come above the beach.

We stand we stand in the cooler and a shake around a little, so that our feet may then be representable when we go into the house. Despite how much advice my wife just stand there, wash my feet for Macy's and Sears is just a just hasn't happened while the interesting thing is that in terms of the custom of the day. It just hadn't happened. You will notice that the disciples had presumably worked themselves up into such a state of competitive pride or that they just grown so disinterested in one another that the meal was already being served is within the context of the meal you notice that you got took off his outer clothing and engaged in these things. Now here's the real issue and this point we have to fasten down. We need to grasp the symbolism which Peter clearly misses me to grasp the symbolism which Peter clearly misses because if we miss it with them. Then we missed the whole thing and I think it is so easily become a form of moralism.

Here's humility. Why don't you try and be humble.

It is a lesson in humility. But that is not ultimately what it is you notice that the meal was being served. And while the meal was being served. First to that is, in other words, it expresses the deliberate nature of the action of Jesus in chapter 3. He spoke about the need for spiritual birth in chapter 4 about the nature of spiritual living water in chapter 6 about spiritual bread. Here is the bread of life and now he is addressing the issue of spiritual cleansing and the perplexity of Peter in verse six is understandable in that he confronts the incongruity of what is taking place.

In other words, he recognizes what John the Baptist recognized when Jesus comes towards him to be baptized by him and John the Baptist says you come to be baptized by me should I be being baptized by you, and on that occasion, Jesus.

Remember says let it be so. Now, for thus it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.

Mother was John just do what I'm asking you is the way it has to be now in a similar vein, the perplexity of Peter is obviously came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet on the King James version was I love Lord doesn't value my feet wash is canna ringing somehow doesn't Lord just out my feet wash going to wash my feet and the conversation you see is a classic illustration is part of the dramatic irony that you get in John's Gospel all over the place. For example, you see it in John chapter 4, where the woman and Jesus are talking across purposes. Do you, Jesus, as you know, if you knew it was he was talking to you you would asking for a drink of water and you never need water again and teases her I'd love to get out.

What is I hate coming down here in the middle of the day. What are talking across purposes. Jesus story about a water that will quench her spiritual thirst.

She's thinking purely in physical terms. Jesus here is dealing with something that is spiritual level. Peter is responding at an obviously physical level, and it is a classic illustration of the danger of the mistakes which a marriage from conceiving in physical terms of that which is clearly spiritual and significant that incidentally is old as you have made my body eat my flash run Ernest up on that and you will notice that Jesus Jesus tells them and tells them in verse seven.

You don't realize now what I'm doing, but later you will understand and otherwise the pennies going to drop later on is the significance, incidentally, of what you find in John chapter 16 when Jesus says to them. I have much more to say to you more than you can now bear when he the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, and so on. And now it is an express promise for the apostles so that they will be guided into the truth that to this point of never fully God.

And when they get it in the ability to write it down so that in the letters in the epistles. We will have an understanding of what unfolded in the Gospels have people come to John 16 and his wife course he's going to guide us into all truth is if some or another that is for us is actually not ultimately presents for the disciples. They were the ones who'd seen it all, but didn't get what you mean wash my feet when you mean I need this when you mean you're going to suffer and die. You should be suffering and dying Jesus as well. You know eventually the penny will drop when the spirit of God comes.

He will lead you into all truth. And then when Peter begins to write his life and is able to sit, Christ died for sins once for all the righteous for the unrighteous to bring us to God, so you of the fact plus interpretation we see this point he is absolutely at sea Henson's question now is we fear the Peter is aware of the incongruity that the situation presents but he's dreadfully unaware of the incongruity of a disciple telling as Lord and Master, what he may or may not do right. Verse eight.

No said Peter you shall never wash my feet. Peter, this is not a good start.

Man, you've you've got all you view all chronicle of these things going by now surely ought to get it. You fed the Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah verse for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father is in heaven. There's another boy followed immediately by get behind me Satan. And here he goes again nine coming years.

Wash your feet, Lord dust, my feet there wash yeah no okay Peter and last, by means and I and this is a this is if you like the, the Alistair Begg expanded version of the verse, unless by means of my entire work of humiliation, of which this feet washing is only a part. Unless I cleanse you from your sins, you do not share with me in the fruits of my redemptive work I listen. As in verse nine Peter swings with the pendulum right across the other side.

It's standard Peter then Lord, not just my feet but I'll take the whole package.

