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JOHN 13:1-12. William Borden was the heir of the Borden Dairy Estate. He was millionaire when he graduated from High School. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Became burdened for all the hurting people of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
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William Borden was the heir of the Borden Dairy Estate. • He was millionaire when he graduated from High School. • His parents gave him a trip around the world. • Became burdened for all the hurting people of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Made a decision to enter the mission field. • Wrote in his Bible – “No Reserve”. • Went study at Yale University. • Started a prayer group with his friend. • By the time he graduated, out of 1,300 students, 1,000 were in prayer groups.
Was offered a high paying job but pursued the call of God on his life. • Wrote two new words in his Bible – “No Retreat”. • Sailed to China to work with the Muslims. • Stopped in Egypt to study Arabic. • Contacted spinal meningitis. • Died within a month at the age of 25.
Friends found his Bible. • Found two more words added. • “No Regrets.” • Would you not want to end your life with “No Regrets”? • Jesus’ give us an example of how to do that. • The keys to a fruitful and fulfilling life.
# 1. Foot washing was a common practice. • They wore sandals so feet became dirty. • Common practice in every Jewish home to have basin and towel at the door to clean the feet.
# 2. Foot washing was considered to be a menial task. • The host will never do this job. • Neither would a Jewish slave. • It was a task for Gentile slaves. • This explains why the disciples did not wash the feet of others. • They were too busy arguing who was the greatest.
We spend most our energy doing things to define our identity. • Our identity is not found in what we do but in whom you are by the grace of God. • Eph. 1:4-5 – “Chosen, His sons.” • Eph. 2:7-10 – “Saved, God’s workmanship.”
If we want to serve Jesus, than we need to have a revelation of who we are in God. • I am what I am by the grace of God. • Out of who I am in God, I serve Him. • Jesus did the most humbling task in that culture. • He bows before His disciples and washes their feet.
Jesus was not insecure about His identity. • He knew something about Himself which others could not see. • John notes this in v.3. a. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power. > Here in the upper room was the power centre of both heaven and earth.
Jesus was not the helpless victim of a plot but a willing, voluntary Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. – John 10:18 • Jesus knew His authority in God.
b. Jesus knew His commission. • Jesus was not acting on His own initiative. • He was sent by the Father with a specific mission to accomplish. • Do you know why you are here? • Do you have a sense of mission in your life? • God has a mission for every person in this church.
There can be no greater satisfaction than discovering that mission and pursuing it with all your heart. • Being sent implies backing. • We are backed by God Himself.
c. Jesus knew where He was going. • Sometimes we get so caught up with daily activities that we forget who we are and where we are going. • Soon we are going to see the King. • Does this truth grip my heart?
In Rev. 4:6,10 we will stand before the Lord and throw our crowns. • Are you doing something that makes an eternal difference? • Remember Paul’s advice: • 1 Cor.15:58- “Your labor is not in vain.”
In v.1, Jesus knew that the time for Him to lay down his life was very near. • He wanted to show His disciples something amazing about love. • Love will cause a person to sacrifice personal comfort and gain for the well being of others.
Love motivated Jesus to pay the ultimate price for our redemption. • Love will win the lost sinner. • Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot love other people – Rom.5:5 • God sees something in people that is so precious to Him. • 1John 3:16 – “You are why I paid the price.”
Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. (Heb. 12:1-3) • What is that joy? • You and me.
We need to change our attitudes and our way of thinking in regards to serving God. • We need to have the mind and heart of Christ if want to have a fruitful and fulfilling life.