Activate
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 19th July 2015
Passage: John 13:1-38
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Good morning, my name is Sam and I'm on the ministry team here at St Paul's.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 Let me also endorse James' plug for his small group.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 He's a good leader and if you've never been in a small group,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 Sunday afternoons would be a good one to be a part of.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:17 But let me pray and then we're going to open up that passage that was read for us
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 and another one in John as well.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Father God, we do thank you for the chance to gather this morning.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 We thank you for the chance to open your word and reflect on what it means to love.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 God, we ask that you would enable us to recognise in ourselves
00:00:34 --> 00:00:39 definitions that we've held to that are not consistent with you,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 maybe practices that we have gotten in the habit of
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 that don't reflect who you are and what you've done.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 I pray that this morning the result of us gathering like this would be
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 that our hearts are transformed, our minds are renewed
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 and we are equipped by your spirit to live lives of love.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:00 Amen.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 It may come as a surprise to you, it may come as a surprise to my wife,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 but once upon a time I was a hopeless romantic.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 As a teenager, there's no need to giggle,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 as a teenager I loved watching romantic movies.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 I loved soppy love stories.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 I would get very emotional in dramas and that sort of thing.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:25 I didn't mind crying when, you know, the pet died or whatever it was.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:32 I just, I had this very fanciful version of what I figured my romantic future would be.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 I was, I would never tell anyone this at the time,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 but as a 16-year-old I would dream about being, you know,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 the male hero in the classic drama, rescuing the damsel in distress.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 It's very strange.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 But that's kind of what I got fed that love was supposed to look like.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 My family was a little bit dysfunctional.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 I've shared with you a bit before.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 I won't go into it too much right now.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 But my parents separated when I was 14.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 And even before that, my dad travelled a lot.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 So I didn't really have a picture of what love might look like in a family.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 What, you know, kind of real love looked like when you had to deal with five kids
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 and some of those kids being unhelpful and disobedient and that sort of stuff.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 So the only picture I had was what I saw in movies like Love Actually.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 And other equally helpful love stories.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 But the reality is that I'm probably not alone in this.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 You might not have a romantic definition of what love is like,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 but trying to work out what love is supposed to be is actually kind of difficult.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 When you listen to the voices around you that are telling you what it's supposed to look like,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 whether it's what you saw modelled in your own mother and father,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 whether it's movies, whether it's books, whether it's media, whether it's whatever,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 it is actually difficult for us to pin down what love should be.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:05 And so imagine the challenge when we as followers of Jesus are called to this extreme countercultural love,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 this love that loves enemies.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 Imagine how much trouble we would have actually figuring out what that looks like.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:19 And so often we find ourselves qualifying the commands to love that we find in Scripture.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 One of the great maxims that you hear around churches is,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 I have to love my enemies, but I don't have to like them.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Now, I'm not going to go into whether that's right or wrong,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 but isn't it interesting that we like to qualify some of the really difficult instructions
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 when it comes to the love that God has called us to?
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 But the good news is we're actually not required to guess what love is like.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:49 We're not actually required to try and come up with our own path for how we might love.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 We've been given a model and his name is Jesus.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 We are called to love like Jesus.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:06 We are called to emulate the love that he models for us, the pattern that he sets out.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:11 And in God's word, we see picture after picture of what that love is in different circumstances,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 in different situations, with different people.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:19 We're dropping into John's gospel today, and John's gospel can kind of be chopped in half.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 The first half is sometimes known as the book of Psalms,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:27 where Jesus is doing lots of things to prove who he is.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 And in this second half, which starts in John 13,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 it's almost like the story slows down.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:39 So the first three years almost in entirety are in the first 12 chapters.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 And then this last bit, everything slows down.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 And there's a sentence in John chapter 13.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 If you've got John 15 open, turn back one page,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:51 because this sentence at the beginning of John 13 is very important.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 Verse 1, it says,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 It was just before the Passover feast.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 So this is the video that we watched with the kids.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:17 We're about to slow down in Jesus' life in the second half of John's gospel.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:22 He's about to really make it clear what his love looks like,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:27 because very shortly he's going to utter the very significant words,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 as I have loved you, so you must love one another.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:40 This back end of John's gospel is focused in on what Jesus' love looks like.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 It is focused in on a very brief period in Jesus' life.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 Even though love has been on display the whole way through,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 what Jesus is focusing on now is the ultimate expression,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 the full extent of his love.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 And so I want to look with you today at two scenes in particular.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 And the first one is chapter 13.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 It's the video that we watched.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:07 The time has come to show his love fully.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:13 A couple of months ago, Bailey, who is my son, he's three and a bit,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 developed some tinea on his toe.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 I think that's disgusting.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 Just telling you.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 But as a dad, I don't get to choose what I do with that.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 I've got to look after him.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 And so we had a nightly routine that involved me putting on a rubber glove
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 to make sure that I didn't touch that disgusting fungus,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 getting some antifungal cream and rubbing it on his toes,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 which he called tickling.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 And so he would be helpful and flick around and put cream everywhere.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 But I found it kind of gross.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 It's not really the kind of job you want,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 but it's one of the jobs that you have to do as a dad.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:51 In John 13, we see Jesus doing a job that probably would make some of us
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 feel kind of similar.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 Maybe a little bit squeamish, a little bit grossed out,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 a little bit uncomfortable.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 I mean, I think that the cartoon on the screen depicted it quite well.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:07 There would have been animal poo on their feet.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 Who knows what else?