My hands and my head as well. Will you notice that even in this Peter is reluctant to have Jesus do what Jesus is going to do teases my legitimately sad insanity about your hands in your in your head clown and here to wash your feet and out first one I don't want my feet washed, then I want my own program is Peter such a tremendous encouragement of many of his big mouth plus fathead because he still completely misunderstands the meaning of the action. Jesus is not in this washing cleansing his disciples, but he is in this washing symbolizing that cleansing which is provided in the blood. He is about to be shed. Years ago I had an address given by somebody actually one of my friends begin this address and and and the sender's address was there are some things that can all be dealt with with the basin and towel. I wrote him a note and I said hey how could you expound John 13 and leave in their because it's not about water and the basin.

It's about the blood of the cross. And unless you get to the blood of the cross you completely missed the point of the water in the basin and the towel back and said cynically. I wish I was a genius like you that understood the Bible.

I'm sorry. I'm just a poor peon and I don't know what I'm talking about and I don't ever want to play golf with you again and essentially only last for five years that we have been reconciled to one another and talk with one another as the flag I didn't write it in judgment.

I wrote it in the way I want somebody right to me, as he frequently do and point out the missing links so that's why Jesus then uses the imagery of the man who bids verse 10 a person is that a bath needs only to wash his feet. His whole body is clean and another was enough to keep going and and and having a bath every 20 minutes. What is he saying here is the one cleansed by the shedding of my blood. He who is justified by my grace doesn't need to be cleansed totally again and again but is in need of daily cleansing the sanctifying work of the spirit.

That is why when sin enters into the life of the believer went on to become a Christian all over again in the same way that when your father says I want you to bring the car home by 1130. From and you bring the car home at 12:30 AM not prompt the following morning the breakfast table. We had a little bit of a problem. There is a cloud come down between father and son relationship is intact. He still my dad. I'm still his son, but the enjoyment of the relationship is been impaired by my disobedience. I don't have to ask him to become my dad again.

I have to ask you to forgive me for the fact that I didn't do what he asked me to do this for my relationship with hence the importance of coming constantly to God in repentance and faith. The Christian life is a life of daily repentance if it isn't that what we will not even know were not even awake as you can hardly get earlier bad men are sending your soul so you have to come again back again for fresh cleansing know what we understand. We must move to a final pointed to a close as you will notice Jesus is and you are clean. You are clean but not every one of you in other words, he says you are the sharers in the redemption which I am coming to provide wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. That's the picture that is here it is that cleansing which baptism portrays but does not perform and it is that cleansing which ought to causes. Each of us to confront this question, namely, if this is a dramatic illustration of the cleansing that is provided by the blood of Jesus have I been cleansed by Christ blood have I come to him and asked him to make real in my experience what he is made possible in his day if you like, in the words of the old hymn. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing flood.

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb are your garments spotless, are they white as snow. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb is one of my garments are not spotless or yes they are, because remember he gave you a robe of righteousness, which you don't deserve. He covered you over with the role of Christ's righteousness.

I have been saved from sin's penalty. I have been cleansed. I don't need re-cleansed as well and it is this that in this expression of humility. Jesus is making clear. In fact, if you like Peter's protest displays the pride of the manner the woman who will not come to Christ in this way, confident of their own ability to clean themselves up, confident of their own ability to put themselves right with God instinctively convinced that they are in no need of any kind of divine cleansing. They would rather do something for God and admit that their hopelessly and helplessly lost unless God were to intervene and do something for. In other words, they are the names of the 21st century. The names of the 21st century with their entourage. I'm not going to go and dip myself in that filthy Jordan River. No matter who says it. No I will not go to Christ and admit that I am unfit for heaven and unable to rectify my word. There must be other ways and other places that this entry gate of heaven may be approached no no other door no other way no other guide to the realms of day. No other helper when tempted to stray. No other friend but Jesus.

It is when we get all of that that we can then put the PS on notice not only the humility Jesus displays in the clarity that he provides, but the activity that he expects you'll notice his question in verse 12. When you finish washing their feet. He put on his clothes and returned to his place and he said do you understand what I have done for you. You call me teacher and Lord that's the right thing for that's what I know that I your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I sent you an example that you should do is I've done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master. The messenger is not greater in the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Now the question of courses is Jesus here instituting a new ordinance that a feet washing as some today teach. I don't think so is my opinion, is not a main thing or a plain thing therefore not prepared to go to the mat and die over the discussion and I don't want to have the discussion with you afterwards is let you know that immediately it is grace quite boring to me. I tell you the truth, he says I have sent you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

A significance that he doesn't say that you should do what I have done for you should do as I have done for you in the ass is all of the symbolism and all of the notion nature of humble service.

