Transcription downloaded from https://sermonarchive.gfcbremen.com/sermons/77615/loves-great-enemy/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Let's turn to John chapter 13. We're going to read verses 1 through 17.!

[0:30] Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

[0:45] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.

[1:03] So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

[1:18] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? And Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.

[1:30] No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Then Lord Simon Peter replied, Not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well.

[1:44] And Jesus answered, A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet. His whole body is clean, and you are clean, but not every one of you.

[1:56] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.

[2:08] Do you understand what I have done for you? He asked them. You call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.

[2:22] Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

[2:34] I tell you the truth. No servant is greater than his master. Nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

[2:48] Verse 34. A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

[2:59] By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. Well, it's quiz time once again, lest we forget four graces of the Christian life that stand out on the pages of Scripture because of their importance.

[3:20] So I'm going to give you the main activity. And you give me the specific grace by name. So, number one, the great emptier.

[3:32] One, the great receiver. Two, the great receiver. Three, the great giver. And four, the great motivator.

[3:44] Hope. Hope. Lord willing, next week we'll move on to hope. But for today, we're going to try to finish up our study on love the great giver.

[3:56] Last week we saw that the Lord Jesus was willing to pinpoint one specific characteristic. One distinguishing mark that will cause all men to know that you are his disciple.

[4:12] Love. By this all men will know that you're my disciples. That you are my disciples if you have love one for another.

[4:23] And this really shouldn't surprise us, should it? When we consider that the whole Christian religion is preeminently about love.

[4:34] Let me just give you a few reasons why I say that. First of all, the God of Christianity is love. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit living in this eternal Trinitarian fellowship of love.

[4:49] God is love. Before he showed love to us, he is first love. And that's why he loves. It's what he is. It's his nature.

[4:59] Secondly, all the laws in Christianity are about love. Either loving God or loving man. There is no law in Christianity that does not have to do with love.

[5:13] Three, the greatest love gift ever was the Father giving his one and only Son. Giving him up for us as a sacrifice on the cross to save us from eternal torments.

[5:23] The greatest gift was his love gift. Number four, the first fruit of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. The fruit of the Spirit is love.

[5:38] Consider the Christ of Christianity. The cross. The central point. The high point of redemption. The cross. Where Christ died to save us from our sins.

[5:51] It is the greatest demonstration ever of love. Think of Christ's new command. That he left to us.

[6:02] To love one another as he loved us. Think of the one debt we never get out of. The continuing debt to love one another.

[6:12] The end goal of Christ's mission. Which was to bring us into that Trinitarian fellowship of love.

[6:23] With the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Forever and ever in a new world of perfect love. And so now these three remain.

[6:34] Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. So of course, the distinguishing mark of Christ's disciples is love for one another.

[6:47] And not just any kind of love. Not mere natural love that's capable of any person. But rather the same kind of supernatural love that Jesus has for us.

[7:00] That is only produced by the Spirit of Jesus in us. Undeserving love. Self-sacrificing love. And unending love. That's a love so radically different from mere natural love.

[7:15] That wherever and whenever you find it. You know for sure you have found a disciple of Jesus. That by way of review. Now for today. We're going to seek to answer this question.

[7:28] If love is so central to the Christian life. And to the Christian religion as we've seen it to be. Then why don't we love more like Jesus has loved us?

[7:40] Why not more of this love in my life? In your life? In our life? That more and more men everywhere might see that we are his disciples?

[7:52] Well. The answer is because this kind of love has enemies. This kind of love has enemies. And I'm only going to speak of one this morning.

[8:02] Because I believe all the other enemies feed upon this one. And I'm referring to pride. Pride. Pride. Pride. The greatest enemy of love.

[8:13] The cancer that kills true love. The atmosphere that is toxic to love. The acidic soil that makes the flower of love impossible to grow.

[8:26] Pride. Pride. Love's greatest enemy. Now I suppose we could come up with all sorts of different definitions for pride.

[8:37] But let's just keep it simple. Kids if you want to know what pride looks like. Just think of the middle letter in the word.

[8:47] Pride. What is at the heart of P-R-I-D-E? Well it's I.

[8:59] Isn't it? And by the way. That's also at the heart of sin. Because the first sin ever in God's universe was pride.

[9:11] Pride. When. Satan. God's. Angelic being that he made perfectly. Wasn't satisfied with his position. But thought he deserved better.

[9:22] And wanted to be like God. And then he brought that pride. That sin of pride. I. I. I. Down into this world. And tempted Eve.

[9:34] And God hurt her to start to think that. She too. Knew better than God. And his commands. And she could choose for herself. She. Put herself above God.

[9:45] And then Adam. Our representative. He too. Fell. To the sin of pride. And. His fallen nature.

[9:58] Is. Passed down to. Us. And that explains why. Every single one of us. Have all gone astray. Why we've turned to. Our. Own. Way.

[10:08] With our backs. To God's way. I did it. My way. That's written upon. The human nature. Of the youngest child here. To the oldest of us here.

[10:22] Pride. It's all about. I. How great I am. How important I am. How good I am. How worthy I am.

[10:32] And it can even hide. Behind. How victimized I am. How unappreciated. And misunderstood I am. How underpaid I am.

[10:46] But someone says. Well. Isn't selfishness. The great. Enemy of love. Well of course. But what is self. But just another name for.

[10:57] I. I. I. I. Pride is to be full of self. Self-importance. Self-worship. Self-reliance. Self-righteousness.

[11:08] Self-centeredness. Pride makes self. The sun and center of my solar system. And demands that everyone and everything revolve around me. Around myself.

[11:21] And if you don't bow to myself. Then we're going to have conflict. Pride. Pride is the great enemy. Of. Love. And it's found in every one of us.

[11:34] Without exception. Even the world of country music. Can identify this problem of pride. And Toby Keith's old hit. Makes light of it. But behind it. Is the obvious reality.

[11:46] I want to talk about me. Want to talk about I. Want to talk about number one. Oh my me my. What I think. What I like. What I know. What I want. What I see.

