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What Did Jesus Do
What Did Jesus Do
During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive
barrier. their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he
retorted with great dignity, "Sir, I am a corporal!" The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the
exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, "Mr. Corporal, next time you have a job like
this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will come and help you again." It was none
other than George Washington. (Today in the Word, March 6, 1991.)
Today’s conversation with Jesus is about more than words. You’ve seen the Bracelets that say WWJD? Well
today we’re going to talk about WDJD? What DID Jesus do. Jesus example and His words in this passage give
us a standard to live by.
Transition: .When Jesus stooped to wash His disciples’ feet he showed us several important truths about serving
others. The first thing that caught my attention is in the first verse, Jesus shows...
And note with me that the Scripture notes both before and after the description of Jesus’ washing the disciples’
feet that of all people Judas was there. Judas, having decided already that He would betray the Lord, was among
them and received the humble demonstration of Christ’s love.
Lest we think that somehow our love and service to others should end at the chapel door, or that we have no
responsibility to love and serve those who don’t reciprocate our efforts, Jesus washed the feet of Judas too.
ILLUSTRATION: Mother Teresa visited Phoenix in 1989 to open a home for the poor. During that brief visit, she
was interviewed by KTAR, the largest radio station in town. In a private moment, the announcer asked Mother
Teresa if there was anything he could do for her. He was expecting her to request a contribution or media
attention to help to raise money for the new home for the needy in Phoenix. Instead, she replied, "Yes, there is.
Find somebody nobody else loves, and love them."
Serving others, demonstrating our love in tangible ways is of first importance. Jesus considered it a priority. The
second thing Jesus showed us by washing his disciples feet is His...
Jesus, was the Lord of the Universe. If anyone didn’t have to humble himself to wash the feet of farmers and
fishermen, He didn’t. But because he knew he was Lord of the Universe, Because He knew He was not
diminished by showing his love in humble service, he took up the towel and basin and stooped to serve.
The third thing Jesus showed us by washing feet is found in today’s conversation with Jesus, the exchange with
Peter in which Jesus makes clear our...
ILLUSTRATION: A young woman asked for an appointment with her pastor to talk with him about a besetting sin
about which she was worried. When she saw him, she said, "Pastor, I have become aware of a sin in my life
which I cannot control. Every time I am at church I begin to look around at the other women, and I realize that I
am the prettiest one in the whole congregation. None of the others can compare with my beauty. What can I do
about this sin?" The pastor replied, "Mary, that’s not a sin, why that’s just a mistake!"
Unless we recognize the mistake of our pride--the mistake that says, "I’m good enough on my own" then we
make no room for Jesus. Unless we confess our need, confess our sin and humbly ask his forgiveness, trusting
that His death on the cross paid the price for our sins, we are doomed to an eternity without him.
Just a moment’s thought about that prospect should be enough to make us like Peter to drop the false humility
routine, to say, "then Lord, please clean me, make me acceptable to you"
There’s one final thing that we can see in Jesus’ foot washing object lesson...