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 And so it's not really a job that the disciples were queuing up to do.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:20 You didn't see any of them tripping over themselves to be the most servant-hearted.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:27 And so instead, Jesus gets up and models something for them,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 demonstrates something for them.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:35 And so in the story, you see Jesus on his knees,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 humbly washing their feet.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:43 Their teacher, their leader, the one they're following,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:47 assuming the lowly position and washing their feet.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:52 And listen to what he says as he finishes in verse 12 of chapter 13.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 When he had finished washing their feet,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 You can almost imagine how uncomfortable everyone would have been feeling at this point.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 Maybe enjoying the fact that they had nice clean feet now and they could have dinner,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:10 but their boss, if you like, their hero,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:14 had just done something that they were too proud to do themselves.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 And he comes back and sits in his place.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 And there just would have been this awkwardness hanging in the air of,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 are we about to get in trouble?
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 What does he say?
00:08:24 --> 00:08:29 Do you understand what I've done for you?
00:08:31 --> 00:08:36 You call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 you also should wash one another's feet.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:48 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:52 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
00:08:55 --> 00:09:00 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 Jesus is about to be taken from them.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:09 Jesus is about to give his life up, and yet he models again,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 this is what love looks like if you are a follower of Jesus.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:17 Love is costly and sacrificial and active.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 There's this incredible interaction in this chapter where Peter says,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 no, no, Jesus, you can't wash my feet.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 It almost reminds you of the scene when John is nervous about baptising Jesus.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 But the issue for Peter here is,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:36 he doesn't want Jesus' love for him to cost Jesus.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 He doesn't want Jesus to have to do something disgusting
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 in order to express his love for Peter.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 Why?
00:09:44 --> 00:09:50 Because if that's the kind of love that Jesus shows,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:54 it's also the kind of love that Jesus expects.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 One of the reasons that our culture and our world,
00:09:58 --> 00:10:04 and maybe even us, are so uncomfortable with a crucified saviour,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 a servant-hearted saviour,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 is because if that's who we follow,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 that demands a life of sacrifice,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 a life of service,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 a life of love,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 even for those who are difficult to love.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:29 Love is costly and sacrificial and active.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:33 One of the things I've tried to instil in my son
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 is that he is loved.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 I'll try and remind him a lot,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 maybe even to the point where he's annoyed
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 because he's just learnt how to say,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 I don't love you in return when he's sick of hearing it.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 But one of the things that I've taught him,
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 one of the phrases is I say,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 Bailey, who does Daddy love?
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 He says, Daddy loves Bailey.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 And then I keep saying it,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 and then he just pushes me in the face or something
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 because he's sick of me.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 But one of the challenges is
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 those words are empty
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 and even confusing and misleading
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 if I don't follow through and actually love him.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 When he's tired and a little bit unhelpful
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 and a little bit complaining,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 how do I treat him then?
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 Do I love him?
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 Does Daddy love Bailey in that moment?
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 Or is it just words that I speak
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 when we're having fun in front of the TV
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 or playing with toys?
