00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Have you been on a road trip or driven interstate heading out from Sydney?
00:00:06 --> 00:00:13 One of the things I look forward to when I go on a road trip is the big things I get to visit.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:21 If I'm heading up to Queensland, there is the big bananas at Coffs Harbour.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:27 If I'm heading down south to Canberra or Melbourne, there's a big merino in Melbourne.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:34 Hitting those landmarks means I'm around halfway to where I'm planning to go to.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:41 Today, I feel like hitting one of those big things in the life of disciples.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:48 We have only a few more weeks before we finish the launch of our Finish 25 Vision Series.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:56 We reiterate what Steve, our senior minister, said this morning and also at the beginning of the launch of our Vision Series.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:05 This is, follow 25 is like a roadmap for what we want to get to by 2025,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 our journey into a new stage of life and mission together.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:17 The journey for us, collectively, as a church, and for us as individuals,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:25 to get to a point where we can identify much growth as disciples of Christ, a Christian.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:34 Through our connection in this church as we follow our crucified, resurrected, and exalted Lord Jesus.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:44 If you identify yourself as a Christian, a follower of Christ, you are on this journey already.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 It's time to leave the big banana or the big merino and keep going with the journey.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:56 If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, we would love you to join us
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 to find out what it means for you to be on this adventure.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:08 If you have been following our preaching series, we have learned that God has given us his word,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:17 which is the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the church to assist us in our journey of living our whole-of-life discipleship,
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 living a life following Jesus.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:27 We have also looked at how to follow Jesus in our holiness and finance over the last two weeks.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:33 If you have missed any of these preachings, you can find them in our website,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 st.paul's.org.au, or our St. Paul's app.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 And you will find today's outline in our app as well.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:50 I will look at the big landmark and ultimate goal of Disciples Review today and next week.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:58 They are signposted by the final words of Jesus in the John's and Matthew's Gospel, respectively.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 Starting from chapter 13 to chapter 19 of John's Gospel,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 it recorded the final words of Jesus' life before he was crucified.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 And then the final two chapters show us Jesus' resurrection and exaltation.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:21 At the beginning of John 13, John says,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 it was just before the Passover festival.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:30 Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:36 Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 And as done in verse 33, it keeps saying,
00:03:42 --> 00:04:09 Jesus says,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:29 God is most commonly labeled as love,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:34 and we should not be surprised that love is the hallmark of those who follow him.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:44 However, are you surprised that Jesus has made love one another as a new command that we must obey today?
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 If it is love,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 if we are under obligation or a command to do so.
00:04:54 --> 00:05:02 I have four questions I want to answer today from our passage from John 13.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 What does Jesus mean by love?
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 What is new about this command?
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 How are we to respond to this command?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 And what difference are you going to make?
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 We need to ask the question,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 what does Jesus mean by love in our current day and age?
00:05:21 --> 00:05:26 Because we live in an age that focuses on individualistic value.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 Love can mean many different things,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 and if we are not careful,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 we may be importing a definition from elsewhere
00:05:35 --> 00:05:39 that is not the Christian love that Jesus is talking about.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 As you read through John's Gospel and the whole Bible,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 you will become clear of what Jesus means by love
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 and how he expressed his love for his own.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:55 That is why we encourage everyone to spend time with God
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 as part of their daily and weekly life,
00:05:58 --> 00:06:03 to aim for four or more quality devotional time a week with God.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:09 One important thing for us to take notice from today's passage is
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 the very fact that love is commanded
00:06:12 --> 00:06:16 means to focus us on loving action
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 rather than on feeling of love.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 When Jesus commands his disciples to love,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 we are not being commanded primarily to feel something,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 but to do something,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 to show love by loving action.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 We see from early parts of chapter 13,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 when Jesus saw love,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 he does so by washing the disciples' feet.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 His action may not mean much to you
00:06:46 --> 00:06:50 if you do not see it in the eyes of those living in the first century,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 living around Jesus.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 They wore sandals, no shoes or socks.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:03 They walked on unsealed dirt road without curbs and gutter
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 to drain away all the runoff.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 They shared a road with animals
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 and whatever they left behind as they go.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:16 Can you imagine what the disciples' feet looked like
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 after a day of walking?