[11:56] But you. You want to talk about you. You. You. And therein is our problem. You see. My pride colliding with your pride. The concern of pride.

[12:09] The concern of pride is all. Turned inward. But what have we learned about. Real love. It's turned outward. It gives. It diffuses.

[12:19] It shares. The very opposite. It. There are two diametrically opposed. Things. Pride and love. So if pride is the great enemy of love.

[12:32] What is the solution. For our pride. Pride. Well. Let's see if we can get some help. What's the great emptier.

[12:44] Of pride. Me. My. Mine. Well. That would be humility. Wouldn't it. Humility. It's the soil. In which.

[12:54] All the other graces. Of the Christian life grow. And that truth. Is seen nowhere more clearly. Than in the. The grace of love. For. Did not. Paul tell us.

[13:05] In first Corinthians. Thirteen. Four. And five. Love. Is not. Proud. And in case you missed it. He. He then says. Is not.

[13:16] Self. Seeking. It's not. I. Me. My. Seeking. No. True. Love. Can never flower. In the toxic.

[13:26] Heart. Soil. Of pride. Christ. Like. Love. Only. Happens. Where. Christ. Like. Humility. Is. Replacing. Me.

[13:37] Like. Pride. And. That's a. Lifelong. Battle. In fact. If you're not. Consciously. Fighting. It. You're. Probably. Losing. That. Battle.

[13:48] You're. Probably. Giving. Into. It. It's. Just. That. Ever. Present. In. Our. Flesh. Pride. Is. Either. Being. Denied. Or. Affirmed. It's.

[13:58] Either. Being. Killed. Or. Cuddled. So. Pride. The. Great. Enemy. Humility. The. Great. Redeemer. Of.

[14:09] Love. Let's. Observe. These. Dynamics. Then. In. John. Chapter. Thirteen. And. In. The. Lives. Of. The. Disciples. You see. I think. We'll. See. It. More.

[14:19] Clearly. In. Them. Because. Pride's. Very. Nature. Is. To. Blind. This. So. That. We don't. See. It. In. Us. But. Maybe. And. See.

[14:29] It. In. Them. We'll. We'll. We'll. Recognize. It. In. Us. So. Here. We are. In. The. Upper. Room. On. Jesus. Last. Night. With. His. Disciples. They've.

[14:39] Come. Here. To. Eat. The. Passover. Feast. Together. Think. About. That. Fifteen. Hundred. Years. Earlier. God. Had. Set. His. People. Free. From. Egypt's.

[14:50] Bondage. When. He. Brought. The. Angel. Of. Destruction. God's. Wrath. Upon. Every. Israelite. Or. Every. Egyptian. Home.

[15:00] But. That. Angel. Of. Death. Passed. Over. The. Homes. Of. The. Israelites. Who. Had. Slain. The. Passover. Lamb.

[15:11] And. Had. Applied. It's. Blood. On. The. Door. Post. And. As. God. Came. Through. At. Midnight. With. His. Sword. Of. Vengeance. And. Was. Killing. The. Firstborn. In. Every. House. Wherever. He. Saw.

[15:21] The. Blood. He. Passed. Over. And. That's. What. They're. Celebrating. Jesus. The. Passover. Lamb. Whose.

[15:33] Blood. Alone. Causes. God's. Wrath. To. Pass. Over. Any. Who. Have. By. Faith. Applied. It. To. Their. Hearts. And. He's. Here. With.

[15:43] His. Disciples. And. It's. His. Last. Time. To. Eat. This. Passover. Meal. With. Them. And. Here. They. Are. Gathered. Together. For. This. Feast. Earlier.

[15:54] In. The. Day. Jesus. Had. Sent. Two. Of. The. Disciples. Ahead. Into. Jerusalem. Saying. You're. Going. To. Meet. A. Man. Carrying. A. Jar. Of. Water. On. His. Head. Follow. Him. And. The. Owner. And. And.

[16:04] Say. To. The. Owner. Of. The. House. He. Enters. The. Teacher. Ask. Where. Is. My. Guest. Room. Where. I. May. Eat. The. Passover. With. My. Disciples. And.

[16:14] He. Will. Show. You. A. Large. Upper. Room. Furnished. And. Ready. Make. Preparations. For. Us. There. Well. The. Two. Went. And. Found. Everything. Just. As. Jesus. Said.

[16:26] It. Would. Be. And. They. Prepared. The. Passover. Do you know. You're. Going. To. Find. In. Life. In. Death. And. In. The. Life. After. Death. Everything.

[16:38] Happening. Just. As. Jesus. Said. It. Would. Be. That's. What. Over. And. Now. It's. Evening. And.

[16:48] Jesus. And. The. Twelve. Arrive. And. As. They. Enter. The. Room. There. At. The. Door. Is. A. Pitcher. Of. Water. A.

[16:59] Basin. And. A. Towel. Everything. One. Would. Need. To. Wash. Feet. But. What. Was. Missing. In. The. Room. Was. A. Servant. Slave. The.

[17:10] Lowest. Slave. On. The. Totem. Pool. Who. Got. The. Dirtiest. Less. Liked. Job. Of. Washing. The. Sweaty.

[17:20] Feet. Of. The. Guests. As. They. Arrive. But. A. Slave. Was. Not. All. That. Was. Missing. That. Even. Love. Was. Suspiciously.

[17:31] Absent. Too. Love. That. Finds. Joy. In. Serving. Another. Even. It. Sacrifice.

[17:41] To. One. Self. It. Was. Nowhere. To. Be. Seen. In. The. Twelve. And. You. Know. Now. Why. Love. Was. Missing. Because. Humility. Was.

[17:52] Missing. And. Love. Only. Grows. In. The. Soil. Of. Humility. But. Instead. Of. Humility. Pride. Was. Filling. Their. Hearts. Self. Importance.

[18:03] That. Deserved. To. Have. Others. Of. Themselves. Too. Proud. To. Get. Down. And. And. Serve. One. Another. In. This. Lowly.