00:11:23 --> 00:11:27 Real love requires more than words.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:32 To quote a cheesy Christian pop band from the 80s,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 love is a verb.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Love requires doing something.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 One of the challenges for us
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 is that we are inherently lazy people.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 It comes back to that thing of,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 yeah, I have to love my enemy,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 but I don't have to like them.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 Because what we do there
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 is we create love to be this kind of
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 vague sense of well-being
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 that requires no action.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 So I can love them
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 as long as I don't have to talk to them,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 go near them,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 give anything to them,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 let them come anywhere near me,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 because that would be liking.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 We're minimalists.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 We want to do just what is required.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 But that's not the kind of love that Jesus models.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 There is no line that Jesus is not willing to go below
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 in order to love and serve his disciples
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 and in order to love and serve us.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 Jesus models love that is costly,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 sacrificial and active.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 But also, and this is really important
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 because I think we miss this sometimes,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 in this story here,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 Jesus models love for those
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 who don't love him back.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Did you notice in the cartoon
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 and more importantly in the scripture in John 13,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 whose feet does Jesus wash?
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 His disciples.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 All of his disciples.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 Even the feet of Judas,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 who is about to leave and betray him.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 I mean, it's one thing for Jesus
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 to be willing to sit there
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 and wash the grime off the feet
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 of the 11 men who love him
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 and will continue the mission
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 after Jesus is gone.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:24 But how could Jesus kneel there on the floor
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 and wipe filth
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 off the feet of the one
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 who is about to sell him
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 for silver?
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 The answer is in verse 3.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 Says that Jesus knew
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 that the Father had put all things
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 under his power
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 and that he had come from God
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and was returning to God.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 So he got up from the meal,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 took off his outer clothing
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 and wrapped a towel around his waist.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 The thing that enabled him
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 to serve both his friends
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 and his betrayer
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 was a confidence
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 in his heavenly Father,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 was a trust in what God
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 was about to do.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Remember that this is just a snapshot.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 This is a beginning
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 of a section of the gospel
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 that is unapologetically
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 marching towards
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and pointing towards
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 and focusing in on the cross.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 That's what this is about.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 The full extent of his love
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 is not his willingness
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 to wash poo.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 The full extent of his love
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 is the willingness
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 to suffer and die
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 so that we might know
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 forgiveness.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 How does Jesus
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 hang on the cross
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 and look us in the eye
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 and pray for us
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 while we scorn him
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 and mock him?
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 The answer is
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 he trusts God.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 One of the reasons
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 that I find it really difficult
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 to love the people
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 who don't love me
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 is because I think
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 I'm better than them.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 When I was in Bible college
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 I was having a conversation
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 with another guy
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 who was studying
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and I can't remember
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 what the exact context was
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 but I was basically
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 having a go at someone.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 How frustrating they were,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 how annoying they were,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 how just unaware
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 they were
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 of how annoying they were.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 And he turned to me
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 and he said
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 that's really sad
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 that you feel like that.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 It's one of the gentlest
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 but most pointed rebukes
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 I've ever received.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 Because when we look at people
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and ask that question
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 why should I have to love
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 somebody who's like that?
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 Why should I have to love
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 the criminal?
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Why should I have to love
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 the bully?
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 Why should I have to love
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 the person
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 who has hurt me repeatedly?
