Servant Love Demonstrated part 1

If you would, go ahead and take your Bible this morning. Turn with me to John chapter 13. John chapter 13. I want to thank you for participating in our nursing home ministry. Some of you sang and blessed us. You came and fellowshiped and shared your life with those precious people. I appreciate your efforts there. I look forward to continuing in that ministry. One of the ladies I visited with this morning said, "Y'all come back soon." And I look forward to more times than we can minister, but I wanted to say thank you for doing that. It blesses me, it blesses my family, and I know it blesses them, and I appreciate it. But John chapter 13.

Now, we have finished up our study through John chapter 12. We've learned so much out of John chapter 12. I know I've said on more than one occasion that I believe that John chapter 12 is one of my favorite chapters in the gospel of John. But John chapter 12 is a very pivotal chapter in John's gospel. It's a pivotal chapter in the gospel, and it is a pivotal chapter, a pivotal time in the life and ministry of Jesus. Now, I want to help you with something. I want to give you a breakdown of the chapters, the chapters in John's gospel. And this can help you get your mind around the book. It's very simplistic.

Lots of Bible commentators break chapters down differently and in different ways. But I think you will understand what I'm going to share with you. We see that chapters 1 through 12 consist of Jesus revealing Himself to the nation of Israel. Now, of course, we have learned that most of the nation rejected Jesus as their Messiah. If you remember what we've been learning, we learned that most of the Jews, especially the religious leadership, they were looking for a physical earthly Messiah. They wanted a Messiah that would restore the nation back to its national prominence, much like it was in the days of King David.

But we did learn that there were some who did truly believe. And this is what Bible scholars call the public ministry of Jesus. So John chapter 1 through chapter 12 consists of Jesus revealing Himself to the nation of Israel. Now chapters 13 through 17 consist of Jesus preparing His disciples for the cross. And that cross was right around the corner. We've learned that the cross is less than a week away. So chronologically, we know that is right around the corner. But He was also preparing them for their life after the cross. This was what most Bible commentators call the private ministry of Jesus.

Here in these chapters, we find Jesus being very intimate with His disciples. Now, there is a theme that we can find in chapters 13 through 17. And that theme is found in verse 3 of chapter 13. And that is Jesus' love for His own. Now, if you know your Gospels, it is interesting to notice that these chapters are not found in the synoptic Gospels or the other Gospels. But that's the way that God planned it out. Now to break down the rest of the book real quickly, chapters 18 and 19 consist of the events around the cross. And then chapters 20 through 21 consist of the events after the cross. Now why do I give you that information?

I can help you get your mind around the book and the chapters and understand where we are in the story, the Gospel that the Apostle John has given us. Now, some background, some contextual information here that will help us see what we're going to encounter in this chapter, chapter 13. Now right away in verse 1, we will see that these events take place at the Passover. Now back in chapter 12, verse 12, we learn that Jesus came from Bethany. Remember He was there in the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus? And He leaves Bethany and He goes to Jerusalem for the purpose of the Passover. Now what was the significance of this fact?

Why would I even mention the Passover? Why is this such a big deal? This gave Jesus the opportunity to illustrate from the elements of the Old Testament Passover that He was the true Passover Lamb. Everything within the Passover celebration was a picture of the Messiah that was to come and that was Jesus. Also this gave Jesus the opportunity to use the Passover celebration to transition from the Old Covenant Passover to the New Covenant Lord's Supper. Let me read you a passage that will help us with that. Paul discusses these matters in his letter to the Corinthian church, 1 Corinthians 11, verse 23 through 25. Now this is after the cross.

Paul's writing to the church and notice what he says, "For I receive from the Lord what I also delivered to you." Let me pause there. What is Paul saying? Everything that he taught the church he received from the Lord. He was inspired by God to give what he gave. And what does he say? "That the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took the bread," verse 24, "and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" Verse 25, "In the same way, he also took the cup after the supper saying, 'This cup is the New Covenant in my blood.

Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.'" Now what is Paul showing us here? Christ was the Passover lamb and he is showing us that transition from the Old Covenant Passover to the New Covenant Lord's Supper. Very important for us to see that. Now also if you're a good student, if you study your Word, if you study the Gospel accounts, you will notice that John's account of this Last Supper or Lord's Supper is very different. John records Jesus washing the disciples' feet while the synoptic Gospels do not. They don't have this account. In the other Gospels, they give information which was not found in John's Gospel.

Now why is that the case? Some skeptics look at information like this and they point their skeptical finger to say there are contradictions in the Scripture. That is not the case. But what we see here is the plan of God. We must remember that these Gospels are inspired by God, breathed by God, and John gives us information that the others do not give because that was God's plan. Now let's look together at our verses. I'm going to read verses 1-4, but we're only going to divide verses 1-3 this morning. Let's look at our verses.

