 Sermon title this morning is he loved them to the end he loved them to the end We're in part three So we've been working through this text in John chapter 13 verses 1 through 17 And we're coming to the end of this section of scripture this morning. It is just a glorious text It's a beautiful text a wonderful text that you see the Lord's instruction here in the form of a Painting if you will a mural a living parable The Lord gives us an object lesson in the washing of the disciples feet from John chapter 13 verses 1 through 17 as we've worked through John chapter 13 verses 1 through 17 We have sought to understand first the heart and mind of the Lord as he's come to this hour With his disciples we've considered the great love with which he has loved us and how that love Impelled him both in the example that he gives to the disciples of washing their feet But also then in the far greater act of humility the far greater act of love that he Displays at the cross in dying for his own So Jesus Christ now and his disciples They're gathered together in an upper room in Jerusalem and it's Passover and they're preparing to eat the Passover meal together It's the eve of his suffering the eve of his betrayal his arrest his trial His scourging his crucifixion and his death Many have called this section of scripture in John chapter 13 verses 1 through 17 and beyond They've called it a farewell discourse the Lord's farewell discourse These are the Lord's parting words to his disciples The Lord's parting instruction to them before he departs from this world to the father So now as the Lord and his disciples enter this room in Jerusalem They walk into the room and they've reclined around the table now for dinner and they are off to the side in the room is The basin the pitchers of water and the towel a long linen towel conspicuously absent from the room Was the lowly bond servant appointed to the menial task of washing the feet of the guests before supper As we consider this scene together again, it's difficult not to think of and remember the woman in Luke chapter 7 having come to the end of herself the woman in Luke chapter 7 convicted and wrecked over her sin Nelt at the Lord's feet weeping Washing his feet with her tears Wiping them with the hair of her head Here in the upper room on the eve of his death the disciples offer no such act of devotion or worship to the Lord Jesus Christ We know From context in Luke 22 They've been embroiled in an argument together over who Was the greatest among them In the thoughts of the disciples no in no doubt influenced by the world the notion of greatness Certainly didn't include stooping to wash someone's feet under the circumstances We could imagine them maybe a little indignant that no one was there to wash their feet They were thinking only of themselves and not thinking to serve one another or even to serve the Lord himself in this Now before we judge the disciples too harshly for this and thinking about them we have to put ourselves in their shoes We have to consider don't we how often how frequently we are just like they are Cut from the same cloth guilty of the very same thing Thinking primarily of ourselves how often Do we fail to love the Lord or to love one another as we should? how often How often are we selfish rather than selfless? How often do we indulge ourselves rather than denying ourselves all the time right all the time? So before we judge the disciples too harshly for their omission in that room that evening we have to consider that we Often frequently are just as they are So as you consider these things You begin to feel the point of the parable right the point of the living parable that the Lord is acting out here in John chapter 13 And the lesson is this beloved we must humble ourselves Just as Christ did We must love him and love one another as he has loved us and has given himself for us Bible says let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus He made himself here in our sight of no reputation and took the form of a bond servant So in the Lord Jesus Christ in in his example here in John chapter 13 weeks we see true greatness Exemplified we see humble love first point on your notes. We see humble love demonstrated look at verse 4 the Lord Rose from supper laid aside his garments took a towel and he girded himself After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel With which he was girded Reminded right one so high stooping so low You meditate on that truth you can see the reality of it the Lord Jesus Christ Stooping to take the form of a bond servant and wash the disciples feet the greatest love Demonstrated and displayed in the greatest condescension There can be no greater love than in the condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ to come into the world and die for sinners Living here out living out what he taught in Matthew chapter 5 verse 44 the Lord even loves his enemies When he washes the feet of Judas who was reclining at the table with them prior to going out and betraying the Lord So we see humble love Demonstrated in the Lord second point on your notes. We see humble love demanded verses 6 through 11 Revealing the spiritual reality expressed in his actions the Lord tells Peter you must let me cleanse you or you can't be saved I look at verse 6 He came to Simon Peter Peter said to him Lord, are you washing my feet? Jesus answered and said to him in verse 7 what I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this Peter said to him in verse 8 you shall never wash my feet into the ages Peter said Jesus answered him if I do not wash you you have no part you have no inheritance with me in other words If you want Christ, you must be washed by Christ You must first acknowledge that you are filthy and in great need of cleansing you have been Dirtied sullied Corrupted by your sin you need to be cleansed by Christ You must turn to him in repentance and trust him alone for salvation But Peter got the