Living Your Last Day | Ps Rob Buckingham
February 21, 2020

Ray Charles, “Live each day like it’s your last, ‘cause one day you gonna be right”

Q. How would you live your last day?

Q. What did Jesus do?

Text: John 13:1-17

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.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 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.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 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 lived his last day by serving his followers…

John 13:1 “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.”

Disciples normally served their teachers, but were not expected to wash their teacher’s feet. Jesus went way beyond expectations…

Before a banquet, diners would wash their hands and then recline on couches around the table. They would lean on their left elbow keeping the right hand free to get food. Their legs would face away from the table.

The least of the servants would go around and wash the guests’ feet, loosening their sandals first…

Luke 3:16 (ESV) John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Feet were always covered with dust and sometimes with dung (people would empty chambers pots from their windows). First century Roman society celebrated honour and feared shame. Judaism celebrated humility but upheld social status and so seating by rank of importance was crucial.

For example, Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi (2nd Century) was said to be so humble that he would do anything for others – except relinquish his superior position.

Jesus upturned all these things like the tables he turned over in the temple court. In fact, by washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus violated the social status boundaries so thoroughly that Peter finds it unthinkable…

“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!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.”* (John 11:55)

Practical Application

Q. What does Jesus washing feet mean to us today?

1. Becoming like Jesus means that I will love courageously
In John 13 to 17, Jesus says…
I love you
This is how much I love you
Now, love one another as I have loved you

2. Serving is a sign of my relationship with 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; so…

3. Serving is the main characteristic of a Christ-centred community
In washing the disciples’ feet Jesus demonstrated what he wants to see amongst his people…

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.

“As I have humbled myself to serve you, so you are to humble yourselves and serve one another…” And so,

4. No act of service is beneath me
I will let this mind be in me “which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8)

5. I will not come to my church community with the attitude of a consumer. I will come with the outlook of a servant

6. I will adopt a servant posture at my workplace, amongst my family and friends and, as Jesus washed Judas’ feet, I will look for ways to serve those who dislike me or wish to betray me. I will love my enemies

7. I will realise that humility is the pathway to greatness; that in the Kingdom of God, the way up is down

8

Matthew 20:24-28, “When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus lived his last day by serving others. I will live all my days doing the same!