God's Way or No Way

Topic : God’s Way Or No Way 上帝的方法或根本无法可行

Text : John 约翰福音3:14-16

Ng Kien Lock

25 Aug 2019

Understanding biblical narratives in the perspective of those in the story as well as what the author intended for the original audience is important in order to understand its original intention and message. Just like Musang King means king of durian to us Malaysian, but can be misunderstood as king of civet to foreigners if they literally translate the word Musang to English. 

The problems of life is mainly caused by us wanting to do things our way like the famous song sung by Frank Sinatra 'My way.’ However, God requires of us to follow His ways in order to enjoy fullness of life. This can be illustrated in John3:16. 

To fully understand John3:16 we must begin from John3:14-15 where Jesus was having a conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus. It was a conversation between two Jewish Rabbi, who fully understood their cultural background and the historical events relating to the account of Moses, wilderness and the bronze snake. They understood it without going into details just like Malaysian understood the Musang king. 

 • Important to understand the biblical narratives in the perspective of those in

 the story as well as what the author intended for the original audience.

 清楚了解圣经故事中的内容及观点，及作者对原始听众的意图是非常重要的。

• To understand John 3:16, we must begin from John 3:14-15.

 要了解约翰福音3:16，我们需先了解约翰福音3:14-15

Nicodemus and Jesus were both Rabbis.  He was too busy during day and might be worried to be seen by other Pharisees, so he came during the night.

Genesis 3

Man's Way :- Adam and Eve weaned leaves to cover their naked bodies.

God's Way :- God made them. Coats of skins.

Numbers

Man's Way :- Isrealites asked for serpents to be removed.

God's Way :- God asked them to make bronze serpent on a long pole in V8.

Whoever bitten by serpents, could look to the serpent and live and not die.

John 3:14

A discussion if the Torah

Even so

The Repentance

V7 the people came to Moses

Man's method of salvation

Pray unto the Lord that he take away the serpents from. Them. And Moses prayed for the people.

• The background to this story is in Numbers 21:4-9.

 民数记21:4-9的故事背景。

• John 3:16 is a parallel to John 3:14

 约翰福音3:16与约翰福音3:14-15是平行的

1 John 4:10-11

For God so loved the world

Whoever believes in Him, will be saved

• Keywords in John 3:16

 约翰福音3:16的关键词

What is God's Way?

1) Love

Deut 3:5 the Lord your God Loved you

Ahav in Hebrews

In Hebrew, Love is not Agape, Love is to do and show in actions.

Matt 22:37-40

Deut 6:5

Lev 19:18

All about God Loving us and doing things for us.

2) Faith

To Believe we need faith

• Application to Life 应用

God's way is the only way.

John3:16 is a parallel to John3:14. V14-15 reads 

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 

Jesus and Nicodemus remembered their past historical events in Numbers 21:4-9 whereby anyone bitten by a snake, sent as a judgement to the people by God because of their sin, will live by looking at the bronze snake on the pole. John 3:14 reminded the Israelites of their sin towards God, the judgement due to sin, and the provision of God’s salvation as in John3:16, where God sent his only begotten son to save us. Jesus in place of the bronze serpent and the cross resembles the pole. Sin has to be judged and penalty of sin is death. God is just, He cannot remove the judgement but instead provided a solution, His way, by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins to save us and there is no other way. However we must repent of our sins and believe and trust in his way to be saved. God's way is all about love and faith. 

The word love in Hebrew requires love to be practical, follow up with action, as God did by sending His son to die for us and demanded of us in Deuteronomy 6:5, Mathew 22:37 to love God with all our heart, soul and strength. God requires of us to believe Him and trust Him in following His ways and not our ways to enjoy the fullness of life. 