[18:14] Servant. Job. It. It's. It's. Not. Said. What. Happened. In. Their. Minds. If. They. Even. Thought. About. It. Well. I. Should. Probably. Get. Down. And. Do. They. All. Had. Reasons.

[18:24] Not. To. Do. So. Good. Reasons. To. Them. That.

[18:39] That. Was. Viewed. As. So. Far. Beneath. Their. Dignity. That. It. Might. Have. Been. Immediately. Dismissed. And. Completely. Outside. The. Box. Of. Their. Thinking. Altogether.

[18:51] But. One. Thing. Is. For. Sure. The. Dirty. Feet. Under. The. Table. Where. This. Was. The. Silent. Evidence. That. Evening. That. Pride. Was. Present. And. Humility. Was.

[19:01] Absent. So. Don't. Expect. To. Find. Love. Express. Expressed. Here. Now. You. Can. Be. Sure. This. Wasn't. The. First. Time. That. Jesus. Had.

[19:11] Seen. Their. Lack. Of. Humility. Remember. He. Camped. For. Three. Years. With. These. Men. And. Mark. Chapter. Nine. Tells. Us. That. They. Came. To. Capernaum. And.

[19:22] When. He. Was. In. The. House. Jesus. Asked. Them. What. Were. You. Arguing. About. On. The. Road. That's. The. Way. To. Shut. Up. A. Crowd. But. They. Kept.

[19:32] Quiet. Because. On. The. Way. They. Had. Argued. About. Who. Was. The. Greatest. I. Me. My. Sitting. Down. Jesus. Called. The. Twelve. And. Said. If. Anyone.

[19:42] Wants. To. Be. First. He. Must. Be. The. Very. Last. And. The. Servant. Of. All. Now.

[19:53] That's. Not. The. Way. The. World. Operates. It's. Exactly. Countercultural. To. The. World. It's. Not. Natural. It's. Altogether. Supernatural. And.

[20:04] So. With. Jesus. Words. Their. Pride. Was. Fixed. Or. Was. It. Not. So. Fast. One. Chapter. Later. John. Mark. Chapter. Ten.

[20:15] Then. James. And. John. The. Sons. Of. Zebedee. Came. To. Him. With. A favor. To. Ask. Teacher. They. Said. We. Want. You. To. Do. For. Us. Whatever. We. Ask. What. Do. You. Want. Me. To. Do. For. You. You. Ask.

[20:26] Well. They. Reply. Let. One. Of. To. Sit. At. Your. Right. Hand. And. The. Other. At. Your. Left. Hand. In. Your. Glory. I. Me. My. Jesus.

[20:37] Censored. You. You. Don't. Know. What. You're. Asking. Are. You. Able. To. Drink. This. Cup. Of. Suffering. Well. We. Can. We. Can. Well. You. Will. Drink. It. But. These. Seats. Are.

[20:47] Not. Mine. To. Give. But. They. Belong. To. My. Father. Who. Prepared. Them. For. Those. He. Chooses. And. When. The. Ten. Heard. About. This. They.

[20:57] Became. Indignant. With. James. And. John. Hot. Under. The. Collar. We. Would. Say. No. Isn't. Pride.

[21:08] The. Root. Cause. Both. Of. Our. Unloving. Giving. Of. Offense. And. Of. Our. Unloving. Taking. Of. Offense. Isn't.

[21:20] Pride. The. Same. Root. Think. Of. James. And. John. Giving. Offense. By. Their. Proud. Behavior. Well. We. Should. Have. The. Highest. Seats. In. The. Eternal. Kingdom. Of. Heaven. To.

[21:34] Reserve. Them. Without. The. Other. Ten. Knowing. About. It. So. By. The. Time. They. Think. About. It. They. Will. Already. Have. Them. Reserved. Well.

[21:45] We. See. That. Pride. Is. Not. Yet. Fixed. In. These. Two. Men. At. Least. It's. Oozing. Out. Of. Them. But. It's. Just. As. Prevalent. In. The. Ten. Who. Unlovingly. Take. Offense.

[21:56] At. James. And. John. And. Become. Indignant. At. Them. Who. Do. They. Think. They. Are. We. Are. Just. As. Deserving. As. Them. How. Can. They. Put.

[22:06] Themselves. Above. Us. Pride. Giving. Offense. Pride. Taking. Offense. When. It's. To. A. Man's. Honor. To. Over. Look. A.

[22:16] Fall. To. Cover. Over. A. Multitude. Of. Offenses. In. Love. But. Never. On. Pride's. Watch. Never. On. Pride's. Watch.

[22:27] And. Again. Jesus. Saw. This. He. Had. To. Live. With. This. Ugly. Mess. Of. Their. Pride. And. He. Took. The. Opportunity. Yet. Again. To. Teach. Them. What. True.

[22:38] Greatness. In. His. Kingdom. Is. Men. Whoever. Wants. To. Become. Great. Among. You. Must.

[22:49] Be. Your. Servant. He. Must. It's. An. Absolute. Necessity. There. Is. No. Greatness. Apart. From. Servanthood. And.

[23:00] Whoever. Wants. To. Be. First. Must. Be. Slave. Of. All. They. Must. That's. What. True. Greatness. Is. For.

[23:11] Even. The. Son. Of. Man. Did. Not. Come. To. Be. Serve. But. To. Serve. And. To. Give. His. Life. As. A. Ransom. For. Many. Learn.

[23:22] It. Men. Real. Greatness. Is. Being. Slave. To. All. The. Rest. Real. Greatness. Is. Serving. With. Deep. Humility. Not. In. Self. Promotion.

[23:32] But. In. Self. Sacrificing. Love. That's. Glory. Men. That's. Honor. That's. Greatness. And. That. Even. Goes. For. Me. The. Son.

[23:43] Of. Man. Now. Not. To. Get. For. Myself. But. To. Give. Myself. My. Very. Life. For. Many. Oh.

[23:55] Surely. Now. The. Second. Time. Around. The. Twelve. We'll. Get. It. Right. Not. Exactly. You. You. You. Know. Don't. You. That. A.