00:15:43 --> 00:15:48 What we're saying is
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 we've forgotten the gospel.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 We're saying
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 there's something in me
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 that makes me superior
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 or better
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 or more valuable
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 but the gospel message
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 is the opposite.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 The gospel message
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 is that God looks at you
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 and sees you as unworthy
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 and even worthless
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 but he loves you anyway.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:12 The gospel
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 causes us
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 to be able to look
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 at those
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 who are painful
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 difficult
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 and a struggle
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 and say
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 they deserve love
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 just like I did.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 They need love
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 just like I did.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 One other barrier
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 that I wanted to just flag
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 with us
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 when it comes to
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 being loving like Christ
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 is culture.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 I was thinking about this
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 and chatting with some
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 of the team
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 even just this morning
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 about what sort of things
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 become part of our culture
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 that actually become
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 obstacles for us loving
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 in the way that Jesus
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 talks about here.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 I want to give you
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 two examples.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 One I can own for myself
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 and another is an observation
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 from a culture
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 that I'm not a part of.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 Firstly,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 we are an achievement
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 culture.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Sydney,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 Australia especially,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 we are an achievement
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 culture.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 we love winners.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 Think about the way
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 we flip on a sporting
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 team when they start
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 losing.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 We love
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Bernard Tomek
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 when he almost
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 wins a tournament
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and we probably
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 hate him the rest
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 of the time.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 We love the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 Wallabies
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 or the Socceroos
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 or whatever team
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 it is you're supporting.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 You love the Swans
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 until about 12 hours
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 ago.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Sorry,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 that was a cheap shot.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 But we are an
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 achievement culture.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 We love people
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 who are impressive,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 who have skills,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 who have abilities.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 The problem is
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 when that culture
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 becomes part of
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 what we do here.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 Because that's not
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 how Jesus loves.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 And we're called
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 to love like he did.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 If we come to church
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 and only honour
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 and only respect
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 the people
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 who are impressive,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 the people
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 who have done
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 things,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 that's not
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 how Jesus
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 loves.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 And his love,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 the gospel message
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 of what he has
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 done for unworthy
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 people,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 is the love
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 that he calls us
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 to mark
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 this community.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 We must be
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 careful
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 that love
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 for one another
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 is not defined
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 by what we get
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 back or how
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 impressive
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 or how love
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 worthy the other
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 person is,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 but is defined
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 by the love
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 that Jesus
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 has shown,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 by the value
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 that he has
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 placed on every
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 son and daughter
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 that he has
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 died for
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 and forgiven.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 The second
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 one is,
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 second example
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 is that that
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 comes particularly
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 in Chinese
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 or Asian
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 cultures.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 And I think
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 this can be
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 a strength
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and a weakness,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 but in Asian
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 cultures it
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 tends to be
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 in a way
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 that Anglo
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 cultures are
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 weak.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 Chinese cultures
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 respect and
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 revere
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 seniority.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Age is a
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 mark of wisdom
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 and honour,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and so younger
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Chinese people
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 will respect
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and defer
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 to their
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 parents,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 their grandparents,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 their aunties,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 their uncles,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 to older people,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 whereas in Anglo
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 culture,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 you know,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 there's no respect
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 given,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 unfortunately,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 to a fault.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 But the
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 challenge is
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 when that
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 defines our
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 relationships
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 here as
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 well.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 When,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 because you
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 are older
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 than me,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 you know
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 better.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 Now,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 you might,
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 but age
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 is not the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 point.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 The thing
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 that defines
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 us as a
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 community is
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 that we are
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 all unworthy
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 and powerless
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 apart from
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 Jesus.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 The thing
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 that blocks
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 love in
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 this community
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 is holding
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 on to things
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 that are part
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 of the way
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 the world
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 works at
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 the expense
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 of what
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 the gospel
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 has done.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 The gospel
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 has drawn
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 people who
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 have no
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 right to
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 be in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 close
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 relationship
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 together
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 by the
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 same grace
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 of Jesus
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 Christ.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 Culture
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 does not
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 define what
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 it looks
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 like to
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 love.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 The gospel
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 says that
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 a 90-year-old
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Chinese man
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 can choose
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 to serve
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 a five-year-old
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 Chinese child.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 The gospel
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 says that
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 the person
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 who is
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 skillful enough
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 to lead
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 every ministry
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 we do
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 can choose
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 to serve
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 the person
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 who has
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 just arrived
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 and has
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 absolutely
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 nothing
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 tangible
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 to offer.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 The love
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 that we are
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 called to
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 replicate
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 is the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 love of
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Jesus.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 love
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 that's
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 costly,
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 sacrificial,
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 active,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 and even
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 for or
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 especially
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 for those
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 who don't
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 give it
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 back.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 At the
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 end of
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 chapter 13
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 Jesus
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 words like
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 this in
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 verse 34
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 he says
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 a new
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 command I
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 give you
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 love one
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 another as
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 I have
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 loved you
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 so you
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 must love
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 one another.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 The bit
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 that's new
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 as I
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 have loved
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 you.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 There's
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 always been
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 the command
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 for the
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 people of
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 God to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 care for
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 one another
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 to look
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 after one
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 another but
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 now we're
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 getting clearer
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 definition as
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 I have loved
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 you.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 Not just in
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 this foot
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 washing although
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 that's part of
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 it but we
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 are marching
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 towards the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 cross now
00:21:31 --> 00:21:34 sacrificially,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 costly,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 actively,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 even for our
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 enemies.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 and verse
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 35 by
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 this all
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 men will
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 know that
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 you are my
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 disciples if
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 you love
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 one another.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 The gospel
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 message that
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 we want to
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 take to the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 world, the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 message that
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 there is
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 hope and
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 forgiveness
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 on offer
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 for even
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 the darkest
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 heart is
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 made clearer,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 is even
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 proclaimed by
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 our love
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 that is like
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Jesus, our
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 love for one
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 another and
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 our service
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 of one
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 another.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 We are
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 called to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 love like
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Jesus but
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 the great
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 news is that
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 we're called
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 to love like
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 Jesus because
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 we've been
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 loved by
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 Jesus.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 As I have
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 loved you.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 See it's not
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 just a model
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 that Jesus
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 gives us,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 it's actually
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 the means for
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 our love.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 It's the thing
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 that empowers
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 our love.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 It's the thing
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 that enables
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 our love.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 The model that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 we are given
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 in Christ is
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 also the thing
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 that achieves
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 love in
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 his community.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 When I was
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 just starting
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 out in
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 ministry I
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 had a boss
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 who would
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 often ask
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 me the
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 question,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 what is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 your sanctified
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 daydream?