From Susan Bong :-

 John 3:16 great expository sermon on thinking like the Hebrew which will allow us to connect the verses to the context it was spoken. How John 3 16 is related to Numbers and why there is a serpent on Moses staff that carried out many miracles. Moses led the people thru the desert for 40 years and the people saw the hand of God in their journey yet they disbelieved, was unfaithful and complained. Thats when God sent the serpents after them. But the serpents and calamity continued to befall the Isrealites. Becoz Loving a person does not mean loving without punishment when a sin has been committed. Love does not obliterate punishment but coming to terms with the wrong that has been done and providing a way to return to the grace. God sent His son as the “Grace” so that He can be the way the truth and the light for us to return.

Questions for discussion 

1. Share one new insight into John 3:16 that you never knew before. How does that change your perspective on this verse or the way you read your bible now? 

2. Share one of your recent experience when you got into trouble and tried to solve it your way, what was the outcome? And how did the situation change when you choose to do it God’s way? 

3. Hebrew understanding of love is beyond lip service, it is to show by way of action, e.g. to protect, to provide, to give. How are you expressing this love for God, for your church, your Christian community and for your neighbour?

John 3:16

An unknown, yet wise old sage once explained John 3:16 like this:

For God... the greatest Lover

so loved… the greatest degree

the world… the greatest company

that He gave… the greatest act

His only begotten Son… the greatest gift

that whoever… the greatest opportunity

believes… the greatest simplicity

in Him… the greatest attraction

should not perish… the greatest promise

but… the greatest difference

have… the greatest certainty

everlasting life… the greatest possession.

https://bible.org/article/gods-plan-salvation

https://mylordisjesus.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/the-worlds-simplest-evangelistic-tool-john-316/

The World’s Simplest Evangelistic Tool, John 3:16

Last week, as part of the sermon given by our Pastor at Church, he shared with us an extremely simple evangelistic tool based on John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  (ESV)

He suggested that this could be used in an informal setting such as at a restaurant or over coffee.  Finding something to write on, a paper napkin or whatever, start by drawing a plus sign, or the four points of a compass.  Then, talking through the points of John 3:16, write down the following phrases at each of the four points:

• God Loves  (N)
• God Gives,  (S)
• We Believe  (E)
• We Live 

Of course, you can elaborate on the four points, this is just a bare outline  The beauty is that it is so easy to remember and includes all of the essentials.

So, there it is, a simple and easy way to present the Gospel to anyone, even a stranger you talk to on a park bench.

May god bless you as you go and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

http://www.faithgateway.com/john-3-16/#.WW3VcoSGPIV

http://slideplayer.com/slide/5289460/

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201203/201203_028_john_3_16.cfm

http://www.christianwitnessingtools.com/the-j316-philosophy1.html

http://blog.memorycross.com/3-bible-crafts-teach-children-gods-love/

http://www.grace.church/book/export/html/2914

http://tcfmy.org/fresh/john-316-presentation/

When you share this gospel presentation, use a blank sheet of paper and draw this diagram as you share.

Step 1: WRITE ‘GOD’

God is powerful and personal.

Step 2: WRITE ‘MAN’

God created us.

God made man to be close to Him.

Man was made to have fellowship with God forever.

God intended man to have a relationship with Him.

Step 3: DRAW LINE AND WRITE ‘LIFE’

God wants to give life, eternal life.

That’s God’s plan for us.

Step 4: CANCEL ‘MAN’ ON TOP AND WRITE ‘MAN’ AT THE BOTTOM

God gave man freedom to choose.

By his own choice, man decided to separate from God.

Man disobeyed God, rejected God.

Step 5: WRITE ‘SIN’

Sin is more than wrong actions.

It is wanting to do it our own way, not God’s way.

STEP 6: DRAW LINE AND WRITE ‘DEATH’

The opposite of life is death.

Death is separation from God. It is a result of sin.

Without God we will be eternally separated from Him.

STEP 7: DRAW 3 ARROW AND WRITE ‘GO TO CHURCH’, ‘GOOD WORKS’ AND ‘TRY OTHER RELIGIONS’

Man tries his own ways to get back to God by:

• Going to church, doing good works, trying other religions.
• But man cannot find his way back to God.

