CHURCH MANDATE – TO LOVE AS JESUS LOVED

 

During 2008 I have spoken to you about the Tabernacle of Moses being the pattern according to which we need to build.  To day I want to speak to you on another pattern that we have seen in the Old Testament that has been changed by God to the pattern according to which we need to live our lives today.

 

Exo 25:9

(9)  And you shall make it according to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle or dwelling and the pattern of all the furniture of it.

 

In this year we will continue to study this pattern and apply it to our lives, but I also believe that we need to apply this other pattern to our day to day walk with Jesus as well.

 

I am speaking of the Ten Commandments. 

 

Exo 31:18

(18)  And He gave to Moses, when He had ceased communing with him on Mount Sinai, the two tables of the Testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

 

Deu 5:22

(22)  These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He spoke not again [added no more]. He wrote them on two tables of stone and gave them to me [Moses].

 

The Ten Commandments were written on 2 tablets and we tend to think that it is divided as 5 and 5.  This is not true.  The first table consisted of the first 4 commandments that deal with love towards God.  The second table dealt with the 6 commandments dealing with the love towards our fellow man.

 

Jesus summarized this in the New Testament.

 

Mar 12:28-31

(28)  Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [in its nature]?

(29)  Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;

(30)  And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. [Deuteronomy 6:4-5]

(31)  The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. [Leviticus 19:18]

 

This then is the new commandment that Jesus gave to us:

 

Joh 13:34

(34)  I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.

 

As we have entered this year of 2009 I believe that this is the mandate that God is giving to us as a Household of Faith.

 

Each one of us will have to make a conscious decision to embrace and respond to this mandate in every area of our life in this world as well as within this body.  There can no longer be found any dissention or disagreements.  We have to come to a place where we love as Jesus loved and where we allow ourselves be loved by one another through the Christ on the inside of each one of us.

 

1Ti 4:12

(12)  Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

 

God spoke this scripture to me as the mandate for us in 2009.  We have to embrace this pattern and manifest it in a practical way.

 

Let us take a look at the Life and Example of Jesus with His disciples.

JESUS' EXAMPLE OF LOVE

Joh 13:1-17

(1)  [Now] before the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.

(2)  So [it was] during supper, Satan having already put the thought of betraying Jesus in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son,

(3)  [That] Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God,

(4)  Got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant's] towel, He fastened it around His waist.

(5)  Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the [servant's] towel with which He was girded.

(6)  When He came to Simon Peter, [Peter] said to Him, Lord, are my feet to be washed by You? [Is it for You to wash my feet?]

(7)  Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on.

(8)  Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him, Unless I wash you, you have no part with (in) Me [you have no share in companionship with Me].

(9)  Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too!

(10)  Jesus said to him, Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is clean all over. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.

(11)  For He knew who was going to betray Him; that was the reason He said, Not all of you are clean.

(12)  So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you?

(13)  You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am.

(14)  If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet.

(15)  For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.

(16)  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.

(17)  If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them].

 

 

Key Verse: 13:15

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

First, Jesus showed the disciples the full extent of his love (Verse 1):

It was just hours before the Passover Feast when many lambs were to be sacrificed for the sins of Israel. At this Passover Jesus would be the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Jesus didn’t feel sorry or anxious about his death. John described Jesus’ facing his divine destiny as “for him to leave this world and go to the Father.” Jesus had pressed on in his pilgrimage toward the Father in heaven. While on earth, Jesus believed, loved and hoped the love of the Father God. In this divine love, there was no fear even though he knew what he would be facing in several hours. Furthermore, Jesus showed his disciples the full extent of his divine love.

   Since Jesus would be arrested and tried in several hours, he could have warned them and given many instructions. But he showed the full extent of his love. Why? It is because Jesus’ love is never failing. His love holds and sustains perishing souls. How did Jesus love his own disciples?  It was revealed from the beginning though his calling on each of them. For example, Peter, John, and James were fishermen who struggled with smelly fish all night long. There was always an underlying tension among them because of competition. None of his disciples were humanly able or rich. Still Jesus called them to be their master and Lord. Out of his love, Jesus taught them the word of God. When he used parables to teach the word of God, his disciples couldn’t understand them. Then Jesus patiently taught them until they could understand better. When the Pharisees accused his disciples of not washing their hands before eating or eating raw grain on the Sabbath, Jesus defended them as their Lord. Jesus also trained them in storms and through feeding the five thousand. There were many more events that show Jesus’ love for his disciples. However, they did not yet know the full measure of Jesus' love. And they had not learned how to love one another. So Jesus wanted to show them the full extent of his love.

   Jesus' love is God's love. God's love is different from human love. Human love is conditional. God's love does not depend on our condition. While we are still unlovely and unworthy, God loved us by sending his One and Only Son. Human love is unstable and very fragile. But God’s love endures forever. In Psalm 136, the psalmist repeats this phrase 26 times: "His love endures forever."