point and all his objections melt away and he replies in verse 9 Lord Not my feet only but also my hands in my head Anyone who is a genuine Christian can sympathize with Peter's words there just want Christ. I want Christ Jesus said to him in verse 10 he who is bathed needs only to wash his feet But is completely clean and you are clean Peter But not all of you In other words, you're already clean Peter through the washing of regeneration You're already forgiven Peter Forgiven by God's grace through faith, and you stand justified in God's sight You don't need that cleansing more than once you are completely clean having been cleansed and washed in the blood of the Lamb Hebrews chapter 10 verse 12 says that this man the Lord Jesus Christ After he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever He sat down at the right hand of God from that time waiting till his enemies are made his footstool for by one Offering he has perfected forever Those who are being sanctified And God's people can say to that amen however as We walk in this world we get our feet dirty don't we? We all know that First John 1 8 says if we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us So on a day-to-day basis, we don't need the full cleansing of justification. That's already been done We are washed Wider than snow you will never be cleaner than you are in Christ positionally right now But we step out of the bath as it were into this world We get our feet dirty and we need the regular foot washing of sanctification right it involves daily confession Daily repentance from sin. That's what a true Christian must do Confess their sin turn from their sin walk by faith in Christ We must turn to the only mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus our great high priest who lives To make intercession for us and who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness We've seen humble love demonstrated by the Lord We've seen humble love demanded as we come to verse 12 this morning We then see point three on your notes humble love directed humble love directed Look with me at verse 12. So when he had washed their feet Taken his garments and sat down again. He said to them Do you know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord and you say well for so I am If I then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet You also ought to wash one another's feet For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you Most assuredly I say to you a servant is not greater than his master Nor is he who is sent Greater than he who sent him If you know these things Blessed are you if you do them? So now We've come to the conclusion of the lesson right the Lord sits down at the table having concluded the lesson in verse 12 The Lord takes his garments and goes back to his seat at the table Now one pastor noted that he couldn't imagine he couldn't imagine the Lord here after having given the example of humble serving love Then that the Lord after having taken that towel off put his garments back on Through the dirty cat towel into the corner for somebody else to come along and pick up I just can't imagine the Lord doing that in his heart and mind He was thinking that the Lord neatly folded the towel and Put it it back put it back in its place and then dressed himself again and went back to the table This is a lesson for us men Guys don't throw we can't throw our dirty socks your dirty underwear into a corner and expect for your wife to come along And pick those up for you right don't leave a mess in the sink This should be an exhortation to the men in the room. Love your wife and clean up after yourself. Okay Now once the Lord is back at the table Sitting there with the disciples he begins to teach them and us The main point of the lesson the main point of the lesson and he begins with a question He asks them in verse 12. Do you know what I have done to you? As we're working through the text First thing we need to do is we need to answer that question Do you know what I have done to you? The first thing that he's done is he's taught us a theological lesson He's taught us a theological lesson in verse 8 Peter said to him you shall never wash my feet and Jesus answers him then moving from the picture To the reality moving from the symbol to its Significance if I do not wash you Peter you have no part with me you get the idea, right? It's a theological lesson then he taught us that we must continuously confess our sins and Repent of sin as we walk through this world So looking out the Lord's example He informs our understanding here if you will from the lesser to the greater from washing the feet of the disciples to his far Greater work of atoning for sin at the cross and cleansing in his own blood Cleansing them in the blood of the lamb now in doing so he directs our sight also He directs our sight from this single humble loving act of service a small drop in a stream if you will to the fountain head The source from which all of our single drops should find their motivation and meeting he teaches us a Theological lesson a spiritual lesson from the act that he performs of washing the disciples feet secondly He's given us an example Two things that he's done for us here in this lesson one He has taught us a theological lesson that we've already gone through secondly. He has given us an example look at verse 15 The Lord says I have given you an example an example of what? He's given us an example of what biblical Christ like love Looks like let's consider that example together. Okay, what can we glean from the Lord's example here? That can teach us how to love as Christ loves having loved his own who are in the world He loved them to the end. What did that love entail? I want to give you a list you want to write these down. This would be something worthy to meditate on How did he love what example of biblical Christ like love did he give us? first Christ like love is a priority Christ like love is