STEP 8: DRAW LINE / ARROW DOWN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

God did what man could not do.

He came to man in the form of Jesus, His Son.

Jesus came to us. Jesus came to save us.

STEP 9: CANCEL ‘MAN’ AND WRITE YOUR NAME AND THE NAME OF PERSON YOU ARE SHARING

Jesus came not just for man but for me and you.

Cancel man and write your name down.

Write the name of the person you are sharing.

STEP 10: DRAW THE 2 ARROWS

We do have a choice.

We have a way back to God.

We have to decide whether we want to follow God’s way or our way.

STEP 11: DRAW LINE / ARROW UP FROM BOTTOM TO TOP

Jesus came to save us.

He died on the cross, dying for your sin.

He took away all our sins.

STEP 12: WRITE ‘JOHN 3:16’

I am going to tell you a Scripture that summarizes all we have discussed.

Quote the scripture.

STEP 13: WRITE ‘JESUS’ OVER ‘SIN’

Jesus covered our sin with His death and resurrection.

He also said, if you give your life to Him, He will gladly come in and become Lord over your life.

STEP 14: DRAW THE BRACKET AT THE BOTTOM

This is what you are giving up (leading to death).

STEP 15: DRAW THE BRACKET AT THE TOP

This is the time that you have alreay lost that God intended you to have, so don’t wait.

STEP 16: END THE PRESENTATION BY DRAWING THE NET

You could say: Would you like to make a decision to follow Jesus and receive this eternal life?

After that, lead the person in the sinner’s prayer. Ensure it is from the heart. You could say: I am going to lead you in a simple prayer, but I want you to say this aloud after me from your heart to Jesus.

SAMPLE OF SINNER’S PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
I am sorry for having sinned against You.
I believe that You died on the cross for me and rose from the dead.
I surrender my life to You.
I now invite You into my life.
I acknowledge You as my Lord and Saviour.
By faith, I receive this gift of eternal life.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me.
Thank you, Jesus, that I am your child, in Jesus’ name.

(Taken from Grace Assembly leaflet.)

Fundamental Questions John 18-20

Title: Fundamental Questions  John 18-20
Text: John 18-20

Ps Renny Khoo

6 Aug 2017 

Jesus asked 5 questions before the crucifixion.
An overview of John 18, 19 and 20.
John 18 – The betrayal of Jesus leading to His arrest, appear before Caiaphas the High Priest and Pilate the Governor of Judea and eventually was handed over to be crucified.
John 19 -  The crucifixion of Jesus
John 20 -  The resurrection of Jesus
Jesus asked a total of 7 questions, 5 prior to His crucifixion and 2 after it.

1. Whom are you looking for? When He was about to be arrested. It is a question of “Identity”.
2. Am I not to drink the cup that the father has given me? Ch 18 vs 11. It is an issue of “Destiny”.
3. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them…. While Jesus was conversing with the High Priest, Caiaphas. It is a question of “Integrity” or “Reality”. His consistency of the way He lives His life.
4. If I had spoken rightly, why do you strike me? Jesus was struck when He answered Caiaphas. It is a question of “Integrity” or “Reality”.
5. Do you ask me on your own? Or others tell you about me? During Jesus conversation with Pilate. It is a question of “Identity”.

1.     Question on Destiny
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked “Am I not to drink the cup that the father has given me?”. The metaphor “Cup” can be a symbol of enjoyment and blessing. In this case it is the suffering Jesus had to undergo. It was what Jesus was destined to do and from there was able to stand with authority, power and strength when He confronted His would be captors/ accusers.
John 18:37, “For this reason I was born, and for tis I came into the world, to testify the truth.”
John 4: 34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
Jesus surrendered his will to the will of his father. The deep sense of destiny comes from a place of surrender to God.

A roller coaster ride of ups and downs in our Christian live with a sense of not getting anywhere is an indication that we need to arrive to a point of surrendering our will to God in our lives. This turning point will bring on a sense of purpose and destiny to our lives. God who created us special will bring forth the gifts, talent and creativity that we are destined to be. This involves a process and a progressive journey towards our lives calling. We can be honest to God when we converse with him, to wrestle the difficult questions in our lives as God is more than willing to answer them.