Psa 136:1-26

(1)  O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.

(2)  O give thanks to the God of gods, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.

(3)  O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever--

(4)  To Him Who alone does great wonders, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(5)  To Him Who by wisdom and understanding made the heavens, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(6)  To Him Who stretched out the earth upon the waters, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(7)  To Him Who made the great lights, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever--

(8)  The sun to rule over the day, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(9)  The moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(10)  To Him Who smote Egypt in their firstborn, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Exodus 12:29]

(11)  And brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Exodus 12:51; 13:3, 17]

(12)  With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(13)  To Him Who divided the Red Sea into parts, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Exodus 14:21, 22]

(14)  And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(15)  But shook off and overthrew Pharaoh and his host into the Red Sea, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(16)  To Him Who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(17)  To Him Who smote great kings, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(18)  And slew famous kings, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever--[Deuteronomy 29:7]

(19)  Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Numbers 21:21-24]

(20)  And Og king of Bashan, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Numbers 21:33-35]

(21)  And gave their land as a heritage, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(22)  Even a heritage to Israel His servant, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever; [Joshua 12:1]

(23)  To Him Who [earnestly] remembered us in our low estate and imprinted us [on His heart], for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(24)  And rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(25)  To Him Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;

(26)  O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

God never gets tired of loving people. Although the Israelites displeased God, he said to them in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, “I have loved you.” Many parents are too tired after work to love their children. Many shepherds feel "burned out" from loving their sheep. But God never burns out. God's love endures forever. Jesus showed his disciples the full extent of his love. Jesus did not just talk about love. Jesus showed them his love. Let's think about what Jesus did.

Jesus humbly served his disciples (Verse 2-5).

Look at verse 2. "The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." This was the Passover, and it was the last meal Jesus would eat with his disciples. The disciples were happy as the plates of hot bread and roasted lamb were served. They were happy to be with Jesus.

However, there was an uninvited guest present. It was the devil. The devil came in with Judas Iscariot. The devil and Judas had formed a relationship through long conversations together. When following Jesus became difficult, the devil stirred his mind to think, “Is there really any benefit for me when I follow Jesus? Is this really the only way?”  Judas let the devil's thoughts dance in his mind. Finally, he was captured by the devil, and ready to do his bidding. Jesus knew his problem. Jesus rebuked him indirectly again and again. But Judas did not respect Jesus' word absolutely. He did not accept Jesus' love. Then he was swallowed by the devil’s desire. We must know that the devil is real. As he did in the Garden of Eden, the devil roams around to capture all those who are relativistic toward Jesus' word.

Revelatism is the belief in changeable standards: the belief that concepts such as right and wrong, goodness and badness, or truth and falsehood are not absolute but change from culture to culture and situation to situation

Some of us live a lifestyle of Revelatism.  Yes you can be offended by this word today.  What does your life look like?  Do you change your convictions with regards to the life you live and the Word that God is speaking to you in order to remain in your zone of comfort.  This is nothing but a life of REVELATISM.

The life of Judas is a good example.

Look at verses 4-5. "...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." Jesus used his power to serve his disciples by washing their feet.

This job was usually given to lowest servant in the house. In order to serve his disciples, Jesus humbled himself to the lowest place. Here we learn Jesus' serving character and divine humbleness. Paul describes Jesus in Philippians 2:6-8 as follows: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

   In light of this passage, we learn that the one thing Jesus really wants us to know is that he loves us. He loves us so much that he humbled himself from the highest place to the very lowest to serve us. We could never ascend to him. But he came to us, humbling himself.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." We must simply accept Jesus' love and humble service.

Third, the spiritual meaning of foot washing (Verse 6-11).

As Jesus went around washing the feet of the disciples, he came to Simon Peter. Peter said, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" It was hard for Peter to accept. Peter had a strong idea of a human power hierarchy. Peter might have thought that he himself should have washed Jesus' feet. Even washing Jesus’ feet was too much for him. Jesus knew it was hard for Peter to accept. So Jesus said, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Jesus wanted Peter to trust him and accept his washing without questioning about it. Peter should have had simply accepted Jesus washing. But Peter did not. He said, "No, you shall never wash my feet" (8a). Peter refused. Peter might have thought he was humble. But he was very proud. He thought his own idea was superior to Jesus' teaching. Hidden in each human being there is such a proud mind. It refuses to submit to Jesus' humble service and reacts with outrage when it is touched by Jesus. Although Jesus comes humbly as a servant, we must overcome our proud mind to accept him as he is.

What is your response to having your feet washed by Jesus?  Many time if Renette or me try to serve you in small things….. You tell me the order is wrong…. I will do it myself.  The only reason we react in this way is because of false pride.