a priority. The Lord is facing death Right the hour of his suffering is upon him and yet the Lord graciously remembers those who are in the world He is facing pain. He will bear the wrath of God against sin and yet at that point in time He concerns himself with the disciples Love compelled him love impelled him in the face of terrible circumstances Love motivated him to wash their feet and provide this example for them his Circumstances that he's facing are in the father's hands and so the Lord can look to the needs of others Christ like love is a priority Secondly Christ like love is independent Independent it's not dependent upon anything lovely in its object He didn't love the disciples based on their worthiness to be loved The disciples had just been arguing over who was the greatest Note one not one considered washing his feet At his trial at his crucifixion they'd all fled When they should have been by his side when they should have been defending him Judas betrayed him We consider these men they are Dramatically undeserving just as we are and yet knowing what they were Knowing them the Lord took off his garments Girded himself with the towel Nelt at their feet and washed their feet even the feet of the betrayer Spurgeon said listen. He gently handled that heel which had been lifted up against him Washing from it the dust gathered in its secret walk upon the trader's errand Christ like love is a priority Christ like love is independent Christ like love bears with all our failures consider this Christian The fact that it is Unconditional Proves that the Lord's love for his own will bear with your weakness It will bear with your failures It will bear with your time and time again Repeated cries for mercy cries for forgiveness right confession of sin He loved his own who are in the world He loved them to the end and that love both unconditional both independent will bear with your Struggles against sin. You're striving against sin. It will bear with you. Christ like love bears with all our failures for Christ like love involves humility And none so much as his humility He was willing to perform the most menial task for their good God had committed all things into his hands. He was enthroned in praise Before the worlds began and he was soon returning there to inhabit that praise once again for all eternity And yet he stood stooped to do the work of a slave for Spurgeon again No wonder that Peter raised an objection suggested by reverential all Who could without protest? Receive such humble service from such hands Yet our Lord did with heaven's supernal glory descending on him He disrobed himself though angels long to cast the imperial purple about his shoulders With all things in his hands He yet took a towel and wiped the disciples feet Beloved if our loves if our Lord's love bore these three strains We may like the apostle be persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us From the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Christ like love involves humility fifth Christ like love is perfect in degree is Perfect in degree. He loved them to the end Washing their feet is one example of the love that he has for his own that extends even to the cross Greater love has no one than this, but that he laid down his life for his friends It is a love then if you consider that It is a love that will certainly bear with you through any trial through any difficulty Through any adversity sixth Christ like love is comprehensive in its scope comprehensive in its scope He considers our needs and he is attentive to every one of them He is aware and attentive and cares for everyone even in the minor things Even in washing the feet of the disciples Matthew chapter 6 beginning of verse 31 says therefore Therefore beloved do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For after all these things a Gentile seek for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things Listen, but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things Sufficient for the day is its own trouble Take your cares take your concerns to Christ in prayer cast your cares upon him for he cares for you 7th in all of this Christ like love is selfless. It is self denying Sacrificial not concerned with its own needs. It esteems others and seeks to care for them Christ could have you consider it that night in the room, right? Christ could have Asked the disciples commanded the disciples to wash one another's feet and they would have done it gladly However, he takes the task upon himself And he removes his garments and wraps the towel around his waist. It is selfless. It is self-denying eight Christ like love is a delight to his people. It's a delight to his people Lord Peter says not my feet only but also my hands in my head He's here the exuberance in Peter's response. It's a joy It's a comfort to his own that he loves them in this way loves them enough not only to wash Their feet the physical dirt from their feet, but to wash the sin and the corruption and the guilt from themselves at the cross 9th Christ like love is concerned with the soul Concerned that the disciples have been made clean concerned that they maintain clear accounts the clean conscience He's concerned about the purity of his people the holiness of his people Christ like love is concerned for their repentance Concerned for their confession concerned for their forgiveness concerned for their souls well-being Concerned that as they walk through this world, they have clean feet Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25 Also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word So that he might present her to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing But that she should be holy and without blemish And he instructs husbands after that that's how they're to love their wives Christ like love is concerned with the soul 10th Christ like love is from the heart It's from the heart the Lord might have ended With a ritualistic