2.     Question on Reality/ Integrity
Jesus was brought to Annas the ex high priest  and then the official High priest Caiaphas who was a puppet high priest at that time,
Jesus recounted his work in the temple stating that he had live out a consistent, transparent and authentic life. John 18: 20 – 23. What you see is what you get. Likewise, we have to live an authentic life where we share our lives in a transparent and safe environment in particularly in the Connect group setting. We can only do this if we have the presence of God in our lives. As a people of courage and truth we must know that his presence gives us a sense of security, transparency and being real. When we live for God, it is not a matter of doing big or small thing but whether God is in it. Where God is present, even the small things can be big as it will help us to fulfil our destiny.



3.     Question of identity
Pilate asked the right question on Jesus identity. “Are you the King of the Jews”. What is our identity based on what we possess in Christ? God loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for us. We can only experience God when we know whose we are and know we are his beloved.





Questions for reflection and response

1.     If there is one burning question you would like to ask God, what would your question be?

2.     Share your 'surrendering to God' experiences. How was your experience? How did it go?
What made it easier/ harder to surrender to God?

3.      Share your thoughts on living a transparent life (being real, being consistent).

Jesus' Prayer John 17

Jesus' Prayer

John 17

Ps Renny Khoo

30 July 2017

John 17

Jesus Prays for Himself 

1 After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples 

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers 

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

These are the last few hours before Jesus was crucified and we hear the heartbeat of Jesus. The prayer of Jesus is even greater than the prayer of Jabez! What a privilege it is to listen to what/how the Son conversed with the Father. The progression of Jesus’ prayer is first for Himself, then for His disciples and finally Jesus prayed for you and me and for the whole world. He had the disciples in his mind. He prayed for us too (v20). Jesus intercedes for us today (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). The following 3 words give us a glimpse of Jesus’ heartbeat when he prayed this prayer.

1.         To Glorify (v1-6)

Jesus’ burden was the glory of God. The glory would be realized in the finished work on the cross. We can’t add to Jesus’ glory. How can we glorify God? “The chief purpose in our life is to glorify God.” – C. S. Lewis

(i)        Walk with God

We glorify God when we are found walking with Him. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you (v3)”. Every day we are invited to walk with Jesus and to know Him. Do you know that God speaks to us? We can have an intimate and loving relationship with Him. We can hear Him if we are sensitive to His voice.

(ii)       Work for/with God

We glorify God when we work for or with Him. Jesus finished the work and will of God. “To know God’s will is life’s greatest treasure, but to do God’s will is life’s greatest pleasure.” We start a lot of work but do we finish (the work) well? The clue of disciple-making lies in Verse 6. Jesus invited 12 unlearned men to be his disciples. He mentored, tutored, taught and discipled them. He brought them into a relationship like never before. The disciple-making vision of KKE comes not from us but from God Himself. We see here a biblical mandate, that God desires disciple-making. The pastoral team had a lock-down session back in 2015. We were very convicted that the direction God wants our church to take is to be a disciple-making church. It is utterly important that everyone belongs to a Connect Group. In a Connect Group, it’s not just about you but it’s about the group as well. The interaction, intersection and convergence of human relationships in a church setting is very important. We glorify God when we are able to walk with one another and belong to the family of God.

2.         Be Sanctified (v6-19)

The word “sanctify” means to set apart for God’s exclusive use. We are in the world but we are not of the world. The word “world” can mean 3 things (a) the created world, (b) humanity and (c) the corrupt system that opposes the will of God. We are in the “created” world but not of the “created” world. How are we sanctified?

(i)        Whose we are (V6, 9, 10)

Today, we are really in an identity crisis. Who are you? We are not determined by what we own or what we do for a living. The key lies in whose we are. Deep down in their hearts, children want to please their parents and bring pleasure to them.