[24:05] Whole. Lot. More. Happened. In. The. Lives. Of. Jesus. And. The. Twelve. Over. Three. Years. Than. What. We. Have. In. Our. Four. Gospel. Accounts. John. Tells. Us. At. The. End.

[24:15] Of. His. That. I. Suppose. Jesus. Did. Many. More. Things. Than. Are. Written. Here. I. Suppose. If. They. Were. All. Written. Down. The. World. Wouldn't. Be. Be. Big. Enough. To. Hold. All. The. Books. So. If.

[24:27] We've. Seen. Two. Times. Now. That. Jesus. Had. To. Call. Them. Aside. Teach. Them. You. Can. Be. Sure. That. It. Was. Probably. Two. Times. Dozens. Of. Times. That. Jesus.

[24:37] Actually. Had. To. Do. This. But. Luke. Records. Something. In. His. Gospel. Almost. Unbelievable. That. Happened. On. This. Very. Night.

[24:47] In. The. Upper. Room. With. Jesus. In. Chapter. Twenty. Two. And. Verse. Twenty. Four. Luke. Says. Also. A. Dispute. Arose. Among. Them. As. To.

[24:57] Which. Of. Them. Was. Considered. To. Be. The. Greatness. The. Greatest. No. Tell me. It. Isn't. So. Not. On.

[25:07] This. Night. When. Jesus. Is. Just. Ours. From. Becoming. A. Curse. For. Them. On. The. Hellish. Cross. When. He. Is. Preparing. To.

[25:17] Stoop. To. The. Lowest. And. They're. Disputing. About. Who. Is. The. Greatest. Now. We're. Not. Sure. When. Exactly. This. Came. Up. That. Night. Maybe.

[25:28] It. Was. When. They. First. Arrived. At. The. The. House. And. Everyone. Scrambled. For. The. Best. Seats. Of. Honor. Maybe. That's. When. The. Dispute. Arose. I'm. Greater. I. Should. Be. Where.

[25:38] You're. Sitting. John. Or. Maybe. It. Was. After. Jesus. Says. One. Of. You. Will. Betray. Me. You know.

[25:49] It's. It's. Easy. To. Go. From. Who's. The. Worst. Guy. Among. Us. Who. Could. Do. Such. A. Dastardly. Deed. To. Who's. The. Greatest. Among. I'd.

[26:00] Never. Do. That. Who's. The. Scum. Bag. That. Would. Betray. Jesus. We. Go. From. The. Worst. To.

[26:11] The. Greatest. And. It. Makes. Us. Feel. Better. About. Ourselves. We're. Not. Sure. But. Whenever. It. Was. That. Night. We. Realize. That. This. Was. No. New.

[26:21] Argument. Was. It. It's. The. Same. Old. One. It. Was. Never. Over. It. Was. Always. Simmering. Under. The. Surface. And. Would. Break. Out. From. Time. To. Time. So. Now. They're. Just. Picking. Up. Where. They've. Left. Off.

[26:31] Earlier. They're. Still. Full. Of. Themselves. All. About. Self. Me. My. I. Full. Of. Love. Destroying. Pride. And.

[26:43] That's. Why. The. Feet. Were. Unwashed. Still. Ignorant. Of. What. True. Greatness. Is. And. So. Lacking. In.

[26:53] The. Graces. Of. Humility. And. Love. Now. Humility. And. Love. Were. Present. That. Night. In. The. Person. Of. Our. Lord. Jesus. Christ. And.

[27:04] These. Are. The. Very. Disciples. To. Whom. Jesus. Is. Leaving. That. Mission. That. We. Prayed. About. To. Take. This. Saving. Gospel. To. The. Ends. Of. The. Earth. These. Are. The. Guys. Jockey.

[27:17] In. For. The. Best. Position. And. These. Are. The. Guys. And. Perhaps. That's. Why. On. This. Night. He. Leaves. Them. With.

[27:28] This. New. Commandment. You. Must. Love. One. Another. Is. I. Have. Loved. You. That.

[27:40] Mission. Doesn't. Have. A. Chance. Without. Them. Learning. To. Love. One. Another. And. That. Love. Doesn't. Have. A. Chance. As. Long. As. Their. Pride. Goes. Unmortified. So.

[27:51] What. Does. Jesus. Do. With. These. Proud. Unloving. Men. Who. Are. So. Slow. To. Learn. Well. He. Sets. His. Own. And.

[28:06] So. We. Read. He. Got. Up. From. The. Meal. Took. Off. His. Outer. Clothing. And. Wrapped. A. Towel. Around. His. Waist. He. Then. Poured. The. Water. Into. A. Basin. And. Began.

[28:17] To. Wash. His. Disciples. Feet. Not. A. Detail. Is. Missing. From. The. Eyewitness. John. That. Night. He. Wants. Us. Love.

[28:34] Of. Jesus. Against. The. Backdrop. Of. Their. Unloving. Pride. And. So. Notice. How. He. Emphasizes. This. Is. Love. In. Action. John. 13. Verse. One. Jesus. Knew.

[28:44] That. The. Time. Had. Come. For. Him. To. Leave. The. World. And. Go. To. The. Father. And. Having. Loved. His. Own. Who. Were. In. The. He. Now. Showed. Them. The. Full. Extent. Of. His. Love. What. What. We're. Going. To.

[28:54] See. From. John. 13. On. To. To. The. End. Of. Jesus. Life. Here. Is. Is. Love. In. Action. You're. Now. Going. To. See. The. Full. Extent.

[29:05] Of. His. Love. Don't. Miss. His. Love. John. Saying. And. It. Started. With. The. Years.

[29:20] Later. And. Then. We're. Told. That. Jesus. Did. This. With. A. Full. Knowledge. Of. His. Dignity. And. His. Greatness. And. His. Glory. I. I. Find.

[29:30] Myself. Coming. To. John. 13. Just. Kind. Of. Reading. Over. These. Things. And. Not. Thinking. About. Them. And. Just. Getting. To. What. Happened. Jesus. Got. Up. And. Washed. Their. Feet. Oh. But. There's. There's. A.