foot washing right consider that for a moment. He doesn't do that in verse 15 He says do what I have done to you That what he says No, he says do as I have done to you the Lord might have ended this with ritualism Ending with a mere washing of feet, but he clearly points to and engages the heart do as I have done to you Christ like love is from the heart. It's not mere empty heartless. Godless ritualism 11 Christ like love is trustworthy It's trustworthy. It's worthy of our dependence worthy of our confidence Peter didn't understand it first, but the Lord said he would understand later He asks Peter to submit to this in faith Submit to it in faith because it is trustworthy. It's a love that cultivates within us a sense of security. Amen How often can you go to him to get your feet washed seven times? No, there's not a number for that Go and get your feet washed If you're in Christ, you are secure in Christ. If you're in Christ, you're sure in Christ Confess your sin go to him for forgiveness When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within Upward I look and see him there who made an end to all my sin Christ like love is trustworthy We need to embrace that love right embrace that promise 12th Christ like love cultivates our communion with him 13th Christ like love is personal and it's kind 14 Christ like love is patient right he bears with Peter's initial objections and Peter's many subsequent failures 15th Christ like love is particular Particular an individual he loves each disciple and yet he loves his disciples. We know that he loves each Member of his body and he loves his body the church. We can go on right one example after another if you just did observations on this act of Christ like love One example after another you have to conclude with this one that Christ like love is to be the model for all who are his own We consider what he has taught us Lord ask the question right what have I done to you? Do you know what I've done to you? Consider these things the last thing that Christ like love then is the model for all who are his own this love That Christ demonstrates is both to inform our understanding and to fuel our love for both him and for one another Look with me at John chapter 13 at verse 13 He goes on with a lesson. He says there you call me teacher and Lord and you say well for so I am If I then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet You also ought to wash one another's feet For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you So now we've considered the Lord's question in verse 12. Do you know what I have done to you? As we consider the question It's staggering. Isn't it what the Lord has done? It's astonishing what the Lord has done Especially now as we read and understand this in the searing light of the cross. It's Mind-blowing right think for a moment think meditate on these realities. You are a sinner defiled by sin guilty Destined bound for hell a Citizen of hell a son of your father the devil and the Lord Jesus Christ Condescends to redeem you to himself to cause you by the Spirit of God to be born again Draws you to himself grants you repentance and faith It's mind-blowing right humbling Matchless, it's sublime that the Lord would save sinners like you and I Undeserved all of grace perfect comprehensive precious permanent and What is also staggering? Is the fact that he is here about to ask us to love one another in the same way that he has loved us now as a Lord He could have foregone the example couldn't he He could have foregone the humility of the foot washing and merely commanded his disciples to love one another Hear the disciples right why Lord answer because I said so Dad so many times if you said that before Why because I said so but he doesn't do that in infinite wisdom He graciously roots and grounds his instruction in two things one who he is and To what he has done He grounds his instruction founds his command in two Objective truths who he is and what he has done in that he has done good He has been gracious and merciful to us. We'll see that in a moment Our Lord and teacher has loved us in this way so that we can follow his commands not merely his duty Right just do what I say We can follow his commands in delight We can delight in him and we can delight in what he has done And then we can delight in living that out in our Christian lives right loving him Worshipping him and loving one another not just a duty, but our delight That's a delight from the heart for his glory for his namesake But consider first one who he is to what he's done consider first who he is He is our Lord and our teacher. That's how we relate to him He is our Lord and teacher here in verse 13 The word for Lord in verse 13 is the word courios a courios is sometimes translated Sir or master but on the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ it carries more weight than that doesn't it Right something more profound is being said here our understanding of courios culminates with Thomas's confession in chapter 20 verse 28 where Thomas says my Lord and my God, that's right more to this word here than just sir or master We know what teacher is that's the word didosculos in Greek teacher so now in verse 13 Jesus is building an argument and the argument is meant to undergird or support their response to his example Jesus says you call me teacher in Lord and you say well for so I am Now if he is teacher in Lord then who are we in relationship to him? The word that corresponds with didosculos teacher is the word disciple disciple methetes disciple a learning follower a Disciple is an apprentice a disciple is someone who will follow the Lord Jesus Christ and do Just as he does a learning follower a learning obeyer an apprentice someone who will follow and do the word that corresponds to courios Lord is Doulas Which is slave Someone who follows Jesus as Lord obeys him as Lord in all of his commands as slave didosculos but they taste courios