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Which was
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 his way of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 asking,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 what do you
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 think God
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 wants you to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 do in
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 ministry?
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 And I was
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 young and I
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 was enthusiastic
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and I would
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 unashamedly
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 respond every
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 time with,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 I see myself
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 preaching to
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 thousands of
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 people.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 Now I
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 honestly believe
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 I did that
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 out of a
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 somewhat pure
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 heart.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 I'm a sinner
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 like you so
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 part of it was
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 probably just the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 desire to be on
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 stage in front of
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 thousands of
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 people but deep
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 down I really
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 just want as
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 many people as
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 possible to hear
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 about the love
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 of Jesus.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 That's what I
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 would dream about,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 that's what I
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 would always look
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 forward to.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:30 But one of the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 things that I've
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 had to learn
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 through my
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Christian life
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 is that having
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 a big vision
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 like that,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 and it's a
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 good vision,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 our church has
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 a big vision
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 as well,
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 is that it
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 will never be
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 achieved by me
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 trying really
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 hard.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 It will never
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 be achieved by
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 a certain skill
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 set or a
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 certain individual.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 This is where
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 this stuff gets
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 really practical.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 If we're going
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 to love like
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 Jesus in a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 way that draws
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 people in, in a
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 way that preaches
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 the gospel, in a
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 way that sees
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 lives transformed
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 by the hope and
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 forgiveness that
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 is on offer,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 loving like
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 Jesus is
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 possible because
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 we've been loved
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 by Jesus.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 And then now
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 in John 15,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 flip back there
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 if you went to
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 John 13,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 John 15,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 verse 4,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:30 remain in me
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and I will
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 remain in you.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 No branch can
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 bear fruit by
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 itself, it must
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 remain in the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 vine, neither can
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 you bear fruit
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 unless you remain
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 in me.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 I am the vine,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 you are the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 branches.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 If a man remains
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 in me and I in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 him, he will
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 bear much fruit.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 Apart from me,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 you can do
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 nothing.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 love like Jesus,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 love by Jesus,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 love in Jesus.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Our hearts desire
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 as a church, and
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 I'm sure for many
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 of you, the thing
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 that drives you is
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 fruit.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 You want more to
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 know Jesus.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 It's like we talked
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 about last week.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 You have a heart
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 that is desperate
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 for lost people to
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 know the joy that
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 you know, to know
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 the incredible,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 unconditional love
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 of a heavenly
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 father, to know
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 the hope of
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 heaven.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 It is a big
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 vision.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 That's the fruit
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 talked about here.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 Lives
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 transformed.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 It's the fruit of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 our own lives
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 lived out in
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 love, and it's
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 important for us
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 to dream.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 It's important for
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 us to have that
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 heart to do big
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 things for God.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 In fact, it's
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 even almost required
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 in chapter 15.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:46 But what's the
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 command in this
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 chapter?
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 It's a chapter
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 about vines and
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 branches and fruit
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 and love and all
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 this stuff.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 What's the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 command?
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 It's not to
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 bear fruit.