(ii)       Word

We need the Word of God to live a consecrated life. The Word of God renews us, refines us, rebukes us and restores us. God is true to His Word. We must learn to love the Word of God. There is a call to come for the Word of God. We should read scripture aloud. When couples read scripture together for an hour, taking turns to read one chapter each, they will feel a sense of purity and that they have been saturated and soaked in the Word of God. They will feel that God’s presence is so real.

3.         Stay Unified (v20-26)

We are to stay unified so that we relate rightly now to one another.

(i)        One Person

True unity is not anchored in just an organization that we belong to. True unity is anchored in one person, Jesus Christ.

(ii)       One Purpose

True unity is anchored also in one purpose --- that none should perish, that the world may believe (v21), that the world would know Jesus in us and through us. This is church mission. God took us out from the world to be sent back to the world. We are on a rescue mission. We must have a heart and burden for people who are lost in this world. That is God’s heartbeat. If not, why on earth are we meeting in the church? “The church is the hope of the world.” – Bill Hybels. God has mandated to work through church. And who is church? You and me. We live in a day and age where there is an “it’s-all-about-me syndrome” or “celebrity syndrome”. We get to participate in this great work that God is doing on the global scene. We get to glorify God. We get to do it. We serve out of our love for God. We don’t serve to gain God’s love. He already loves us. There is a call to love the Lord. “The problem with us today is not that we love the world more but that we love the Lord less.” – C. S. Lewis. There is a call to be sanctified. God’s heart is really for the world. It is His desire that none should perish.

V3

 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

V6

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.

Let your heart not be troubled - John 14

Let's your heart not be troubled - John 14
Text : John 14

Ps Renny Khoo

9 July 2017

Chapter 14 began in v1 and ended with v27 both verses exhorting the disciples - “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. In our present context, are we troubled by family crisis, no end to some existing challenges, relationship problems, financial worries, work pressure or situations with no solutions that we learn to live with it. We are troubled because we are fearful of insecurity and uncertain about the future. Likewise, the disciples were troubled because in the previous chapter, Jesus said that he is going to a place where they will not be able to follow. They were perplexed, for they have left everything and followed Jesus. They cannot understand where they have gone wrong. They cannot fathom why Jesus will want to leave them. Jesus in respond calmed their troubled heart by the following assurances in v2 – 8.

1.  Assurance of our Final Home

Where is Heaven ? 

 A place, a country, a kingdom ?

Heaven is a real place not a product of religious imagination. It is a place where God dwells, Jesus sit on the right hand of the Father. Heaven is described as a kingdom in 2 Peter, inheritance in 1 Peter, a country Hebrew 11, a city and a home. In John 13 to 17, these 5 chapters with the word “Father” appeared 53 time and usually in the phrase of “my Father’s house.” John 14: 3 clearly states that He will return for His people. He is going to the Father and He is the only way to the Father. Heaven is a real place, loving and exclusive place but it is also inclusive, and is open to all who believe. Those who trusted in Jesus Christ will be there.  

The way home does not lie in a pathway, programme or manmade processes but through a person call Jesus Christ. He is not someone who points the way but He is the Way, the truth. The only way to heaven. No amount of good works or endeavour will get us to heaven. Only Jesus and He is coming back for those who believe and love Him.

The question now is “Do you KNOW this person” for the way to heaven is through a person.

A call to trust God for God cares for us and has our best interest at heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves. So when we trust God, we will not have a troubled heart. There is a correlation in knowing and trusting for when we know God, we can also know how we can trust God. Trusting God is a journey, as knowing God is a progressive journey. So we should examine ourselves if we know our God personally, relationally and experientially. Do our believe affect our lives and how we live it? Do we do the will of God out of obedience and have we grown in loving God. Have we got a testimony to share of our experiences in God?