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come, that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During the Supper, the Devil, having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him." Verse 3, "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God." Verse 4, "He rose from Supper, and he laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, he girded himself about." Now I want you to notice a certain portion of verse 1.

The last portion of verse 1. What does it say? "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." That verse, that portion of verse 1 is the theme of everything that we see from chapter 13 to chapter 17. I really wish you would highlight that in your Bible, mark that in your Bible, note that because this theme, it is a current that will run all the way through to the cross. That leads us to the title of the message. That title is "Servant Love Demonstrated." Servant Love Demonstrated. This is a part 1 you will notice because we'll continue with that title on through the rest of the verses here.

But Servant Love Demonstrated, like I said, we will look primarily at verses 1, 2, and 3. You see what we're going to look at? There is the shift in the ministry of Christ, and then there is the sinister plan against Christ. So let's divide this first main truth. I hope that you're taking notes, and if you are, write this down. The shift in the ministry of Christ. Go back and look at verse 1.

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come, that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." Now it has been repeated over and over and over that Jesus is transitioning from the public ministry to a private ministry. And that's what we see here. This private ministry really begins right here. But there is much more in this transition or in this shift. We will see that this shift entails more than private teaching to his disciples. Yes, Jesus has an eye for his own.

We know that he loves his own even to the end, but he also has his eyes on other things. Two observations I want us to see here. First of all, I want you to notice that Jesus was in complete control. Jesus was in complete control. Go back to verse 1. Jesus knowing, all the translations that we study use that same word knowing. Jesus knowing or knew that his hour had come. Again, Jesus re-enterates his understanding that the hour of his crucifixion was at hand. This is something that he stated numerous times and he had been doing that since verse 23 in chapter 12. But notice that John emphasizes two things about Jesus here.

First, notice that he was not going into the hands of sinful man unknowingly but willingly. He had a full knowledge of the fact that he was going to the cross into the hands of sinful men. He was in complete control because the Father was in complete control. Jesus was simply being perfectly obedient to the Father. Second notice that he was not only going to the cross but going back to the Father. Go back to the verse. Knowing, Jesus knowing that his hour had come, that he should depart out of this world to the Father. That's repeated in verse 3. So we see Jesus is speaking of the crucifixion.

He's speaking of the resurrection and he is speaking of the ascension. This is the complete work of the Messiah. I remember years ago I heard a song and I happened to like that song and the title of the song was "All the Way to Calvary." But that's not enough. That is true but we see that Jesus was not only going to Calvary but he was going all the way back to the Father. So Jesus was in complete control. And his work would be a complete work for he was going back to the Father, going back to his rightful place. And any theology that leaves Christ on the cross is incorrect. He was in complete control.

Second, I want you to notice Jesus shows a complete love. Jesus shows a complete love. Go back to that thematic verse there. "Being loved his own, who were in the world, he loved them to the end." Now here we see this transition again from public ministry to private ministry. This marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry to his disciples but it speaks of the fullness of that private ministry. This word ends here. It speaks of completeness or perfection. This speaks of the fact that he loved them through the cross, yes. But he loved them by ministering to them before the cross.

Chapters 13 through 17 are Jesus teaching those who did believe in him. This is a specific purposeful of specifically for those who had believed in him, yes, those chosen disciples. And this theme of Jesus' intimate love for them is a stiff current that runs all through chapters 13 through 17. And Jesus is showing them this complete love. So what are we seeing here? This is the shift in Jesus' ministry. Verse 1 is that pivot in a new direction. Jesus pivots from that public ministry to that private ministry, that intimate ministry with those disciples. But he also pivots to the cross. The hour has come. It's less than a week away.

But he also pivots with his eyes on his rightful place and that is back to the Father. And he is in complete control of everything. Why? Because his Father is in complete control. Now on application, we need to see that Jesus completes what he has started. Now what does that mean? Jesus completes what he has started. He doesn't just go to the cross. He doesn't just go to the tomb. He goes all the way back to the Father. And in so doing, it was a perfect and complete work. And not only did he complete the work of redemption, he completes the work that he started in his own. Look back at that verse.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. He loved them, yes, by going to the cross, but he loved them by working in them. Now on application, I would like you to write down two words. Two words. They're easy to remember. The first word is preparation and the second word is perseverance. When we look at what Jesus does in his disciples, we see that Jesus is preparing them for everything that would come, everything that would happen at the cross. He is preparing them for everything. And he is preparing them for everything that would happen after the cross.

Chapter 13 through 17 is nothing more than Jesus preparing them for the great and wonderful plan that he had for them. You and I need to see that it's true born again believers in Christ. He is in complete control of our lives and if we walk with him, no matter how we feel, no matter what's going on in our life, he will prepare us for what is coming around the bend. You might not know what tomorrow holds. You might not know what happens after church. You might not know what takes place in your life in five years, but Jesus always prepares his people. But what about that second word? That word perseverance.