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Food washing at the time of Jesus
00:07:22 --> 00:07:27 was a task generally reserved for the lowest of the manual servant.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 Some Jews even insist that Jewish slaves
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 should not be required to wash others' feet.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:41 The job was reserved for foreign workers or women or kids.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:46 No Jewish man would wash the feet of another man.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 But Jesus,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 bent right down,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 kneeled before his disciples,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 washed their feet,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 including the feet of the one that could betray him.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 And he cleaned it,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 dried them up with a towel wrapped around him.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 foot washing is an act of humble,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 self-sacrifice, sacrificial service
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 that points to the cross
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 where Jesus ultimately
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 showed his disciples how he loved them to the end.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 In both of these examples,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 foot washing and the cross,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 Jesus does something.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 He acts.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:35 When he commands his followers to love one another,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 it is a command to act,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 to show love by loving action,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 not focus on the feeling of love,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 but focusing on what action
00:08:47 --> 00:08:51 to demonstrate Christian love to one another.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 Jesus said,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 love one another is a new command
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 that he gave them from that point.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 But what is new about this command?
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 What is highlighted
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 in what Jesus said,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 follow the sentence,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 it highlights the newness of this command.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 If we go back to verse 34,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 Jesus said,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 a new command I give you,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 love one another
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 as I have loved you,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 so you must love one another.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 The faith,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 as I have loved you,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 set a new standard
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 how we should love one another.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 The measure of love for one another
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 is no longer like the song by Hathaway in 1993.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 What is love?
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 Baby, don't hurt me.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 Baby, don't hurt me no more.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 The measure of love is no longer defined
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 by reframing from hurting each other.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 It's no longer measured
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 by loving others
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 as you would love yourself.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 The new standard of love
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 is demonstrated by Jesus
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 washing the disciples' feet
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 and laying down his life
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 for us sinners on the cross.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:12 The one who is in very nature,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 God,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 made himself nothing
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 by taking the very nature
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 of a servant.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 He humbled himself
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 by becoming obedient to death,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 even death on the cross.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 The standard of love set by Jesus
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 is extraordinary and unique.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 How Jesus fulfilled the command to love
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 is unprecedented.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 One scholar says,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 No one has ever loved as he loved.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 He gave himself to death
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 not for the righteous or the good,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 but for the sinful,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 for the disobedient.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 He gave himself up to death
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 for his friends,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 not for his friends,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 but for those who love him,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 but for those who denied
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 and forsook him,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 for his enemies,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 for those who hated him.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 Apostle Paul,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 in his letter to the Romans,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 also illustrated the rarity
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 and uniqueness of Jesus' action
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 in chapter 5, verse 6 to 8.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 You see,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 at just the right time,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 when we were still powerless,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 Christ died for the ungodly.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 Very rarely will anyone die
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 for a righteous person.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 Though for a good person,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 someone might possibly dare to die,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:41 but God demonstrated his own love for us in this.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 While we were still sinners,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Christ died for us.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:51 Jesus repeated the love command
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 in chapter 15 of John's gospel
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 in verse 12 to 14.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 Jesus said,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 My command is this,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 love each other as I have loved you.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 Greater love is no one than this,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 to lay down one's life for one's friends.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 You are my friends
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 if you do what I command.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:17 He is ready to lay down his life for his friends,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 knowing full well that within a short time,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 they will desert him and deny him.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 What is new about the command
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 is a new standard
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 that Jesus has set for us
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 and for his followers.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 The standard is so high.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 So how are we to respond
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 and fulfill this command?