2. Provision of a Helper 

Apart from the Spirit of God, we cannot live out our Christian lives. We must know who the Holy Spirit is. He is called the Advocate or Parakletos, - Helper or Comforter. He is someone who is called alongside to assist. The Holy Spirit do not work instead or in spite of us but always work in us and through us. He strengthens us to face life bravely and to keep on going. He does not rob us of the responsibility or make it easy for us to give up. We are comforted for strength in our inner lives to face all adversities. We need to guard our response to adversities that we do not develop a “Bean Curd” reaction where we cannot take any criticism or correction. Our inner lives must be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to produce a positive response. As we struggle as illustrated in the Mount Kinabalu climb, the role of the Holy Spirit is to point and guide us in the right direction but we need to put in the effort and do our part.

He is also known as the Spirit of truth where he is the Spirit inspired word of God illuminating the Word so that we may understand the word of God. Thus no excuse for negligent on our effort to study the word of God. We need to be keeping the word of God through our obedience to it. The call intimacy with God through corporate prayer to pray against temptation, breakthrough, empowerment of the Holy Spirit, discipline and to be accountable in our lives.

Counselling - Latin word Come alongside to Help

Comforter - Sometimes Counsellor has to help them to break it or weaken their dependency on certain things. It may not be always comforting but strengthening.

Comfort is to strengthen to move onward and brace for future.

3.  Gift of peace

God’s peace is not based on the world’s resources but depends on our relationship with God and our spiritual adequacy in Christ all receive in faith. God’s peace is peace in spite of trouble or trials for through Jesus, we can truly say, let not my heart be troubled for He has conquered the world - John 16:33. 

Questions for reflection and response

1. Trusting God is a journey of knowing God. Share how you are growing in your trusting/knowing God. What are some obstacles in fully trusting/ knowing God.
2. Share your experiences of the Holy Spirit as your helper/comforter/advocate. 
3. How do you understand peace" in times of trouble? Share (if any) of such experiences

I like the blue hue hovering at the backdrop of church yesterday. It reminds me of the blue ocean.

My Personal Reflection :-

Heaven is certainly a place worth to prepare for before our arrival. I have been reminded, now that we all could afford to travel and to see more of the world with budget airlines and budget hotels, we spend a lot of time preparing for a trip, be it alone or with family or friends. I think Holy Spirit is grieved to see that more than half of the Christians do not spend enough time to prepare for their homeward bound trip to heaven. 

Like a trip ill-planned, many Christians would be shocked to realise that they have not prepared enough for this heaven trip and it is to return home to a place where we have not been.

Amazing Love - John 13

Title: Amazing Love!

Text: John 13

Ps Renny Khoo

2 July 2017 Holy communions Sunday

John Chapter 13 is the climax of the book of John where we enter the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life and eavesdrop on the private and intimate conversation between Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room. V34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The whole chapter is enveloped with love. John 13 is a very familiar passage of scripture because this is where we read of The Last Supper, of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, of Jesus foretelling His betrayal and giving the new commandment. Here is a Reconstruction of the Last Supper. The famous painting of “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci is a pretty inaccurate picture of what took place in the Last Supper. In the first century, when Jews come to eat, they reclined at an U-shaped low table (triclinium). They leaned to the left against the bosom or chest of the person seated on their left. In this way, it was easier for them to grab the food with their right hand. They took time to eat an unhurried meal, unlike us today. The Scripture (v24, 26) seems to suggest that the seating arrangement was like this – The trusted friend (John, V23) on the host’s right and the guest of honor (Judas, V26) on his left. Simon Peter (V24) was likely seated at the other end of the U-shaped table directly across from John. From this seating arrangement, we get a glimpse of Jesus’ amazing love for His disciples. The washing of the disciples’ feet is an enacted parable that really tells us of the true cleansing that would take place at Calvary. At the same time, it is also an act of pure love. The purpose of such love is not just about Jesus dying on the cross for each one of us, marvelous and noble act though it is. The greater question is, “Do we receive His love? Will we receive His love?”

Reconstruction of the last supper

Love can be rejected. Seven times Jesus gave Judas many chances to turn around.

