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.”
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.
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