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 Bible scholar Don Carson says,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 This new command is simple enough
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 for a toddler to memorize
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 and appreciate,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 profound enough
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 that the most mature believers
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 are repeatedly embarrassed
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 at how poorly they comprehend it
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 and put it into practice.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 At this moment,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 thinking about what Jesus has done
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 to wash the disciples' feet
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 and die for us on the cross,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 some of you may feel embarrassed.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 Maybe you're still enjoying
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 too much fun
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 at the Big Banana
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 or the Big Marino
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 and have not got back
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 in your car
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 to keep on with the journey.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 Maybe it's a sense of guilt,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 worrying about what others
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 will think of you
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 if they find out
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 how immature you are
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 or how your spiritual life
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 is going.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 You are not alone.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 In the whole Bible,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 the person that knows
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 what it means
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 to embarrass himself
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 in front of Jesus
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 will be Peter.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 After hearing Jesus' command
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 to love one another
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 as he has loved them,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 this is Peter's reply
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 in verse 36 of chapter 13.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 Simon Peter asked him,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Lord, where are you going?
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Jesus replied,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 where I am going
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 you cannot follow now,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 but you will follow later.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Peter asked,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 Lord, why can't I follow you now?
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 I will lay down my life for you.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 Then Jesus answered,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 will you really lay down
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 your life for me?
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Very truly I tell you,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 before the rooster crows,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 you will disown me three times.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:33 Peter self-confidently
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 proclaimed that
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 he will lay down
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 his life for Jesus,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 was met with Jesus
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 repeating his word
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 as a question,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 will you really lay down
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 your life for me?
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 After all,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 who is laying down
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 his life for whom?
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 Peter's response
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 highlights one of the common
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 human nature
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and weaknesses,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 especially when it comes
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 to love.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 We often quit to speak
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 and make promises
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 but fail to deliver.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 And there's another
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 deeper issue
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 illustrated by his response,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 but translated differently
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 in modern day Christian,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 the issue of pride
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and independence.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:27 instead of responding
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 with a determination
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 in the affirmative,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 we often respond
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 to God's command
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in the negative.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 When we are asked
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 to consider
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 to be a leader
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 or disciple
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 to help others
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 to love and serve God,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 we are very quick
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 to say no,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 very quick
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 to come up
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 with reasons
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 why we are not suitable
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to fulfill
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 God's command.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:52 Jesus said
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 in chapter 14
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 of John
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 verse 15 to 17,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 if you love me,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 keep my commands
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 and I will ask
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 the Father
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 and he will give you
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 another advocate
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to help you
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 and be with you
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 forever,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 the spirit of truth.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 And then in chapter 15
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 when he repeated
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 this command,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 he says again,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 you did not
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 choose me
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 but I chose you
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and appointed you
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 so that you might
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 go and bear fruit,
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 fruit that will last
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and so that
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 whatever you ask
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 in my name,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 the Father
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 will give you.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 We are to respond
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 to Jesus' command
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 by the empowerment
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 of God,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 the Holy Spirit,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 the advocate
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that sent to us
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 at the request
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 of Jesus
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 to be our helper.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 If you intend
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 to be fruitful
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 in living for God,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 whatever you ask
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 in Jesus' name,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 the Father
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 will give you.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 What is impossible
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 with man
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 is possible
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 with God.