1.         We must receive God’s love. - V1-20

*Love can be rejected v21-30

When we are sick and see a doctor, there is no point if we do not take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Jesus has given His life but would we receive His love?

Simon Peter seemed to reject Jesus’ love because in V8-9, he did not allow Jesus to wash his feet. Washing feet is the most menial task but important one. In those days, it was very dusty and the feet can be very dirty. It was the culture of those days to wash one’s feet when entering a home. It is menial but necessary. Do you know that love can be rejected? Jesus showed his love to Judas 7 times but love was rejected by Judas each time. (1) Jesus gave the seat of honor to Judas, instead of Peter, the leader of the pack, even though Jesus knew Judas would betray him. (2) Jesus washed Judas’ feet. (3) Judas had 3 opportunities to recant his action but he did not. V10 - “You are clean though not all of you.” Jesus was dropping a hint. (4) In V18, Jesus dropped a stronger hint. “He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.” (5) V21 - Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “One of you is going to betray me.” In His heart, He was saying to Judas, “Don’t do it!” That was the cry of Jesus. (6) V20 – “Search your heart! Don’t do it! If you reject me, you are rejecting God!” (7) V26 – Jesus dipped a morsel of bread into the wine and gave it to Judas. This was really a picture of deep friendship. It was likely that their eyes locked as they looked at one another. But love can be rejected. We need to receive Jesus’ love. When love was expressed through the washing of the feet, it was rejected both by Simon Peter (out of pride and shame) and Judas. Jesus is out there to heal and to love us. Jesus came to save us and not to condemn us. Will we or have we received His love?

2.         We must release God’s love to one another. - V14-17

The whole atmosphere of the room changed when Judas left the room. V14 – “If I have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. It is not very different from V34 – “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Just as we need to receive Jesus’ love, we need to also release His love. Are you releasing His love? Are you serving thody of Christ? Unless we first receive God’s love, we cannot release God’s love. We love because God first loved us. We often pray, “Father, forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We can only love when we are a recipient of God’s love. Poor lovers are poor recipients of God’s love and hence become poor servers. How are returning that love to the Body? How are we expressing that love to Christ by serving and loving one another in the Body? If you have been loved, you will love. If you love, you will serve. We release because we have received. Freely we have received, freely give.

We don’t serve in isolation. We are serving ourselves if we serve in isolation. You start serving by joining and be committed to a Connect Group (CG). You must belong to a CG. It is very important to belong to a CG. There is no perfect CG just as there is no perfect church. None of us is perfect. Together we build the CG and together we build the church.

The motivation that Jesus had when He served was one of such great humility. V4-5 gives us a glimpse of what Jesus did step by step. How are we serving? Are we serving only when it is convenient? Are we serving to serve our own egos? We can serve wherever God has put or called us. We are called to release God’s love and to be agents of releaser and channels of God’s love. There are people who just (know how to) receive and people who don’t (know how to) receive. We are called to receive Jesus’ love. Jesus wants to wash your feet. Don’t run away. Would we also receive His love? Would we respond? Just as we have received His love, would we release His love?

Jesus gave Judah's the seat of honour.

Jesus washed his feet.

V26 Jesus dipped the bread into the soup and gave to Judas, that is the mark of friendship 

To serve we must love one another.

We cannot serve alone, that will be serving ourselves.

Conclusion:   

1.  We are loved and so we serve.

2.   We serve because we love the Lord.

Questions for reflection and response.

1.    The greater question – will you/Have you RECEIVED His love? Share moments of when you experienced/received Jesus’ love.

2.   Share some existing (or planned) ministry involvement in BCCM KKE. What are your learning experiences? What are your joys/pains?

3.         What do you think of the following statements?

v   “If you have been loved, you will love.”

v   “If you love, you will serve.”

v   “We release because we have received.”

v   “Freely we have received, freely give.”

Personal Reflections :-

We cannot serve while empty inside. We need to watch our fire within us that the fire is fanned into flame, a passion for God's work, and we are not running on empty.