Jesus helped Peter in this battle. In verse 8b, Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Peter was free to refuse Jesus' humble service. But it would be the end of their relationship. We cannot follow Jesus and our own idea at the same time. The only way to begin to follow Jesus is to honor Jesus' word a little more than our own thoughts. Our minds must be captured by Jesus' word.

When Peter realized he had to choose between Jesus' word and his own idea, he changed his mind and said, "Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" In a way, he accepted Jesus' word, but not really. Now he was adding to Jesus' word with an extreme statement that went far beyond what Jesus required. Jesus had to correct him once again.

   Look at verse 10. "Jesus answered, 'A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.'" It was not necessary for Peter to wash his hands and head, that is, to take a bath. Jesus just wanted to wash Peter's feet, no more and no less. To receive Jesus' grace, we must simply accept what Jesus gives. We cannot add anything to it and we cannot omit anything from it. This is the right attitude toward Jesus as Lord.

Jesus wanted Peter to simply accept his word without arguing or talking back or making extreme statements. In Matthew 5:37 Jesus said, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." Because Peter was proud, the devil was toying with him also. We must take Jesus at his word.

Jesus washing our feet symbolizes the work of sanctification. For example, Father Abraham had a habit of telling a white lie when his life was in danger. It was because of his fear. God bore with him more than 20 years. Finally, God exposed his problem in Gerar. Abraham might have felt shameful to have his inner fear exposed. But in this way, God healed him. God honored him as a spiritual leader before the king (Gen 20:17). His wife, Sarah, had a problem with hidden unbelief in her heart. When the Lord visited her and promised she would have a son, she laughed. God caught her in the laugh, then said, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Gen 18:14) God's word touched her unbelief and she was healed. When the Lord wants to wash us, we must extend our dirty feet to him. Then he will cleanse and heal us.

   However, there was one among the disciples who was not clean. He was Judas Iscariot. He was not clean because he had not accepted Jesus' word. In spite of Judas' devilish intention, Jesus never stopped loving him. Jesus knew his evil inner man fully, but Jesus still washed his feet. Jesus still offered to serve him and to cleanse him. Jesus loved even Judas to the end.

Fourth, wash one another's feet (Verse 12-17).

   When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. As he had promised Peter, he explained the meaning of his action so they could understand.

Look at verses 14-15. "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."

The disciples must have felt very uncomfortable for Jesus to wash their feet. Still, they had to let Jesus wash their feet without understanding. Jesus set his example of washing their feet to reveal the full extent of his love. Peter didn’t understand Jesus’ love at that time. Later he realized Jesus’ love and said “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Pe 4:8).”

We need to look at this act in the frame of reference of the life and culture of that time.  The washing of feet was a task allocated to the lowliest servant of the Household.  Remember they walked on dirt roads, in the veld and amongst the sheep and goats and other animals.  They must have stepped into a lot of gory stuff.

Yet Jesus knelt and washed their feet.  In the terms of today it would mean getting involved in things like washing the dishes, mowing the lawn, serving towards the most menial task, such as cleaning the toilets, shrubbing the floors and showers, etc.  Jesus was not asked he volunteered because of HIS LOVE. 

Many times we serve in this Household and even in our own homes because it is the right thing to do.  Today God is placing a challenge before us. 

WE NEED TO LOVE AS JESUS LOVED.

A multitude of sins may look like dirty fungus on feet. Other’s dirty feet may badly offend us. We don’t want to touch them, not to mention washing them. Still we have to wash other’s feet. It implies that we should forgive others first and pray for them according to what Jesus taught us in his prayer. Not only that, we should positively love them with Jesus’ humble love shown in this passage. In us, we don’t have the strength to humble ourselves and love others like Jesus. But when we are willing to obey Jesus’ example, he will certainly help us with his unfailing and humble love.

 

Rom 12:13-15

(13)  Contribute to the needs of God's people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.

(14)  Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.

(15)  Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief].

 

Rom 12:16-19

(16)  Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. [Proverbs 3:7]

(17)  Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. [Proverbs 20:22]

(18)  If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

(19)  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. [Deuteronomy 32:35]

 

Let us then as a Household make this commitment for 2009 that we will love as Jesus loved.  The Kingdom of God is all about love.

 

Isa 61:1-8

(1)  The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Romans 10:15]

(2)  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, [Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 4:18, 19; 7:22]

(3)  To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

(4)  And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

(5)  Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

(6)  But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours. [Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6]

(7)  Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

(8)  For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong with violence or a burnt offering. And I will faithfully give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with them.

 

That is God’s WORD to us.

 

ARE YOU WILLING TO BECOME A SACRIFICE OF LOVE IN THIS YEAR?