and do loss If he is teacher and Lord let it sink in then you are Disciple and slave But that's who he is That's who he is next let's consider what he has done then in This simple and beautiful and humble act of love washing the disciples feet the courios humbles himself and serves as a do loss you see the Lord takes the form of a slave and now Relating to us in this way the courios then the Lord commands all of his do loy all of his slaves to do just as he has done It's an argument from the greater now to the lesser isn't it from the greater the Lord Jesus Christ teacher and Lord Saying if I can stoop Then you can stoop right look at verse verse 14 if I then Your Lord and teacher have washed your feet You also ought to wash one another's feet Our Lord the one who died Calls us to die And to serve one another to love one another men You may be called upon to die protecting your wife right Lord has called us to that consider Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25 listen husbands love your wives how how Just as Christ also loved the church and what and gave himself for her You love your wives just as christ loved the church. That's what he's calling for here For the purpose that verse 26 he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word That he might present her to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing But that she should be holy and without blemish So husbands in the same way Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself Now think about it for a moment. What is to motivate that obedience? What's to motivate that love? What motivates the love of a husband for his wife in that way? What's to motivate the love of god's people for their brothers and sisters in that way? It's his love for us His love for us his example to us compels us His example to us motivates our love for one another consider this in romans chapter 5 verse 7 The bible says for scarcely Scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die But listen god demonstrates his own love toward us In that while we were still sinners christ died for us Much more than having now been justified by his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him Consider the example of our lord right Who while we were yet sinners christ died for us Galatians chapter 2 verse 20. I've been crucified with christ. I have died It is no longer. I who live but christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of god who loved me and died Right died and gave his gave himself for me This reality back in john chapter 13 This reality is expressed in verse 15 In verse 15. He is our teacher We are his disciples. He are he is our lord We are his loving and rejoicing slaves. That's who he is That's who he is consider for a moment what he has done We are to follow his example and do and love others just as he has loved us Look at verse 15 For jesus says I have given you an example So that you should do as I have done to you not what I have done to you This is not a prescription for foot washing ordinance in the church It's as I have done to you that you should love one another and love others as I have loved you Now from the teaching in the new testament We also understand we come to understand As the lord establishes this love in his body this love amongst brothers and sisters love for his own And in them loving one another This becomes A mark of the community a mark of the church It becomes a genuine distinguishing mark that someone is truly and genuinely a disciple of the lord jesus christ If you're in john chapter 13 drop down to verse 31. Look at verse 31 This becomes a mark of whether or not you are truly one of his disciples you think to yourself, you know what? I'm not sure if i'm saved or not You know, I set out to follow christ. Maybe things aren't going well. I'm not sure that i'm a christian Maybe you think you're a christian Maybe you're sure that you're a christian and you need to come face to face with the lord's commands here To consider your true state before god and be honest with him about this This becomes this love this example Followed by god's people becomes a distinguishing mark that someone is truly a disciple of the lord jesus christ. Look at verse 31 So when he had gone out jesus said now the son of man is glorified and god is glorified in him If god is glorified in him god will also glorify him and himself and glorify him immediately Little children. I shall be with you a little while longer You're gonna seek me and I as I said to the jews where I'm going you cannot come So now I say to you verse 34 a new Commandment I give to you That you love One another as I have loved you that you also love one another now The commandment to love one another is not new All right, that was a summary of one part of the law will be to love your neighbor as yourself, right? What's new what's new is that this commandment to love one another is now rooted and grounded in the example of the lord jesus christ himself It's founded in his own love for his own having loved his own who are in the world He loved them to the end and we're to love one another in the same way that he loved us Right, it's rooted and grounded in his love to us rooted and grounded in the example of the lord jesus christ now look at verse 35 By this All will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another This becomes a mark of the community it becomes a mark of the christian that you love one another Let's look at john's teaching on this in other places go with me to first john first john Look at first john chapter two Let's look further at john's teaching on this very issue This becomes a distinguishing mark that someone is truly a disciple of the lord jesus christ If you do not have love for one another in this way You are not his disciple If you love one another in this way all will know that you are my disciples you see how that works Okay, look at first john chapter two And look beginning at verse