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 Our relationship
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 with God
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 has a direct
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 correlation
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 to how well
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 we follow
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 and fulfill
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 God's commands
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 and that is one
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 reason why
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 we have set
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 our objective
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 to identify
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 much growth
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 in our relationship
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and knowledge
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 of God.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 the high standard
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 set by God
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 is meant
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 to drive us
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 in a closer
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 relationship
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 with him.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 Independent
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 from God,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 it will be
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 impossible
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to fulfill
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 God's command
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to love one another
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 as Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 has loved us.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 Away from God,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 we can do
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 nothing.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 But on the contrary,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 as disciples
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 remain in Jesus,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 keeping close
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 to him,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 praying for help
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and strength,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 we experience
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 the power
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 of the
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 indwelling spirit.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 Because of this
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 and only
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 because of this
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 we can love.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 With the spirit's
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 help,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 we have the power
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 to change
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 and know
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 what it means
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to love
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 the Jesus way.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 Jesus commands
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 his followers
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 to love one another
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 as he has loved us.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 And love
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 is a big thing
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in Christianity.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 It's by our love
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 for one another
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 that everyone
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 will know
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 that we are
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Jesus' disciples.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 We are primarily
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 talking about
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 the interaction
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 between Christian
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 brothers and
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 sisters here.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 John's gospel
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 reports Jesus
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 giving his love
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 command in the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 final week
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 before his
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 crucifixion,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 resurrection,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 and exaltation.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 We saw how
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Peter
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 respond to
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 Jesus'
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 prediction
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of his imminent
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 departure.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 The other
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 three gospels,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 Matthew 20,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 Mark 10,
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 and Luke 22,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 reported how
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the other
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 disciples
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 responded
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 to Jesus'
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 departure
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and what
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 Jesus said
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 to them.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 All
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 these three
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 gospels
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 reported
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 that
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 instead
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 of loving
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 and serving
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 one another,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 the disciples
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 argued
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and fought
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 for the top
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 position
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 and disputed
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 about
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 who is
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 the greatest
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 among them.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 And Jesus
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 replied to
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 the argument
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 in Mark 10,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 verse 42,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 you know
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 those who
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 are regarded
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 as rulers
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 of the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 Gentiles
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 lord it
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 over them
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 and their
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 high officials
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 exercise
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 authority
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 over them,
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 not so
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 with you.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Instead,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 whoever wants
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 to become
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 great among
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 you must
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 be your
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 servant
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and whoever
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 wants to
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 be first
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 must be
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 slave of
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 all.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 For even
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 the Son
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 of Man
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 did not
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 come to
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 be served
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 but to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 serve
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and to
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 give his
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 life
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 as a
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 ransom
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 for many.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 I've been
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 talking about
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Jesus'
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 commands to
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 love one
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 another.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Why do I
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 concur
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 by addressing
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 the issue
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 of exercising
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 authority
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 and lording
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 over others?
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 I'm putting
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 myself on
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 notice
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 because our
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 attitude
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 and handling
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 of authority
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 are strong
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 determinants
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of whether
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 love is
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 lived out
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 in Jesus'
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 way.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 and whether
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 we will
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 get to
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 our
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 destination
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 of
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 intentionally
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 discipling
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 each other
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 to treasure
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 Jesus in
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 all of
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 life.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 At
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 church,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 at home,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 and while
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 I had my
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 own office
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 before,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 I would
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 become
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 aggressive
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 in my
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 language or
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 tone
00:20:48 --> 00:20:52 to control
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 others or
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 manipulate
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 them to
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 agree with
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 my points
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 or do
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 things my
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 way.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 or project
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 my
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 disappointment
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 or even
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 sometimes
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 say it
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 out loud
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 to them.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 My
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 sense of
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 entitlement
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 and use
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 of authority
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 come out
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 at the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 worst when
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 I need
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 things to
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 be done.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 I want
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 to be
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 served
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 and I
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 want things
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 to be
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 done.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 I
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 completely
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 ignore the
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 fact that
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 Jesus gave
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 his life
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 to ransom
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 me and
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 those I
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 am speaking
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 to.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 And he
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 is in
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 control of
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 our life,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 not me.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:32 And that's
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 why I
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 need to
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 bring us
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 back to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 that point.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 As we
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 love
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 others,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 we need
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 to be
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 careful in
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 how we
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 exercise our
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 authority.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 Jesus has
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 given his
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 life to
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 restore all
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 wrong we
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 have done
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 against God
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 and each
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 other.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 And we
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 can be
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 sure of
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 that by
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 looking at
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Peter's
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 life.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 At the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 end of
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 John's
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 Gospel,
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 in
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 chapter
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 21,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Jesus
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 gave
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Peter
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 three
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 occasions
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 to
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 declare
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 his
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 love
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 for
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 him,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 one
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 for
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 each
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 time
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 he
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 disowned
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 him.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 Peter
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 can let
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 his
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 failure
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 determine
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 who
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 he
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 is
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 or
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 accept
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 grace
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 that
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 Jesus
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 Christ
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 gave
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 him
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 and
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 make
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 a
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 change.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 After
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 his
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 restoration,
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 in the
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 end,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 Peter
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 responds
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 to the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 command
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 Jesus
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 gave
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 him.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 A
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 very
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 simple
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 two-word
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 command
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 in
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 verse
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 19
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 of
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 chapter
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 21.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 Jesus
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 said
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 this
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 to indicate
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 the count
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 of death
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 by which
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Peter
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 would glorify
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 God.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Then he
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 said to
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 him,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 follow
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 me.