[29:40] Statement. Here. We. Dare. Not. Rush. Over. John. Says. Jesus. Knew. Verses. Three. And. Four. Jesus. Knew. That. The. Father. Had. Put. All.

[29:51] Things. Under. His. Power. Had. Put. All. Things. Into. His. Hand. And. That. He. Had. Come. From. God. And. Was. Returning. To. God. And. So.

[30:01] He. Got. Up. From. The. Meal. Took. Off. His. Outer. Clothing. And. Wrapped. A. Towel. Around. His. Waist. Think. Of. It. He. Who. Is. Eternal. God. The. Son. The.

[30:12] Divine. He. Of. The. Whole. Universe. It's. His. It's. It's. In. His. Hands. Doesn't. Think. It. Beneath. His. Dignity. To. That's.

[30:31] God. On. His. Knees. There. You. Count. It. Strange. So. Once. Did. I. Before. I. Knew.

[30:41] My. Savior. But. According. To. Jesus. This. Humble. Self. Sacrificing. Love. Is. Not. Something. Inconsistent. With. His. Divine. Nature.

[30:52] It's. Not. Inconsistent. With. His. Dignity. And. His. Greatness. And. Glory. As. God. But. Rather. It. Is. The. Very. Expression. Of. That. Glory. And. Greatness. That.

[31:02] Is. His. As. God. We. Can. Come. To. A. Text. Like. This. I. Say. I. Can. Come. To. A. Text. Like. This. And. Think. It. Means. Although. He. Was. God. He.

[31:13] Acted. And. Humbled. Himself. And. Served. Like. A. Slave. Doing. Good. Others.

[31:28] But. But. Rather. We. Are. To. Read. Because. He. Was. God. He. Humbled. Himself. And. Poured. Out.

[31:38] In. Self. Sacrificing. Love. To. Benefit. Others. Not. Although. He. Was. God. But. Precisely. Because. He. Was. God. He. Knows. He. Is. God. He.

[31:49] Knows. Who. He. Is. And. Because. Of. It. He. Gives. Himself. To. This. Action. That. Will. Most. Express. Who. He. Is. That.

[32:00] This. Is. At. The. Very. Nature. Of. God. The. Very. Impulse. Of. God. Is. Self. Sacrificing. Love. So. Having. Washed. All. Twenty. Four. Feet. Judas.

[32:10] Is. Included. He. Then. Puts. His. Clothes. Back. On. Returns. To. His. Place. And. Says. Do you. Understand. What. I've. Done. For. You. You. Call. Me. Teacher. And. Lord. And. Rightly. So. That's. What. I. Am. Now.

[32:21] That. I. Your. Lord. And. Teacher. Have. Washed. Your. Feet. You. Also. Should. Wash. One. Another's. Feet. I've. Set. You. An. Example. That. You. Should. Do.

[32:32] As. I. Have. Done. For. You. And. Then. These. Words. That. He. Just. Kept. Speaking. To. Them. I. Tell. You. The. Truth. Here. It is. Again. The.

[32:43] Formula. To. To. Identify. Something. That. Is. Important. That. They. May. Have. A. Hard. Time. Grasping. I. Tell. You. The. Truth. No. Servant. Is. Greater. Than. His. You.

[33:01] See. The. Twelve. Had. Probably. Thought. Themselves. As. To. Look. On. This. Lowly. Service. As. Beneath. Them. Beneath. Their. Dignity.

[33:13] After all. They're. One. Of. The. Twelve. Not. Everybody's. Wearing. That. Badge. One. Of. The. Twelve. That. Jesus. Chose. To. Be. Foundation. Stones. In. His. Church. To.

[33:23] Live. With. Him. For. Three. Years. To. Learn. From. Him. To. Be. His. Appointed. Sent. Ones. And.

[33:34] So. They sat. There. Demanding. To. Be. Served. Demanding. Their. Rights. But. Jesus. Says. Such. Humble. Self. Sacrificing. Love. Is. Not. Beneath. My.

[33:44] Dignity. As. Your. Lord. Your. Teacher. Your. God. So. It. Can't. Be. Beneath. Yours. Either.

[33:54] For. No. Servant. Is. Greater. Than. His. Master. Even. The. Son. Of. Man. Came. To. Serve. So. Follow. My. Example. Do.

[34:04] As. I. Have. Done. And. You. Be. Blessed. Can. You. Imagine. What. It. Would. Be. Like. To. Be. One. Of. The. Twelve. At. That. Moment.

[34:15] Never. Did. Your. Pride. Seem. So. Out. Of. Place. Then. Then. When. Jesus. Was. Down. On. His. Knees. Washing. Your. Feet. Dressed. Like. A. Slate. Until.

[34:27] Perhaps. The. Next. Day. When. They. Saw. Him. Washing. Their. Sins. Away. Hanging. Helpless. On.

[34:37] A. Cross. Even. The. Son. Of. Man. Did. Not. Come. To. Be. Sir. But. To. Serve. And. To. Give. His. Life. Is. A. Ransom. For. Many. Their.

[34:50] Slowness. To. Learn. Humility. Only. Goes. To. Show. How. Tightly. The. Sin. Of. Pride. Clings. To. Us. It's. Like. Our. Very. Skin. You. Can't. Get. Out. Of. Your. Skin. Hardly. Can.

[35:00] You. And. Yet. We. Must. Learn. Humility. If. We're. Ever. To. Love. One. Another. As. Jesus. Has. Loved. Us. And. If. The. World. Is. Ever. To. See. The. Mark. Of. Discipleship. And.

[35:11] That. Love. Will. Mean. Humble. Self. Sacrificing. Service. A. Love. That. Humbly. Forgives. Sin.

[35:23] And. Confesses. Sin. A. Love. That. Seeks. Mercy. And. Gives. Mercy. To. One. Another. Years. Later. The. Church. In. Philippi. Would.

[35:34] Be. Struggling. With. A. Similar. Problem. Hmm. Isn't. That. Something. All. Twelve. Of. The. Disciples. Had. This. Problem. Now.