three Now by this We know That we know him You want to know that you're a christian You want to know that you're saved drawn your way to heaven you are in him That you stand justified before god that when you stand before god in judgment He will see christ's righteousness credited to you. He will not look at your filthy rags He'll look at the righteousness of his son and welcome you into the family of god in heaven Right by this we know that we know him if what if we keep his commandments He who says i know him i'm a christian And does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him But whoever keeps his word truly the love of god is perfected in him By this we know that we are in him He who says he abides in him ought himself Also to walk just as he walked you see the example there A christian someone who says that they are in christ is to walk as christ walked We're to live according to his example look at verse Six He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked brethren verse seven I write no new commandment to you But an old commandment which you've had from the beginning The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning again A new commandment i write to you know that sounds a little confusing But the lord is saying essentially here what he is saying in john chapter 13 Right this Commandment now is not a new commandment It's an old commandment in the sense that you've always had this commandment But now in christ it is rooted and grounded in the example of the lord jesus christ All right Verse eight again a new commandment i write to you which thing is true in him and in you Because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining He who says he is in the light And hates his brother is in darkness until now Let's just make that really clear. How do you hate your brother? Well, you don't love him You don't love him The lord jesus christ has given us an example of what love looks like it's the example of his own love for his own If you don't love your brother love your sister as the way the bible describes the way that the bible commands You don't love your brother. You hate your brother. Okay. I consider these things Verse 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light and there's no cause for stumbling in him He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness Has blinded his eyes now How do we love our brother? We love our brother as christ has loved us as he humbled himself and he gave himself for us We give ourselves to our brothers and our sisters in the way that christ has loved us and given himself to us Flip the page and look at first john chapter three First john chapter three John is building this argument through this little letter Look down at verse 23 First john chapter three verse 23 says and this is his commandment That we should believe on the name of his son jesus christ and Love one another as he gave us commandment flip the page and look at first john chapter four And drop down to verse 19 First john chapter four verse 19 We love him why Because he first loved us but he gives us such a great example of his love for us and we love him We love him for all that he's done for us. Okay, we love him because he first loved us look at verse 20 If someone says i love god And he hates his brother He's a liar For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen How can he love god whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from him that he who loves god must love his brother also Now you're thinking through this a clear distinguishing mark of who is truly a christian. Amen. Can't get any clear It's the clear distinguishing mark How do we know How do we know that we are loving our brothers in the way That the lord jesus christ has loved us Not all of us will be called upon to die For our brother or we're called upon to love our brothers and if necessary laid on our life for our friends How do we know that we're loving our brothers in the way that christ has loved us look at first john chapter five and look at verse two Verse two says it's by this we know That we love the children of god when we what we love god and demonstrate our love to him by keeping his commandments Right by this we know that we love the children of god when we love god And we keep his commandments verse three for this is the love of god what That we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome Now let's make that clear right crystal clear When the bible says when the bible says to consider one another to stir up love and good works What do you do? You love god you keep his commandments. What do you do? You consider one another And you stir up one another to love and good works You obey that command of god if you love god you keep his commandments You're showing yourself first john chapter five verse two that you love the children of god You consider one another and you stir up one another to love and good works when the bible says When the bible says to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together What do you do? You assemble with your brothers. Do you see how easy this is how clear Right, what do you do? You assemble with your brothers when the bible says To exhort your brothers daily While it is called today What do you do? You want to assure your hearts before him that you're in the lord that you're truly one of his disciples You love god you keep his commandments. What do you do when the bible says to exhort your brothers daily while it is called today? What do you do? You exhort your brothers you exhort your brothers you exhort your brothers daily while it is called today When the bible commands you when the bible commands you to warn those who are unruly When the bible commands you to comfort the faint hearted We're familiar with this text aren't we When the bible commands you to uphold the weak To be patient with all to see that no one renders the evil to for evil to anyone to pursue What is good