Yesterday, I preached from the 13th chapter of John's Gospel. This is a very poignant portion of the Gospel narrative. Jesus has entered Jerusalem for the final time before the crucifixion. He knows this. The disciples have not yet come to understand that this would be their final gathering before the world changing event of the cross.
It is in this part of the narrative that John writes a statement that I believe could be the thesis for all that remains.
John 13:1(ESV)
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
In this verse, we are reminded that Jesus was Jewish. While not an earth-shattering revelation for most, there is significance in this. For centuries it seems that the "Jewish-ness" of Jesus has been either ignored or downplayed by many in the church. To disavow Jesus' heritage is to miss a major portion of the Gospel and truth. Why have so many tried to disavow the Hebrew heritage? Racism perhaps? I'm sure. However, I also believe it is because we (and I mean people througout history and today) tend to want to have a "Jesus" who looks like us. I wrote of this in a previous blog related to the book Imaginary Jesus here.
In addition to affirming Jesus' Jewish heritage and affirmation of pure and undefiled religion, John 13:1 also reminds us that he was fully aware and in control of the situation at hand. He had been born to die. For 33 years he walked the earth. For 3 years he taught, healed, performed miracles and revealed what "pure and undefiled religion" was to be. The hour was at hand and the great purpose and love of Christ was revealed.
This verse is deep. It tells of religion, purpose and focus, relationship, the Father's glory, the love of God's children and the eternal aspect of an intimate, agape love relationship with God.
From this verse, the passage tells of Jesus' last meal with his followers. In this section of Scripture, Jesus gives His clear evangelistic strategy. He kneels down, wraps a towel around himself and begins to wash the disciples' feet. This very humble action, played out before His followers, was a sermon. It was a message of clarity for those who choose to become Christ-followers. Jesus clearly stated that in order to follow Him, one must recognize that he/she submits to Him and will follow His lead.
The fully devoted follower of Christ will therefore seek and embrace a heart of service. This is love.
John 13:20(ESV)
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
In other words, Jesus is saying to His close followers in the room, and to us through the Word of God. . .
“Listen to me. When I send you out in my name, under my authority, with the Word, you represent me. This is not frivolous. This is powerful. There are expectations. There are things you are to do and things you are to never do. This is not about works, this is about representing me clearly. You represent me so clearly to the world that if people receive you, they receive me and my message. If they welcome me, they welcome the Father. If they receive the Father, they become His child.”
This is Jesus' evangelism and leadership strategy. This strategy is about not just memorizing some Scripture, marrying marketing strategy with the Bible and going door-to-door asking a "key question." The plan isn't for believers to discover the latest leadership technique and then package it with Christian terminology so that we can be better "leaders" among our peers. It is about fully embracing what it means to follow Christ, glorify the Father and serve in His name.
This is about living life fully devoted and focused on Christ. It's about being His representative, or ambassador, to a lost, dying and separated from God and life world.
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