5 INSIGHTS FROM THE LAST SUPPER
V.2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…
01. SIN SHOULDN’T SURPRISE YOU. (vv.2-10)
V.2 Betrayal surrounds Jesus. Jesus' life wasn’t free of enemies. This betrayal, though committed by a person, originates in the Enemy.
We often think if we live above reproach christian lives, and serve Jesus with integrity, and honor people, we will not have enemies. But that’s not the truth. Evil people find their way to you. The enemy plants them among even in the church community. No one lived better than Jesus. And yet Judas was used by the devil to betray him.
Jesus experienced church-hurt.
Some people leave churches because of “church hurt”. It’s often thought of as something church members experience from church leaders. But actually, you’ll notice here Jesus is the leader. Church hurt is something that happens to church leaders caused by members! Do you know why?
Because people are all susceptible to sin.
John Owen “You must be killing sin or it will be killing you.”
We need to be REALISTIC about sin and deal with it:
IN OURSELVES - through repentance, before it grows.
James 1:13–15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
IN OTHERS - Through compassionate conflict - before it kills the relationship.
2 Timothy 2:24–26 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, [25] correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
02. INFINITE POWER IS EXPRESSED THROUGH WEAKNESS. (vv.3-5)
V.3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God
V.3 Despite what this betrayal looked like from the outside, Jesus was the one in control. The Father had put “all thinking into his hands”. Satan had made a chess move that looked successful but Jesus was luring him into checkmate.
How did Jesus use His power over the situation?
We are tempted to use our control of the situation for revenge. Jesus used his control of the situation for love!
Vv.4-5 [Jesus] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
This would have been shocking for disciples to see their revered Rabbi stoop down as their slave. But we–on this side of the resurrection–know it was more than that. This was the ultimate stooping.
Philippians 2:5–8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Richard Dawkins “...a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully…”
Jesus deeply loves you.
V.1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when 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.
V.1 Interesting narrator comment. This is the final hour, but Jesus is ending his time on earth having loved His own. That’s the comment.
There’s a lot of hate in the world. Jesus is the God of love.
Jesus is the God of covenantal commitment
We should cherish our love relationship with Jesus.
Would we end our lives with this tagline, men!
Would we lead our children this way, women!
May we be a church community marked by the love of Jesus.
This was so staggering that Peter, who is known for putting his foot in his mouth can’t make sense of it and so he says some insane nonsense:
Vv.6-10 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” [8] Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” [9] Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” [10] Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
03. WHEN YOU YIELD, HE CAN HEAL. (vv.6-10)
Washing their feet was an object lesson. Just like his humility at their feet cleanses the souls of their feet, His humiliation on the cross cleanses the souls in our chests.
Charles Spurgeon “Jesus does not just offer clean feet. He offers a clean heart.”
There’s a washing that happens deeper within for everyone who receives Jesus’ death in their place.
The Blood
“Oh, everything changed, it's getting harder to recognizeThe person I was before I encountered Christ
I don't walk like I used to
I don't talk like I used to
I've been washed from the inside
I've been washed from the inside”
What’s most staggering is that Jesus washed the feet of Judas.
V.11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Look:
Vv.12-29 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” [22] The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. [23] One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, [24] so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. [25] So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” [26] Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. [27] Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” [28] Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. [29] Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. [30] So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
Do you feel you’re too dirty for Jesus?
Do you wash the feet of your enemies in prayer?
04. YOU CAN EMBODY JESUS’ HUMILITY. (v.12-19)
Vv.12-19 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
Build In Build Out are humble servant-leaders. In the Kingdom of God we highly prize the humility to roll up your sleeves for the mission.
Tim Keller “If the Son of God has stooped to wash our feet, no act of service is beneath us.”
V.20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
You need to receive the Holy Spirit. In receiving Him you receive Jesus and God the Father!
05. YOU CAN RECEIVE JESUS’ SPIRIT. (v.20)
How do you know the Holy Spirit is knocking on the door of your heart?