I think the correct application has to be there. I know that many believe other than that, or at least something to this very incident has its own meaning within its own context. Whether it is repeated or not it says within the context of the culture of the time.

I think this incident is similar. For example, to understanding first Corinthians 8, and the food offered to idols.

How do you take the story of the food offered to idols written in the context of first Corinthians, and make application of it in the 21st century in America because there isn't food offered to idols. What is the principal in the in the immediate historical cultural expression. The principal is don't offend your weaker brother, so if you are all tied up in the food offered to idols, you may miss the point of application in the same way we could have the one of the most phenomenal disagreements about whether you should wash each other's feet are not, and all given 1/2 with one another and mystify the low point of the story was that we should serve one another in a selfless way to argue with one another about who's right in terms of the interpretation of the is fantastic, really have the ability to mess things up. You know, just at the drop of a hat.

No, I think if we understand straightforwardly the central focus is on humility and God in Christ looks for that to be a mark, a hallmark of our Christian experience and that we understand in verse 17 that there is a blessedness that attends the life of humble service then where on the right track. After all, remember Jesus says to his says to his followers. At the end of the day you're just unprofitable servants. You know when you've done your best, you can only say we only did what we were supposed to do you know what, what, why, when you expect when you expect applause when you're finished you stiffer your accident. I was nice to say thank you to command one another. But as for them to do. Let another praise you and exalt yourself know Peter when he finally got his remember. He writes in his own life in first Peter five and he says humble yourselves therefore under God's mighty hand, that in due time he may exalt you.

Paul writes to the Romans and he says don't anyone of you think of yourself more highly than your butt. Think of yourself with sober judgment.

According to the proportion of grace and wisdom and faith that God is giving you and then go ahead and exercise your responsibility to quote some are done one from Samuel Rutherford to Scotsman, the other from David Wells born in Rhodesia but probably an Englishman humility has nothing to do with depreciating ourselves and our gifts in ways we know to be untrue and I like when I couldn't play the piano. I can play the piano. Okay, it's not that even humble attitudes can be masks for primed humility is that freedom from our self, which enables us to be in positions in which we have neither recognition nor importance. Neither power nor validity, and even experienced deprivation, and yet have joy and delight. It is the freedom of knowing that we are not at the center of the universe, not even in the center of our own private universe." Rutherford in his journals and and and in my little black book. This comes quote number one if you listen to people previously very quickly will reveal their sins's court number one in my black book reads be humbled, walk softly down with your topsail stoop, stoop. It is a low entry to go in at heaven's gates. It is a low entry to go in at heaven's gates. This is the weekend edition of Truth for Life Alistair Begggs teaching from John 13 message titled humble servant just a minute. Alister will close with prayer so please stay with us if you missed any part of today's study. You can listen free of charge@truthforlife.org or through the truth like mobile app simply search for the series titled to know Christ Truth for Life. We are committed to teaching God's word clearly and directly, we believe God works through the teaching of Scripture first to convert believers and second to establish believers. Thirdly, to strengthen local churches and with that end in mind were excited to make available to you today a three pack of books specifically designed to address the first point, introducing unbelievers to Jesus. The first book is called, have no fear. The author provides us with practical tools for overcoming our reluctance to talk to others about Jesus. The second book is designed to share alongside a friend called the word 121 will include two copies of this book one for you and one to give away.

Learn how you can request this three pack of books when you visit our website Truth for Life.org again the Truth for Life.org. Now here's Alister with the final order prayer father, thank you this morning.

Again, we can turn to the Bible. Thank you that were able to go out of here and read it again for ourselves and see what's true, helpful and sensible grant that what is true may find a restingplace in our thinking that if anything is untrue or unclear or unhelpful that you might help us just to banish it from our recollection. We pray that we might be found in Christ, and increasingly like Christ and this morning, particularly in terms of humble service and we walk out in the strength and power of Jesus in whose name we pray.

Amen Bob Lapine sure to join us again next weekend as Alister turns to Luke chapter 7 to describe Jesus as our compassionate Shepherd. The Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life for the learning is prolific