TO LOVE IS TO SERVE 
John 13:1-19; 34-38 

Westland Baptist Church 
Roy Meadows, Lead Pastor 
April 30, 2023 
 
 
John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew what was coming: The betrayal, The Cross. 

Jesus loves you, His Church, His people, “to the end”. 

John 13:5 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.

Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. 

John 13:10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 

Once someone has been “washed” – saved - he or she does not need to be “saved again” but that person will need to be forgiven for sins if/when committed in the future 

John 13:12-17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus’ followers, then and now, should follow the example of Jesus and serve one another 

John 13:18-19 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 

Jesus told the disciples of His soon to come betrayal that fulfilled Biblical prophecy and so the disciples would know Jesus was the fulfillment of scripture: The Real Thing - The Messiah - Son of God - The Savior 

John 13:34-38

The mark of a true believer and follower of Christ, the sign of true faith is: 
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!