both for yourselves and for everyone for all What do you do? You obey that text you obey that you see these are the one and others in scripture These are all the one and others in scripture The lord has given these these clear commandments to us and listen if they are commands of the christian to the christian Those commands are not burdensome They are our delight We delight to obey those commandments because of all that christ has done for us right his perfect example compels us His perfect love having loved me to the end I desire from the heart to love him by loving my brothers loving my sisters By obeying his commandments and it's my delight to do that. It's your delight to do that if you're in christ Are you obeying these? Are you obeying these are they your delight? incidentally With the lord's help and by his grace right we want to as a church We want to provide opportunity for god's people to faithfully obey the lord in these things we thought And prayed and worked through scripture Lord, we want to be faithful to you. We want your people to be faithful to you Your faithfulness is our joy and our crown We want to see you blameless and holy in the sight As we thought to ourselves we want to give opportunity for god's people to faithfully obey this So where does obedience to these commands to love one another? In this way Find a platform or find opportunity in our church How do we facilitate in our church obedience to these things? smonger Now there may be other ways to do this we have determined For our church that we want to give this opportunity for god's people to obey god in these things and to love one another in These ways and obey the lord's commands And so you have opportunity for this in small group Now if you're not faithful to small group Then I wonder In our church How you take opportunity to be faithful to these things apart from that I wonder Are you Are you obedient to these things? Are you loving your brothers in this way? From my experience take it what it's worth Most people as part of a church like this who are not faithful in small group are not doing these things There's a limited opportunity on a sunday morning to do these things And most people who call themselves by the name of quote-unquote christian Aren't faithful to do these things apart from This platform that we've provided this opportunity that we've provided brothers and scissors coming around you and helping you to obey the lord In these things that opportunity comes through in our church small group Food for thought Food for self examination back in john chapter 13 As we work through this now I want you to follow the lord's argument with me Follow the lord's argument with me so far The lord says basically consider how I have loved you okay consider how I have loved you He says I am your lord And your teacher and I As your lord and teacher have loved you in this way Now he says go and love one another in the same way The lord then with this application with this thought he ends his teaching with a warning And with the reward right with a warning and with a reward a warning in verse 16 and a reward in verse 17 Let's take a look at the warning first in verse 16 The lord says in verse 16 most assuredly I say to you A servant is not greater than his master Nor is he who is sent Greater than he who sent him He starts most assuredly truly truly verse 16 Basically what the lord is saying in verse 16 is this Consider the name by which you are called You call yourself a christian Then consider whom it is that you are submitting to Consider your position the position that you claim to hold in christ consider the name By which you identify yourself You the lord says are a disciple and a slave The lord says I am teacher and lord Verse 16 is saying listen count the cost of following me A servant is not greater than his master a slave is not greater than his lord if I Your lord have loved in this way and you claim to be mine You claim to be a christian then you must love in a way that I've commanded you to love You must love one another and you love one another in this way A slave is not greater than his lord Now then verse 16 he adds another dimension to our relationship with him We've seen teacher and disciple. We've seen lord and slave But then he says at the end of verse 16 nor is he who is sent Greater than he who sent him. He's adding another dimension to this He is the sender and you and I we're the sent ones. We're the sent ones I want you to consider as we work through the gospel of john from john chapter 13 to the end of the book there is There are several themes that run throughout the book and we're going to cover those as we those as we go One great theme that's already been introduced to us in john chapter 13 is the theme of love There's also the theme of evangelism the theme of mission We're going to see that developed more clearly as we work through the gospel Here he is adding this dimension You I am the teacher. You are the student. I am the lord. You are the slave I am the sender and you are the sent one Flip the page to john chapter 15 John chapter 15 And I want you to get the feel for this in a couple of spots again right here in the gospel of john John chapter 15 and look beginning with me at verse nine Verse nine says as the father loved me I also have loved you Now abide in my love. It sounds like chapter 20 verse 21 where the lord says as the father sent me I also send you As the father loved me verse nine. I also have loved you abide in my love verse 10 If you keep my commandments You will abide in my love Just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in his love These things I have spoken to you that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full This is my commandment. Here it is again That you love one another as I have loved you Greater love has no one in this than to lay down one's life for his friends You are my friends. What a glorious thought right? You are my