LIVE: YouTube LIVE
Speaker: Pastor Raymond Seow
Scripture: John 13:1-17
Introduction
- Are you not happy with 10% service charge added to your bill by some restaurants?
- It’s natural for people to serve those who are higher in position, status or authority.
- If Jesus asks us, “Why must I serve you”, what do you think His reason is?
Why must I serve you?
A) Because I love you
- Love is required for us to do things naturally and enjoyably, in our work, family, study…whatever we do. If not, we are forced to do it.
- John 13:1 "…Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
- A bath, whole body cleansing, symbolises the forgiveness of our sins by God to become righteous persons.
- Foot-washing symbolises the forgiveness from God for our sins even when we have become Christians.
- Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection is the basis for both types of cleansing or forgiveness.
- Jesus was giving us an example to be humble and to serve others out of love.
B) Because Jesus sets me an example
- John 13:15 Jesus says “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
- Jesus’ example is about the attitude and not the action.
- We need to follow Jesus, imitate His character: humble, compassionate, helpful and others.
- Jesus says (John 13:16) “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
- Let’s follow His example, willing to serve others with humility and love.
C) Because I love God
- John 13:17, Jesus says “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
- If we do as our Lord commands us (or His example to follow), we will be blessed by God. If we don’t, we are committing sin for not obeying God.
- We live out God’s commands out of our love, gratefulness and obedience to Him, and not for our benefits, His blessings.
- God’s blessing is the consequence for keeping and doing His commands, not the cause.
- Let’s say “I must serve others, following Jesus’ example out of love, humility and obedience to God.”
Conclusion
- We call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ. Do we really follow our Master? He showed His humility and love for his disciples by humbly washing their feet.
- “A rose by any other name will smell as sweet. But it does not follow that whatever we choose to call a rose will possess the rose’s fragrance.”
- A believer is not a Christian by the label, but because he/she is a follower of Christ, follows Jesus’ examples and do what He commands us.
- May we serve one another in the church out of love, gratitude and obedience to Jesus.