[35:44] We're. Seeing. Really. One. Of. The. Better. Churches. As. You. Compare. Them. It's. Philippi. And. Yet. They've. Got. This. This. Problem. Too. Their. Unity. Being. Threatened. And. Fractured. Even. By. Proud.

[35:55] Self-centeredness. Thinking. Of. Themselves. And. Their. Own. Concerns. And. Thoughts. And. Insisting. On. Their. Own. Rights. So. So. What. Does. Paul. Do. Philippians. Two. Verse. Three. And. Four. He.

[36:06] Exhorts. Them. Do. Nothing. Out. Of. Selfish. Ambition. And. Vain. Conceit. But. In. Humility. Consider. Others. Better. Than. Yourselves. You see. Selfish.

[36:16] Ambition. And. Vain. Conceit. Considers. Yourself. A notch. Above. The other. The other. Person. With whom. You're. Contending. That's.

[36:27] That's. Selfish. Pride. It's. The killer. Of. Love. And. Instead. He. Says. Humbly. Consider. Others. Better. Than. Yourselves. Notice.

[36:37] Humility. Starts. In. The mind. It's. It's. How you. Think. Of. Each. Other. You've. Been. Thinking. Of. Yourself. A notch. Above. Them. No. That's. Pride. Selfish. Conceit. Instead.

[36:49] Humbly. Consider. Them. A notch. Or. Tan. Above. You. And. Then. He. Goes. On. And. Says. And. Then. Pursue. Their. Interest. And. Not. Your. Own. Each. Of. You. Should. Look. Not. To.

[36:59] Your. Own. Interest. But. Also. To. The. Interest. Of. Others. Says.

[37:14] Humility. Is. Not. Only. Thinking. Less. Of. Yourself. It's. Thinking. Of. Yourself. Less. I'm. Going. To. Read. That. Again. Because. I had. To. Read. It. Ten. Times. To. Get it. Humility.

[37:25] Is. Not. Only. Thinking. Less. Of. Yourself. Putting. Yourself. Down. A notch. But. Humility. Is. Thinking. Of. Yourself. Less.

[37:37] It's. Not. Even. Going. Because. We're. Going. There. With. A greater. Interest.

[37:47] To. Do. Good. To. Them. Their. Interests. Their. Concerns. That's. That's. Where. I'm. At. You see. And. And. So. I'm. Not. Here. It's. Love's. Positive.

[37:58] Delight. And. The. Happiness. Of. Others. And. That. Brings. A. Wonderful. Self. Forgetfulness. Why? Because. I'm.

[38:08] Taken up. And. Preoccupied. With. You. This. Is.

[38:19] Thinking. Outside. The. Box. Of. Self. You know. We were. All. Born. Into. This. Box. Of.

[38:29] Self. And. From. This. Box. We. We. We. Look. At. The. World. And. We. Look. At. People. And.

[38:40] Everything. Is. About. Me. My. And. I. And. What. Will. It. Do. For. Me. What. Will. They. Do. For. Me. How. Will. This. Make. Me. Look. Everything. Everything.

[38:51] Is. Considered. From. This. Box. Of. Self. We. Were. Born. There. What. One. Him. Him. Or. Songwriter. Put. It. This. Way. I'm. Mercenary. And. Self.

[39:01] Seeking. Through. And. Through. I've. Never. Had. A. Selfless. Thought. Since. I. Was. Born. No. I. I. Evaluate. Everything. From. Self. Perspective. And.

[39:13] Yet. Love. Love. Demands. That. We. We. Think. Outside. The. Box. Of. Self. And. We. Consider. Others. Concerns. And. There's.

[39:23] This. Wonderful. Self. Forgetfulness. While. I'm. Thinking. Of. You. Love. Gets. Me. Outside. Of. That. Box. To.

[39:35] Where. I'm. Evaluating. Life. And. Considering. What's. Best. For. Others. And. How. I. Can. Serve. And. Enrich. And. Bless. Them. I've. Got. To. Get. Out. Of. My. Box.

[39:45] To. To. Walk. A. Mile. In. Your. Shoes. I've. Got. To. Only. Be. In. My. Box. Long. Enough. To. Think. If. I. Was. In. Their. Place. What. Would. I. Want. Done. Okay. Now. I'm. Going. To. Come. Out.

[39:55] And. Treat. You. Like. I. Would. Want. To. Be. Treated. The. Air. Is. Stifling. In. Here. It's. Kind. Of. Like. Breathing. In. A. Mass. For. 12. Hours. Breathing. Your. Your.

[40:05] Own. Cell. Carbon. Dioxide. You see.

[40:22] You see. God. Made. Us. Like. This. And. And. And. Sin. Put. Us. In. Here. In. The. Box. Of. Self. And. The. Only. Thing. That. Can. Get. You. Out. Of. The. Box.

[40:32] Of. Self. Is. Jesus. His. Love. His. Calvary. Love. Where.

[40:42] He. As. The. Passover. Lamb. Lay. Down. His. Life. In. Love. For. You. And. And. Accepting. That. Love. Trusting. In. That. Love. Applying. That. Love. To. Your. Heart. And. And. Then. Then. You.

[40:52] Break. Free. Then. Your. Chains. Fell. Off. And. Your. Heart. Was. Free. And. You. Rose. Went. For. And. You. Followed. Him. Outside. The. Box. Serving. Others. Loving. God. Loving. Your.

[41:04] Your. Your. Fellow. Man. And. And. Out. Here. You. Know. What? We. Find. We. Find. That. Jesus. Was. Right. When. He. Said. It's. More. Blessed. To. Give. Than. It. Is. To. Receive. It.

[41:14] Really. Is. You. Know. That. When. You. For. The. Moment. For. The. Evening. Have. For. For. Your. Your. And. All. Your. And. Have. Stepped. Out. And. Served.

[41:24] Someone. You. Come. Home. Saying. I. Need. To. Do. More. Of. That. That's. That's. In. Vigory. That's. Life. Like. It. Was. Meant. To. Be. That's. Life. In. The. Image. Of. God.