When we study what Jesus is teaching and we will, we will see that Jesus is persevering in them. Now do they fail? Yes. Do they get all that Jesus was trying to teach them? No. Did they struggle to get the work that he was doing inside of them internally? Yes, yes, yes. But he persevered in them. And you and I need to see that if we're true born again Christians, he will persevere in us. Look at the verse again. "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." And if we are born again, he will prepare us for whatever comes and he will persevere in us all the way to the end. It does not matter what will happen tomorrow.

He's in control. Some of you need to see that. Some of you desperately need to understand that. Nothing is snuck up on God in your own life. You love the Lord and you've been blood-bought. Difficulties, trials, questions come because of their preparation. God works in us to prepare us and to persevere in us. Why? Because we're his own. And he loves us. Let's continue our second main truth I want us to see. Is the sinister plan against Christ? Go back to verse 2.

"During the supper, the devil, having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him." Now here we have a very short verse, but it alludes to so much. Of course we know that this speaks of Judas betraying Jesus. We know the rest of the story. But what needs to be seen here is a fuller picture of what ultimately happened. Two observations I want us to see of this betrayal. These need to be understood too. First I want us to see that Judas was acting on what was already in his heart. Judas was acting on what was already in his heart. Judas had long since expressed his disdain of Jesus.

Although he acted the part of a disciple, he looked the part of a disciple. He rejected Jesus and was never a true believer. If we go back to John chapter 12 starting in verse 4, we will get a glimpse of that. Let me read verses 4 through 6. This is when Jesus was anointed with that costly perfume. And look what happens. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, and then the new American has in parentheses here who was about to betray him. He said, verse 5, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred and Mary I and given to the poor?" Now pause there. Outwardly he acted pious. Outwardly he expressed a desire to minister to the poor.

But inwardly that was not his heart. Verse 6, he said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. And having charge of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Now what does that tell us? He was a liar from the beginning. He was a hypocrite from the beginning. And Judas Iscariot is acting out here what was already in his heart because he did not truly believe in Christ and he wanted a different Messiah than Jesus truly was. And then second notice that Satan tempted Judas to do what he was already considering to do. What do we see there in verse 2?

There is that thought that is put into his heart by Jesus. Here we see the active temptation of Judas to betray Jesus. Later we will see that Satan eventually possesses Judas to do the work. Over in chapter 13 verse 27, he is literally possessed by Satan. So here what must we see to fully understand what is taking place here in verse 2? We must see the responsibility of Judas as well as the active part of Satan. Now this did not sneak up on God. This was part of God's perfect plan. He was not some, Judas was not some robot. Being one who had no choice or responsibility in the matter.

He is exercising his responsibility as he is tempted by Satan. The Bible commentator John MacArthur captures this responsibility, the responsibility of both Judas and Satan very well. Let me quote what he says and this will help us. MacArthur says, "Satan and Judas were in complete accord. They were co-conspirators in the plot to kill Jesus." That is so accurate. And what needs to be seen here in Judas is a progression. A progression. First he acted on greed and ambition. He stole money out of greed and he acted out his ambitions for his expectations of the Messiah. Then second he fell for the temptation that was presented by Satan.

Even though Satan put this in his heart, we see there in verse 2, he still exercised responsibility. In the last, he was ultimately possessed by Satan for what? To do his evil work. Now in application, we must understand that this was part of the eternal plan of God. God ordained this to take place. This betrayal did not sneak up on Jesus, nor did it sneak up on God. This was part of his sovereign plan. But we in application must see the sinister plan of Satan to destroy us. Satan desires to work in your life just like he or desire to work in Judas life. This applies to everyday life.

Satan's plan to destroy us is just like it was in that day. Father points out that Judas, I like this imagery, opened the door to the devil's influence. Now how did he do that? Judas acted on his own greed and on his own ambition. He was a thief and he had a desire for the Messiah that was contrary to the Father's desire and he acted on that sinful behavior. And I want you to see that there are many people who opened the door to the devil's influence by acting on their sinful desires. You know you will hear people use language like this that well, so and so, fell into sin. That's not entirely accurate.

Men don't fall into sin, they slide into sin. Now think about that. This didn't just happen upon Judas. He had been acting out all along. He slid into sin because he acted on his own sinful desires and then he took the temptation of the devil. And men and women do that today. You know it's an awful thing when we hear about ministers, pastors, preachers fall or seemingly fall into immorality. But you know they don't fall into immorality, they slide into immorality. Many times it starts with something called pornography, lust in their own hearts. Then it moves maybe to flirtatious behavior. See what I'm showing you?