friends if you do whatever I command you That's interesting, isn't it that friends there and commands go hand in hand Look at verse 15 no longer. Do I call you servants? For a servant doesn't know what his master is doing But I have called you friends for all things that I heard from my father. I've made known to you We consider it as we work through this section of scripture in john 13 That the lord gives us motivation He gives us his own example. He could have said do it And we would obey as his slaves, but he doesn't just say do what I say Or because I said so the lord gives us glorious reasons why Who he is what he has done for us. He gives us his example his perfect example, right? That is in the wisdom the infinite wisdom of god And his grace and mercy to us that he deals with us in that way here. He tells us verse 15 If you were merely a slave He could say jump and you'd say how high Okay, but that's not how he interacts with us. It's not how he relates to us I don't call you servants any longer a servant doesn't know the reasons why Doesn't have all that glorious motivation doesn't get to see behind the curtain so to speak and the Eternal counsels and decrees of god for us A slave doesn't know what his master is doing But I have called you friends. He says in verse 15 for all things that I heard from my father All these glorious truths all these glorious motivations these reasons why I have made known to you That is a grace of god to us And it should compel Impel our love and devotion and worship of him, right? If that can't motivate you you have a dead heart This should motivate the christian to go out and live for the lord jesus christ fervently and faithfully He says in verse 16 You did not choose me Wow, I can't get any clearer than that You did not choose me, but I chose you and what? Appointed you now you pointed you to an end He appointed you with a mission He appointed you with a purpose That you should go and bear fruit you should go and bear fruit And that your fruit should remain or whatever you ask the father in my name He may give to you these things I command you That you love one another love one another you loving one another you go out and bear fruit flip the page to john chapter 17 john chapter 17 Very clearly stated here Look at verse 18 With this love the love with which he loved us we are to love one another We are to go out with that love into the world verse 18 As you sent me into the world I also have sent them into the world. This is part of the lord's high priestly prayer to god Listen verse 19 And for their sakes, I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word. Let's be in you We believed through their word that Torch being passed down the meshes the gospel going out from generation to generation and down to us And we by the lord's grace by his gift of grace to us through faith turned from our sin put our trust in christ And he's praying for us here look at verse 21. What is he praying for? That they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you that they also may be one in us that Right so that the world may believe That you sent me Now think about it. That is evangelism That is mission It's so that the world may believe that you sent me verse 22 And the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I in them and you in me that they may be made perfect in one here it is again And that the world may know that you have sent me And have loved them as you have loved me so that the lord the world will see the love The god pass for us and saving our wretched souls And see the love that we have for one another and in that know That god has both sent the lord jesus christ and the lord jesus christ has loved us as god has loved the sun verse 24 father I desire That they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am and they may be hold my glory which you have given me For you loved me before the foundation of the world Oh righteous father the world has not known you But I have known you and these have known that you sent me And I have declared to them your name and will declare it That the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them See we are we are sent We are sent with a mission of love As the lord jesus christ has loved us We then are sent by the lord to love one another and so that the world may see that love The world sees that love in the way that we live and love one another But also in the proclamation of the gospel You're sent with a mission of love now father the lord's argument with me again We're building this argument with the lord through this text The lord jesus christ expresses a love For his own that is matchless Having loved his own who were in the world. He loved them to the end right the lord displays expresses his love for his own to the greatest possible extent His own then Are to emulate his example Are to live according to his example By loving one another We love one another in accord with the example that he has set for us So that The world may know god's love through his own And believe that the lord jesus christ was sent by god the father to die for sins You see it jesus expresses his love for his own His own display that love by loving one another So that the world may know god's love through the people of god and believe that god sent jesus to die for them Back in john chapter 13 The lord completes this lesson then with a blessing with a reward verse 17 says If you know these things Blessed are you if you do them You're not putting the text together right the lord's beautiful clear lesson This beautiful clear object lesson. He loves us immeasurably infinitely Immutably eternally freely electingly independently all the ways that he loves us right Consider how the lord jesus christ has loved us How he has loved us in the gospel how this picture of the foot washing Beautifully illustrates the reality of that love that he demonstrated for us at the cross You think about that love And then we're