[41:34] That's. Life. Imitating. God. And. Living. A. Life. Of. Love. That's. What. The. Spirit. Was. Given. To. Us. For. To. Produce. That. Kind. Of.

[41:45] Life. I. Don't. Want. To. Go. Back. Into. That. Suffocating. Box. Again. And. Yet. There's. Something. That's. Pulling. Me. Every. Morning. Back. In. That. Box. It's.

[41:56] Called. My. Flesh. And. That's. Why. I've. Got. To. Be. Killing. It. And. Denying. It. And. Saying. No. No. I'm. Not. Going. Back. There. I'm. Going.

[42:06] To. Walk. With. Jesus. Let. Me. Put. My. Neck. In. The. Oak. With. Christ. Out. Here. And. Walk. Another. Mile. With. Him. This. Is. The. Life. Worth. Living. So.

[42:16] What's. Strong. Enough. To. Overcome. My. Stubborn. Pride. And. Self. Centeredness. It's. The. Almighty. Supernatural. Undeserved. Self.

[42:27] Sacrificing. Unending. Love. Of. Christ. For. Us. Who. Finds. His. Greatest. Joy. In. Serving. The. Interest. Of. His. Father. And. The. Interest. Of. Us.

[42:38] Undeserving. Ones. And. That's. Why. Paul. When. He's. Dealing. With. These. Philippians. Who. Are. All. About. Themselves. And. Starting. To. Turn. Inward. And. And. Threatening. The. Unity. And. The. You know. What. He. He.

[42:48] He. He. Lifts. Up. Jesus. Christ. In. The. Greatest. Words. We. Have. Anywhere. In. Scripture. On. The. Incarnation. How. God. The. Eternal. God.

[42:59] Man. Became. Man. For. Love. And. He. Says. Your. Attitude. Philippians. Should. Be. The. Same. As. That. Is. Christ. Jesus. You. See. It. Starts. With. Your. Mental. Attitude.

[43:09] Let. Let. His. Mind. Be. In. You. Think. Like. He. Think. He. Doesn't. Consider. Himself. He. Consider. Us. He. Had. Us. Higher. Than. Himself. He. Didn't.

[43:20] Spare. Himself. He. Spared. Us. Instead. Of. Himself. Now. Let. His. Mind. Be. In. You. Who. Being. In. Very. Nature. God. Did. To.

[43:38] Come. Down. Here. And. Be. Treated. As. God. And. Honored. And. Worshipped. And. No. He. He. Submitted. Himself. To. Be. Spat. Upon. And. Mocked. And. Nailed.

[43:48] To. A. Cross. And. Crucified. By. Wicked. Man. Very. Nature. God. And.

[43:59] As. God. He. Made. Himself. Nothing. Taking. The. Very. Nature. Of. A. Servant. What's. Paul. Doing. He's. He's. Going. Back. To. John. 13. And. He. Sees. His. Savior. Dressed.

[44:09] Like. A. Slave. In. A. Loin. Cloth. Serving. Undeserving. Disciples. He. Sees. Him. On. The. Cross. Suffering. Servant. Of. The. Lord.

[44:20] They're. Serving. The. Father. They're. Serving. Our. Great. Need. Our. Greatest. Need. Them.

[44:32] Self. And. Became. Obedient. To. Death. Even. Death. On. A. Cross. That's. Death. With. The. Sting. Of. Sin. In. It. That's. Death. With. The. Father's. Wrath. In. It.

[44:43] That's. Death. Without. The. Father's. Comfort. That's. Death. With. None. To. Help. And. He. Did. That. He. Humbled. Himself. So. Great.

[44:53] His. Love. We sang. That. And. He. Did. It. All. As. God. In. Very. Nature. God. Not. Although. He. Was. God. He.

[45:03] Did. It. He. Did. It. Because. He. Was. God. What. If. That. Is. The. Most. Matchless. God. Like. And. Divine. Thing. For. God. To.

[45:13] Do. To. Stoop. And. To. Love. Undeserving. Us. Then. What. A.

[45:23] God. He. Is. Have. I. Known. Him. Have. I. Understood. What. It. Means. When. It. Says. God. Is. Love. That. That. Is. His. Impulse. To. Do. That. As. God.

[45:34] Not. Although. He's. God. He. Did. This. But. Because. He's. God. That's. How. God. Acts. And.

[45:44] So. The. Father. Did. Not. Chide. Him. For. That's.

[45:57] Glory. That's. The. Glory. Of. God. Stooping. And. Serving. Humbly. Selflessly. Do you remember. King. David. When.

[46:08] They. Finally. Brought. The. Ark. Up. In. The. Correct. Way. To. Jerusalem. And. David. Is. So. Happy. The. First. Time. The. Guys. Were. Struck. Dead. Because. They. Touched. The. Ark. Well. They. Were. Had. It. On. The. Cart.

[46:19] Now. They. Were. Doing. It. Right. As. God. Had. Told. Them. On. The. The. Poles. And. David. Is. Just. Singing. And. Leaping. And. And. And. Praising. God. He. He. He. He's. He's. Disrobed.

[46:29] He's. Taken. Off. His. Kingly. Robes. And. He's. Dressed. Like. A. Commoner. With. The. Commoners. Praising. God. All. The. Way. As. The. The. Ark. Is. Brought. There. In.

[46:39] The. Palace. His. Wife. Michael. Saul's. Daughter. Looks. Out. And. When. David. Got. Home. That. Day. She. Had. A. Mouthful. For. Him. Oh.

[46:51] How. Fine. The. King. Behaved. Himself. Today. Disrobing. Like. One. Of. The. Vulgar. One. The. The. Commoners.

[47:05] Who. We. Wondered. Did. She. Even. Know. The. King. Of. Kings. And. Why. David. Disrobed. And. Saw. Himself. As. A.

[47:15] Commoner. Before. The. Great. King. Of. Kings. When. God. Saw. His. Son. Disrobed. And.

[47:28] Veil. His. Glory. And. Come. And. Serve. Like. The. Most. Common. Slave. He. Did. Not. Despise. Him. But. He. Exalted. Him. That's.