It is a slide and that's exactly how the enemy works. Listen, when you begin to act on your sinful desires, you are opening up the door to the very temptation of the enemy himself and Satan desires to kill and to steal and destroy. And in this sinister plan of Christ, we have very practical understanding of how the enemy works. And I want to warn you young person, I want to warn you sir, I want to warn you ma'am, don't act upon your own sinful desires because you could be opening up the door for the enemy to tempt you to do horrific things. The sinister plan of Christ. Now I want us to look back at the verses.

I want you to notice something that really took me a couple of weeks to notice. Look back at verse 1 and verse 3. Jesus knowing that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world to the Father. Then look at verse 3, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God. Now notice that these two portions of scripture are very similar. They communicate virtually the same truths. But also notice that there are two different groups sandwiched between these verses. You've got the disciples and then you've got Judas.

The believers, those who truly loved him and then the betrayer who was Judas. But verse 1 and verse 3 communicate the same truths. Now there are certain realities that I want us to see out of these verses. I purposely spent the entire message on these three verses and I think we really need to grasp these realities. First reality, Jesus is in complete control. Judas didn't do anything outside of the knowledge of God the Father. The Father had given Jesus all things. This betrayal of Judas was within the perfect plan of God. God had foreordained that this would happen.

This did not sneak up on God no matter what Judas and the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people did. Jesus was going to the cross to pay in full the debt of sin. He was going to the cross to suffer the wrath of a sin-hating, sin-judging God. Not only was he going to the cross but he was going temporarily to the borrowed tomb only to be raised up again on the third day then ultimately he was ascending back to the Father to his rightful place and we saw that in verse 1 and 3. He was in complete control. So the first reality is Jesus is in complete control. Now let me pause there for just a moment.

Some of you really need to hear that because sometimes we forget the fact that God is sovereign. He's in control. If we are blood-bought and we belong to Him, He's in control. It's very comforting. I don't have to know what tomorrow holds. I don't have to know what next year holds. I don't have to know what's going to take place in our culture and our country. He is in control. Second reality, Jesus proved that He was God in the flesh. Jesus provided more than a substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. The text says that He was going back to the Father.

This is significant because in returning to the Father, He proved that He was the sinless sacrifice provided by God. Sending back to the Father and returning to His rightful place was the final act of redemption. Then and only then could the Holy Spirit come to indwell His people and this was the full work of redemption and provision for His own. So we need to see the reality that Jesus was God in the flesh. That's what John's been trying to do all along is elevate Christ as God. Now for most of us, that really falls into what I call the Sunday School Answers. We should all know the Sunday School Answers.

Now some, like I was, you might get born again. God saves you and brings you into the church and you might not know the Sunday School Answers. But we need to see that. Jesus was God. He wasn't just a prophet. He wasn't just a Savior, but God. And John's been teaching us that since the very beginning in chapter 1. The third reality, Jesus perseveres in His people. He prepared them for the cross, life after the cross. He did not prepare them just to make it, but to live full and powerful lives in His glory, for His glory. He gave them all they needed for what was to come.

This is speaking of what Bible commentators call the perseverance of the saints. And look, this is good. They persevered in Him only because He persevered in them. And let me tell you, if you persevere in Christ, it is only because He perseveres in you first. You must get that in right order because otherwise your perseverance will rely on you. And if we see how they persevered, they failed miserably because of their sin and flesh. So the third reality is that Jesus persevered in His people. Now in conclusion, we need to see that Jesus is in full control of our lives. As born again believers, we must see that.

If we do not understand, if we do not see and understand that He is in full control of our lives, there is one of two problems. First problem is you may not be converted. If you're not converted, you're living on your own. You're the captain of your own ship. And what I'm trying to show you is if you're not converted, you will not. Nor will you ever live under the Lordship of Christ in such a manner where you really trust that He is in control. And then second, if you're born again and you're living outside of that comfort, it could be because you're in sin. You're not trusting Him. You're not depending on Him.

You're not walking in His grace no matter how it may feel. And we need to see that Jesus perseveres in His people. This is key people because if we're ever going to learn all that God teaches and wants to teach us in these very intimate passages, chapter 13, all the way to chapter 17, we need to see that He loves us. And He loves us and wants to work in us all the way to the end. He wants to persevere and persevere and persevere. And no matter what life may throw us, He wants to persevere in us. Listen so that we can be all that He wants us to be. As we're about to close, I want you to look back at the last verse that I read, verse 4.

A verse says, "Jesus got up, He rose from the supper. He laid aside His own garments. Taking a towel, He guarded Himself." And then we see that He proceeds to wash the feet of the disciples. In verses 1 through 3, and especially starting in verse 4, we see a tremendous demonstration of the love of Christ. He served His own. So what are we seeing? The servant love demonstrated. And then starting in verse 4, we will see so much that He demonstrates to His disciples, and so much that He will demonstrate to us. Let's pray.