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 The command in
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 John 15 is that
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 first word in
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 verse 4.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Remain.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 That's the
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 instruction.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Now, we get
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 evidence of what
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 that remaining
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 will look like.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 In verse 7, it
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 says, if you
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 remain in me and
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 my words remain in
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 you, we need to be
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 Bible-saturated
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 people.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 That's what it
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 means to live in
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 the love of God.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 Not so that we'll
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 have knowledge, but
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 when we sit in
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 God's word, we
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 hear his voice, we
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 get encouragement, we
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 get assurance, we
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 get reminded that
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 his love is
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 unconditional, that
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 his love is
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 powerful, that his
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 love is effective.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 Again, in verse 7,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 if you remain in me
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 and my words remain
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 in you, ask
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 whatever you wish
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 and it will be
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 given to you.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Jump down to
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 verse 16.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 You did not
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 choose me, but I
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 chose you and
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 appointed you to
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 go and bear fruit,
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 fruit that will
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 last.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 Then the Father
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 will give you
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 whatever you ask
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 in my name.
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 Prayer.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 Absolutely call
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 is prayer.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 Remaining in the
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 love of Jesus is
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 about depending on
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 him for everything.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 That's what God's
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 love does, is it
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 takes weak and
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 powerless, unimpressive
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 people and adopts
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 them as dearly loved
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 sons and daughters
00:27:25 --> 00:27:28 and empowers them to
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 do incredible things
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 for God's glory and
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 God's purpose.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Prayer is the
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 evidence that we
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 understand it's only
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 by him, only by
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 his love.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 As a preacher, I
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 often get nervous
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 when I get to the
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 end of a sermon
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 preparation and the
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 application that I'm
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 walking towards is
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 read the Bible and
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 pray because, you
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 know, someone's going
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 to tell me afterwards,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 we know.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 We've heard that
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 before.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 That can't be the
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 only point.
00:27:55 --> 00:28:00 But what if it's so
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 key that we just
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 need to hear it
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 again?
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 Just one more
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 time.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 Remaining in God's
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 love means hearing
00:28:10 --> 00:28:13 his voice, means
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 being actively
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 dependent on him
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 in everything and
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 for everything.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 I mean, we're told
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 there in no
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 uncertain words in
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 verse 5, apart from
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 him, you can do
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 nothing.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 You need him to
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 wake in the
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 morning.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 You need his
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 strength to achieve
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 anything, let alone
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 this Christ-like love
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 that he's called us
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 to, this love for
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 enemies, this service
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 of one another, even
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 when we annoy each
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 other.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 Remaining in
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 Christ is about
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 having his power at
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 work in us.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 That's what the
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 whole vine image is.
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 The life that
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 comes from the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 vine flowing
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 through the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 branches to
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 produce the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 fruit.
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 We're just a
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 conduit of his
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 power and his
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 love and his
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 hope.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 But the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 incredible thing
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 is, is he
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 pours out good
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 things to us
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 along the way.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 Verse 11, I've
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 told you this so
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 that my joy may be
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 in you and that
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 your joy may be
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 complete.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 Loving each other
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 can be a joy,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 even when it's
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 sacrificial and
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 costly.
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 Verse 15, I
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 no longer call
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 you servants
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 because a
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 servant does not
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 know his
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 master's business.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Instead, I've
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 called you
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 friends for
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 everything that I
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 learned from my
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 father I've made
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 known to you.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 We're not the
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 hired helpers.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 We're partners.
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 We're co-heirs
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 with Christ.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 We are friends on
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 his mission.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 Remain.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 That's the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 command.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 That's the
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 instruction.
00:29:48 --> 00:29:51 verse 12 in
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 chapter 15
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 echoes chapter
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 13.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 It says, my
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 command is
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 this, love
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 each other as
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 I have loved
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 you.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 Verse 17
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 finishes, this
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 is my command,
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 love each
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 other.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 But this
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 passage is about
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 remaining.
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 It's about
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 vines and
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 fruit.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 So why add
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 those two
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 commands to
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 love?
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 love?
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 If the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 instruction is
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 that we must
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 remain in
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 Christ, why
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 do we end up
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 there with the
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 command to
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 love again?
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Well, because
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 it's the key.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 Loving like
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 Jesus is made
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 possible because
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 we have been
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 loved by
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 Jesus.
