Sermon Tone Analysis
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Surprised by Underwhelming Expectations
I rarely introduce myself as Pastor.
It’s not that I don’t want people to know the role I play, but I don’t want my title to become a barrier.
Sure, it may open some conversations, but it may also hinder others as people might think I’m some holy man - because I am not - I’m a sinner saved by grace.
When people do find out I’m a pastor, their responses are quite varied.
Sometimes they are encouraged or curious, other times taken back.
Sometimes they clean up their language or express an apology for something they have said.
But there are also times when I’m surprised by their underwhelming expectations.
A few weeks ago, I was helping out at the primary election at John Poole Middle School.
It was the night before the primary and we were setting up tables and equipment.
I was working with my new friend Homayun to get the registration machines ready to go.
Part of that involved laying on the floor and taping cables beneath the tables so that it would look as neat as we could make it.
I felt a bit like a mechanic working under a car.
It was a fun challenge and not the cleanest task - but we got it done.
The next day, I was working with a lady who had been there the night before and saw us on the ground.
When she found out that I’m a pastor - she was surprised, pleasantly so, but surprised nonetheless that I would get on the floor and dirty like that - as though some tasks like that would be beneath the dignity of a pastor.
I don’t remember exactly how I responded, but it made me sad to think how she might have perceived pastors or religious leaders that she has come across in the past.
I tell you that not because I want you to think more highly of me.
That task is something that I think anyone would do - or at least anyone could do - regardless of title or position.
I think this task is something that even Jesus would have done - after all - he did a couple of things far more demeaning than I did.
If you have your bibles, open them to John 13.
We’re going to look at one of those times when Jesus served.
While you’re turning there, I need to make a little correction.
A few weeks ago, I incorrectly noted a major division in the book ofJohn.
Many commentators divide the book into two large parts -
The Book of Signs (1-12)
The Book of Glory (13-21).
The first part of the book (the book of signs) largely deals with Jesus public ministry and his interactions around various Jewish festivals, in addition to the signs that he performed.
The latter part of the book largely deals with his private ministry to his disciples - and then of course his crucifixion and resurrection.
I think it’s important for us to pay attention to where we are in the book in order to see how Jesus teaches and interacts with his disciples.
Much of what we’re going to consider in these next several chapters take place in the final couple of days before his crucifixion.
I had incorrectly noted the division before chapter 12, rather than after chapter 12.
So, as Jesus moves toward the cross, toward his “hour” as John refers to it, Jesus sits down with his disciples for a special meal - possibly a passover meal.
During the meal, he does the unthinkable - he washes his disciples feet.
He, the master, serves his followers.
I think one of the things we find in this passage is that Jesus’ heart, head, and hands are engaged in this service.
First of all, we see that..
The heart of service is love (1)
This theme of love is something we’ll find in the next several chapters.
John clearly notes that Jesus loved his disciples.
His ministry among them was fueled by love.
His love for them didn’t stop until “the end” of his earthly life - and truly beyond.
When we think through the guys that he had around him, he had quite a mixture of disciples.
James and John - the sons of thunder who had ambitions for the place of honor.
Peter - the disciple who’s mouth would get him into trouble time and again.
Andrew - the soft-spoken brother of Peter - who kept making small demonstrations of faith.
Philip - “the bean counter” - as John MacArthur calls him - he had a flair for the obvious.
Nathanael - also known as Bartholomew - Jesus called him one in whom there is no guile or deceit
Matthew/Levi - the tax collector - who was seen as a traitor to other Jewish people.
Thomas - the twin who doubted even after the resurrection
James the less - we don’t even know enough about him to be able to talk about qualities.
Simon the zealot - a political activist - who likely began following Jesus because he wanted a political revolution.
Judas (not Iscariot) - how would you like to be simply referred to as “the other Judas” or not that guy.
Judas - the one who eventually betrayed Jesus
Some of these men were notable, others were practically invisible.
Some were ambitious and others were minimalists.
John notes that Jesus loved them.
Imagine being some of these guys, knowing that you were called out by Jesus, living in the realization of his love for you - in all of your strengths and weaknesses - warts and flaws and all.
He loved them.
But not only these 12, but he loved “his own who were in the world.”
It seems like “his own” refers to those who are called out of the world to a life of faith and belief in him.
By the time Jesus ascended, there were at least 120 dedicated men and women who were following him (Acts 1).
Today, close to 1/3 of the population of the planet calls Jesus their Lord.
Jesus served these men and women out of love.
He served you and me out of love when he went to the cross.
He took our shame and humiliation because he loved us.
But if we were to turn this around and look at the ways we serve, do we serve because of unconditional love?
Do we serve with no strings attached?
Do we serve generously?
There are people that are easy to love.
There are people that are difficult to love.
So Jesus shows us that service comes from a heart of love.
Secondly we see that...
The head of service is established in truth (1, 3)
Let’s look again back at verse one of this chapter:
Jesus seemed to have a knowledge of the time.
This was not just any passover.
This was THE passover - the one that would become the culmination of his ministry.
Look down at verse three.
Jesus acts of service that we will see in a few moments were established in certain truths - in certain knowledge.
Authority and Responsibility - the Father had given all things into his hands.
His assignment here on earth, his ministry among his disciples, his responsibility to steward that authority was all given by God - and Jesus knew that full well.
But he also had knowledge of his...
Origin and Destination - Even though he took on human flesh, John helps us understand that Jesus knew he was no mere human - that he had come from God and would return to God.
He laid aside the glory of heaven, and would pick it back up again.
We saw this a little bit last week when we briefly considered his high priestly prayer in John 17.
Origin and destination.
Jesus’ actions weren’t rooted in speculation or some political manipulation - it was rooted in the confidence of who he is, what he came to do, and where he would be going.
In our service, what is going through our minds?
Are we trying to get something in return?
Are we attempting to get people to think about us a certain way?
Are we wrapping up our identity in our service - or in the knowledge of the One who called us to serve?
So we see that Jesus heart and head were truly prepared for service.
In his example, we get to see that...
The hands of service welcome humiliation (4-5)
This seems rather odd to think of it this way, but Jesus does one of the most surprising things here.
John tells us in verses 4-5 that Jesus...
The significance of this action is often lost on us as westerners.
People in Jesus day didn’t walk around with shoes like we do.
Even today, many people in eastern cultures wear sandals, which means their feet would get dirty.
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