MAKE A DIFFERENCE PT 2
January 28, 2022

MAKE A DIFFERENCE PT 2

January 30,2022
AJ Dummitt

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JESUS CAME TO

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. —Matthew 20:25-28 (NKJV)

The disciples got caught up trying to argue about who will be the greatest, and who gets the biggest title, etc. Jesus is trying to get the SERVING principle across to them and they are not getting it. Jesus explains to them that in His Kingdom, the way to be great was serving through love!

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. —John 13:4-17 (KJV)

SERVING THROUGH

Before Jesus died on the Cross, He demonstrated His love by SERVING.

Jesus shows us that even our enemies are deserving of our love, not just through our prayers, but also through our actions. If we call ourselves Christians and profess to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, then we are to love our enemies enough to overcome whatever has set us at odds with each other and make contact with them. To make contact with someone, especially their feet, is an entrance into a certain closeness which requires trust and, of course, love.

Even though Jesus KNEW Judas was going to betray Him, Jesus served him. Jesus knew the anguish that was coming. Yet, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, this man Judas who was pivotal in fulfilling the Scriptures and prophecies about the Suffering Servant.

Jesus humbled Himself and SERVED His greatest enemy.

WASHING IS SERVING

When the apostle Peter objected to Christ washing his feet, Jesus said, “You don’t understand what I am doing right now, but someday you will.” Many people dismiss foot washing as an outdated custom because they don’t understand it. Foot washing identifies us with Christ.

If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, YOU OUGHT TO WASH EACH OTHER’S FEET. —John 13:14

Foot washing follows Christ’s instructions.

I have given you an example, that YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. —John 13:15

Furthermore, foot washing brings people together. Each person has an “aura” or a personal body space around them, and we don’t like strangers getting too close. Besides this, foot washing involves personal contact. Our feet are a private part of our bodies, and no one can touch them without our permission. It is this very thing that breaks down the barriers between people who wash each other’s feet.

Nevertheless, the main reason behind washing each other’s feet is that it teaches us to serve one another.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, SERVE ONE ANOTHER in love.
—Galatians 5:13

Jesus was God in human flesh, and a symbol of His willingness to die for our sins was His willingness to assume the humiliating role of a household servant. In spite of Christ’s example, our natural self often finds foot washing difficult. But, when we allow Christ to have His way in our lives, and follow His example of humility and service, then we begin to understand the purpose of those humiliating acts of service in the Bible that run contrary to our flesh. Such things help us defeat our pride, and become more like Jesus in our attitudes.

MAKE IT - UNITY

Unity comes when we serve each other, and together we serve our community.

The principle Jesus wanted them to understand was SERVING brings unity and the blessings of God into their community!

GREATNESS is defined by SERVING!