Today we want to discuss a freeing truth and then see an illustration of it. Here is the truth:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13).
Here we are taught that our freedom is not an opportunity for indulging the flesh but humbly serving others in love. God rescues us and turns us from a life of selfish and indulgent living so that we can serve others to the best of our ability in humility and love. As Jesus lives in us, He serves others through us.
Today, let’s look at an amazing story of service which perfectly illustrates the gospel of Jesus Christ and then see the conclusion of that story, which is a call for us to follow Christ into a life of service.
“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. (2) During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, (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” (John 13:1-3).
Question 1. According to John 13:1, what was the basis for Jesus' death on the cross?
Jesus came to this world out of love for His people. And as He faced betrayal by Judas, false accusations by the religious leaders, a mock trial by Pontius Pilate, and death by crucifixion, He wanted to make it clear that He is going through all of this because of love. “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
Jesus loved you in life and death. He loved you to the cross, the grave, and back. He loved you to the end: to the end of your sin, to the end of your life, to the end of the world! He loved you to the end of the Old Covenant Law, to the end of your condemnation, to the end of any judgment and to the end of all accusation against you. All that Jesus did for you was motivated by both the desire to honor and obey His Father and love you. Jesus loved you and gave Himself for you! (Galatians 2:20). And His love was what led Jesus to give us this beautiful illustration of the eternal work He came to do.
“(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” (John 13:4-5).
Imagine Jesus, the God of all the universe, with a towel around His waist. The King of all creation, exalted in the heavens, stooping to clean the dirt off the disciples’ feet. All because of love!
Truly Jesus is showing us how to live out Galatians 5:13, to “humbly serve one another in love.” Humbling ourselves to serve others is one of the highest expressions of love.
“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” (John 13:6-7 ESV).
Question 2. Jesus pointed Peter to a time "afterward" when Peter would understand what Jesus was doing. What event is the “afterward” that would bring understanding to Peter?