00:22:57 --> 00:23:02 Jesus
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 responded to
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 this
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 two-word
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 command
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 by Jesus
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 to follow
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 him,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 and he
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 did follow
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 Jesus
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 to his
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 death
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 in Rome
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 about
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 30 years
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 after
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 Jesus'
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 crucifixion.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 In
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 Peter's
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 letter to
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 the
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 churches,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 he
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 identified
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 himself
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 as a
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 weakness
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 of
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Christ's
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 sufferings,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 drawing
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 attention
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 to his
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 life's
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 biggest
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 failing,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 to
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 magnify
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 the
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 big
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 love
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 that
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 he
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 experienced
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 from
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 Jesus.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 And
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Jesus'
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 love for
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 him
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 enabled
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 him
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 shepherd
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 and
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 take
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 care
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 of
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 those
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 God
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 entrust
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 to
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 him
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 after
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 his
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 big
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 failure.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 In
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 1 Peter
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 chapter 5
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 1-7,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 he
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 is speaking
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 to the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 old
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 and the
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 young,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 to those
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 leading
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 and those
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 being led.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:59 To the
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 elders
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 among you,
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 I appeal
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 as a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 fellow elder
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 and a
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 witness of
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 Christ's
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 suffering,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 who also
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 will share
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 in the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 glory to
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 be revealed.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 Be
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 shepherds
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 of God's
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 fog that
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 is under
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 your care,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 watching over
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 them not
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 because you
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 must,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 but because
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 you are
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 willing,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 as God
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 wants you
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 to be,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 not pursuing
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 dishonest
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 gain,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 but eager
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 to serve,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 not
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 lulling it
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 over those
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 entrusted
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 to you,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 but being
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 examples to
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the fog.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 And when
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 the cheap
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 shepherd
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 appears,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 you will
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 receive the
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 crown of
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 glory that
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 will never
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 fade away.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 In the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 same way,
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 you who
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 are younger,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 submit yourself
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 to your
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 elders.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 All of
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 you,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 clothe
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 yourself with
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 humanity
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 towards one
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and other
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 because God
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 opposes
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 the proud
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 but shows
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 favor to
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 the humble.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 Humble
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 yourself
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 therefore
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 under God's
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 mighty hand
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 that he
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 might lift
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 you up
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 in due
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 time.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 Cast all
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 your anxiety
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 on him
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 because he
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 cares for
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 you.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 Let's
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 follow Jesus
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 and love.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 Amen.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 Amen.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 Amen.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 Amen.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 Amen.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 Amen.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 Amen.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Amen.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Amen.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Amen.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Amen.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 Amen.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Amen.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Amen.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Amen.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Amen.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 Amen.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Amen.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Amen.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Amen.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Amen.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Amen.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Amen.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Amen.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Amen.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Amen.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Amen.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 Amen.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:24 Amen.