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 And it's
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 empowered when
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 we remain in
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 Jesus.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 The key in
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 this passage in
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 John 15, and
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 this is how we
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 need to
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 understand John
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 13, this is
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 how we need to
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 understand the
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 gospel, this is
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 how we need to
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 understand every
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 aspect of being a
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 Christian and
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 following Jesus.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 The key is not
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 our love.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 It's his love
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 for us.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 As he loved,
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 so we must
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 love.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 And his love is
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 not just a fuzzy
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 feeling.
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 It's not just,
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 oh, isn't it
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 nice that God
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 thinks I'm
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 special.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12 God's love is
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 effective.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 God's love is
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 doing something.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 It's achieving an
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 outcome.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 It's working.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 God's love is a
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 love that he has
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 put in you that
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 is transforming
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 your heart.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 It's enabling
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 you to see that
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 annoying person as
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 someone that God
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 loves and someone
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 who you can love
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 too.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 It's enabling you
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 to bear fruit, to
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 speak the gospel in
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 such a way that
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 people might come
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 to know the love
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 and forgiveness
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 of Christ that
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 they don't
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 deserve but that
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 they desperately
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 want.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 The key is not
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 our love, it's
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 God's love and
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 that's why
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 remaining is the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 command.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 That's why
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 remaining is the
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 instruction because
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 growing is the
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 key to serving.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 Being in Christ
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 and knowing his
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 love for you,
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 apart from
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 anything you
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 would ever do,
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 is the key to
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 being released to
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 serve joyfully.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 and without
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 burden and
00:32:11 --> 00:32:13 lovingly, even
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 when it costs,
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 remain, dwell,
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 soak, live in
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 Jesus.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 In his forgiveness,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 in his love,
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 in his purpose,
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 in his hope,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:33 hope, so that we
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 can bear fruit,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 so that we can
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 love like he
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 did, so that we
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 can serve, so
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 that we can
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 transform the
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 world with his
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 hope.
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 Let me leave you
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 with these last
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 two verses.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 Jesus says,
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 you did not
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 choose me,
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 but I chose
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56 you, and I
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 appointed you
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 to go and
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 bear fruit,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 fruit that
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 will last,
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 then the
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 Father will
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 give you
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 whatever you
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 ask in my
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 name.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 This is my
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 command,
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 love each
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 other.
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 Let's pray.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:22 Father God,
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 please help
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 us this
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 morning, and
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 not just this
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 morning, but
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 every day, to
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 feel the weight
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 of your love.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 Help us to
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 remember again
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 the power of
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 your love to
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 reach out to a
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 lost person like
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 us, the
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 sufficiency of
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 your love to
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 wash us clean
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 by the blood of
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 Jesus.
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 The completeness
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 of your love
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 that is working
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 in us to
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 prepare us for
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 heaven, for
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 eternity with
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 you.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 And in the
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 security of
00:33:51 --> 00:33:53 your love, may
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 we be
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 energized and
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 empowered to
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 show that same
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 love to our
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 brothers and
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 sisters, and
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 to the world
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 around us, and
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 to our enemies.
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 May we
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 proclaim the
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 gospel through
00:34:05 --> 00:34:07 active, costly,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 sacrificial love.
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 love, enable
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 us to trust
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 you and to
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 be so confident
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 in your
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 goodness that
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 we can
00:34:15 --> 00:34:17 gladly bear
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 the cost
00:34:17 --> 00:34:19 ourselves so
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 that we might
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 show love to
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 those in need.
00:34:21 --> 00:34:24 father, may we
00:34:24 --> 00:34:26 remain in you.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 May we soak in
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 your word, listen
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 to your promises,
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 hear your voice,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 cry out to you in
00:34:32 --> 00:34:35 prayer, in such a
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 way that your
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 power and your
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 love and your
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 hope flows through
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 us and produces
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 fruit.
00:34:40 --> 00:34:43 father, we have a
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 big vision as a
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 church.
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 We don't just
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 want to be a
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 group of people
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 who meets
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 together.
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 We want to be
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 your tool for
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 your purposes.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 We want to be
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 used to see the
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 world transformed,
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 to see people
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 drawn into your
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 kingdom from
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 darkness to
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 light, from
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 death to
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 life.
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 So please,
00:35:04 --> 00:35:07 God, work in
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 us, change
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 us, equip us,
00:35:10 --> 00:35:13 empower us to
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 love like Jesus
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 did.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 Amen.