[47:40] Who. God. Is. That's. The. Very. Impulse. Of. His. Heart. And. He. Couldn't. Christ. Couldn't. Have. Done. Anything. To. Make. His. Father. More. Pleased. With. Him. And.

[47:52] Say. Have. You. Read. Luke. 12. Verse. 37. Lately. Jesus. Tells. That. Parable. About. The. Master. Who. Gave. His. Servants.

[48:02] The. Assignments. And. Then. He. Went. Away. And. Then. He. Coming. Back. Obviously. Referring. To. Himself. And. He. Says. It. Will. Be. Good. For.

[48:12] Those. Servants. Whose. Master. Finds. Them. Watching. When. He. Comes. I. Tell. You. The. Truth. Formula. Brace. Yourself.

[48:23] You. Might. Have. A. Hard. Time. Believing. This. He. Will. Dress. Himself. To. Serve. He. Will. Have. Them. Recline. At. The. Table. And. He.

[48:34] Will. Come. And. Wait. On. Them. Not. Not. Jesus. In. His. 33. Years. Of. Of. Humility. Here. On.

[48:44] This. Earth. But. Now. Jesus. The. God. Man. Coming. In. His. Own. Glory. And. The. Glory. Of. His. Father. And. All. The. Angels. And.

[48:54] What. Will. He. Do. When. He. Comes. He. Will. See. His. People. And. He. Will. Come. To. Us. And. He. Will. Say. Sit. Down. At. The. Table. And. Let. Me.

[49:05] Serve. You. There. Is. More. God. In. God. Than. In. Any. Other. That. That. That. That. Was. Calvary. God.

[49:16] Serving. Man. That's. Where. We're. Headed. Into. A. Relationship. Within. The. Trinity. Where. Each. Serves. The. Other. And. We'll. Be. Caught. Up. In. That.

[49:26] Wonderful. Love. So. Dear. Christian. Will. You. Imitate. Him. Will. You. Embrace. His. Definition.

[49:37] Of. Greatness. Will. You. Live. This. Life. Of. Love. Will. You. Pray. This. Week. For. More. Of. This. Supernatural. Christ. Like. Love. That.

[49:47] Is. Humble. And. Outward. Focus. And. Is. Serving. And. Then. Hear. Me. Because. If. You. Stop. There. You're. Hyper. Calvinist. Will.

[49:59] You. Set. Aside. Discipline. Time. This. Week. To. Plan. How. You. Will. Step. Outside.

[50:09] Of. Your. Box. And. Take. Up. The. Concerns. And. Cause. Of. Another. Even. At. Cost. To. Yourself. And.

[50:19] Then. Make. Whatever. Arrangements. Need. To. Be. Made. In. Order. To. Love. In. More. Than. Word. But. Indeed. And. Don't. Think. That. Planning. Love. Makes.

[50:30] It. Any. Less. Genuine. That's. The. Devil's. Trick. If. You've. Got. To. Sit. Around. This.

[50:42] Spontaneous. Thing. That. Just. Burst. On. The. Scene. Can. I. Just. Remind. You. That. The. Greatest. Act. Of. Love. Was. Planned. Before. The. Creation. Of.

[50:52] The. World. And. Then. Brought. For. With. The. Fullest. Heart. Of. Love. By. The. Lord. Jesus. Believer. You. Can. Follow.

[51:03] This. Good. Shepherd. Anywhere. Because. He's. Loved. You. Like. That. And. Because. That's. His. Nature. That's. What. It. Means. That. He. Is. To. To. Help. The.

[51:15] Unlovely. May. The. Lord. Make. His. Love. To. Increase. And. Abound. Among. Us. That. All. Men. May. See. That. We. Are. His. Disciples. And. They. Might. Come. To. Know. The. Same. Amazing. Christ.

[51:26] Like. Supernatural. Love. Themselves. So. Pride. Is. The. Great. Enemy. Of. Love. Humility. Humble. Self. Sacrificing. Calvary. Love. Is.

[51:36] The. Remedy. I. Invite. You. If. You're. Lost. To. Get. Out. Of. That. Box. Of.

[51:47] Self. By. Coming. To. This. Savior. You. Know. The. Worst. Thing. About. Living. In. Box. You. Not. Only. Put. Yourself. Above. Other. People. But. You. Put. Yourself. Above. God. You. Going. My.

[51:57] Way. You. See. And. My. Way. Is. Not. God's. Way. And. Yet. This. God. Is. So. Kind. That. He. Sent. His. Son. To. Die. For. Sinners. And. He. Says.

[52:08] Sinner. Friend. Come. To. Jesus. Let. Him. Let. Set. You. Free. From. That. Life. Of. Living. For. Yourself. It's. Stifling. In. There. Isn't. It.

[52:18] Oh. How. How. Stodgy. The air. Gets. Inside. Come. On. Out. Come. On. Into. Our. Love. The. Love. Of. The. Father. And. The. Son.

[52:30] Come. Into. This. Love. Like. It's. Going. To. Be. Perfected. Forever. and. Ever. It's. Yours. If. You. Repent. Of. Going. Your. Way. And.

[52:40] Come. And. Receive. And. Don't. Don't. Reject. This. Love. It's. Being. Offered. To. You. And. If. You. Reject. It. You. Have. Only. Yourself. To. Blame. For. All. Eternity. But. If. You. Accept. It.

[52:51] You. Will. Glory. In. This. Perfect. Love. And. Join. Your. Voice. To. The. Eternal. Choir. That. Sings. There's. No. Love. Like. God's.

[53:02] Love. If. Our. Love. Is. To. Grow. We. Need. To. Focus. On. This. Great. Love. Of. Christ. So. We.

[53:12] Going. To. Close. With. A. Song. When. I. Survey. The. Wondrous. Cross. On. Which. The. Prince. Of. Glory. Died. My.

[53:24] Richest. Gain. I. Count. But. Loss. And. Poor. Contempt. On. All. My. Pride. May. God. Make. It. So. For. Us. Stand.

[53:35]  And. Sing. With. Me.