Sermon Tone Analysis

*INTRODUCTION:*

1.      *((illus))* Conference speaker and author, former pastor Warren Wiersbe writes about those times in his ministry as a pastor when he had to deliver *“farewell messages*” to the congregations he had served, and it he says that it was not an easy thing to do.

a.

He says they would *call a new pastor* and enter into a new phase of ministry, and he *wanted them to be at their best.*

b.

This included warning as well as instruction

c.

He says that he may not have succeeded, but his purpose was always to *prepare them for the future*.

2.

Today we are in John 13

a.

John 13–17 is our *LORD’S “FAREWELL MESSAGE”* to His beloved disciples, climaxing with His intercessory prayer for them and for us.

b.

Other farewell addresses in Scripture were delivered by Moses (Deut.

31–33), Joshua (Josh.

23–24), and Paul (Acts 20).

c.

However, Jesus added a significant *“ACTION SECTION*” to His message when He *WASHED HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET*.

d.

It was an object lesson they would never forget.

*3.      **John 13:1-17 (page 908)*

\\ */1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.

He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love./*

*/2 It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus.

\\ 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. \\ 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,/*

*/5 and poured water into a basin.

Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

\\ 6 When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, why are you going to wash my feet?”/*

*/7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; someday you will.”/*

*/8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me.” \\ 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!/*

*/10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean.

And you are clean, but that isn’t true of everyone here./*

*/11 For Jesus knew who would betray him.

That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”/*

*/12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?/*

*/13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true./*

*/14 And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet./*

*/15 I have given you an example to follow.

Do as I have done to you.

\\ 16 How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master.

Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.

\\ 17 You know these things—now do them!

That is the path of blessing./*

*/ /*

*/34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.

Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

\\ 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”/*

4.

*((illus))* *It’s interesting that this chapter is the next one we look at *in our survey of John because

a.    with Lila *Wallasky’s home-going* this week, *I’ve been thinking about servants.*

b.

I found myself making a *mental list of great servants* I have known, going all the way back to my childhood days.

c.

I *let my memory run free* and started thinking of people who over the years have impressed me by their servant heart and servant spirit:

i)        Bob Roles

ii)      Pastor Wegner

iii)    John & Joani Rynders

iv)    Ned & Sharon Donaldson

v)      Otis Braswell

vi)    Fred Petty

d.

And the list goes on and on – some I’ve lost names to, but they served me in the spirit of Christ as described in the text we just read.

5.

You *know what I discovered* as I made that list?

a.    *It is hard to get a good definition of what servant hood is, but you sure know what it is when you experience it.*

i)        Some of them were very quiet, almost retiring, in their service.

ii)      Others simply did what needed to be done.

b.

None of them are famous as the world counts fame.

6.

And we are challenged this morning with the command of our Lord from this passage:

a.    */16 How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master.

Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.

17 You know these things—now do them!

That is the path of blessing./*

7.      As I thought about those who had served me and read this passage I *drew some conclusions*.

*I’M NOT TOUCHING YOUR STINKIN’ FEET*

*John 13:1-17, 34-35 (page 908)*

 

*1.

**BEING A SERVANT STARTS WITH AN ATTITUDE, NOT AN ACTION*

a.    Now, it will certainly be seen in actions, that’s part of the point of this chapter, but that’s not where it starts.

b.    :1 – Jesus */showed the disciples the full extent of his love./*

i)        Here was a heart of love and humility.

ii)      In the only personal description of Himself, Jesus referred to this.

/iii)    /Matthew 11:29 - */“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls./*

c.

So many of us think, “Tell me what I need to do if I’m going to be a servant.”

i)        But here is a heart that is listening to the hearts of others.

ii)      There has been a connection with God’s love and his service to you that you begin to pass on to others.

d.

In our Scripture lesson for today, *Jesus’ servant-hood was unannounced.*

i)        He imply did what needed to be done.

ii)      I’ve been touched over the years by those who served and asked not to be mentioned.

iii)    There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of Grace that many know nothing about.

¨      That’s why I bristle when someone is caustic about Grace and its lack of involvement.

¨      One’s judgment is not better than the facts they might have and there’s a lot of servant hearts ministering – from the heart.

*BEING A SERVANT STARTS WITH AN ATTITUDE, NOT AN ACTION*

 

*2.

**BEING A SERVANT MEANS HAVING A WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE WITHOUT EMBARRASEMENT - :8*

a.    */“No,” Peter protested, “you will never wash my feet!”/*

i)        It *takes more grace to receive than to give*.

b.    TRUE SERVANTS OF JESUS CAN ONLY GIVE WHAT THEY HAVE FIRST RECEIVED.

i)        And you have to be ready to receive.

ii)      Receiving is a very humbling experience but it reveals a servant’s heart by the person on the receiving end.

iii)    And it, in turn, is a ministry back to the person who initiated the serving.

c.    Peter received a sharp rebuke from Jesus and responded correctly.

/i)        /*/“But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!/*