Session 2
Sermon Script
Last night, we began reflecting on what it means to “Be A Friend”. Being a friend is more than just hanging out with those we like and are comfortable with. Being a friend is more than being with others who like what I like, who are similar to me. Rather, being a friend is to be someone that always reaches out to others and builds connections, regardless of who they are. We saw how Jesus called his disciples his “friends”. Through Jesus, God showed us that he is our friend.
I want to make something clear, though. Just because Jesus called his disciples his friends toward the end of their time together, it doesn’t mean that he never thought of them as friends or didn’t relate to them like friends before that.
When you look in the Gospels, you see that Jesus related to them like a friend the entire time. Because he related to them out of his love for them. When you relate to others in love, you relate to them like a friend. What’s a ‘friend’ who doesn’t have love for the other person? Yes – Jesus got frustrated with his disciples at times. But there was never a moment when he didn’t love them. Right before he called his disciples his friends, Jesus said these words to them—
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:12-14
Friendship without love is not friendship. A friend who doesn’t love can never be a real friend. There is a Greek word for “love of friend” (Philia). In the Bible, philia and agape (unconditional love) are most often used, even in each other’s place.
In your groups, I would like you to read John 13:1-17. It’s a well-known story. It happens sometime before Jesus calls his disciples his friends. You will see how Jesus relates to them like a friend through a concrete gesture of love.
Discussion on John 13:1-17
1. What kind of things stand out for you in this passage?
2. How is Jesus washing the disciples’ feet an act of love?
3. In verse 14, Jesus says “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” What does this mean to you? How can this be applied to our context today?
In Jesus’ time, people often travelled on foot. They walked from place to place. The roads weren’t paved and quite dusty. That meant when they arrived at their destination, their feet were not in a pretty state.
So, foot-washing was considered as an act of hospitality shown by the host to their guests. But it was rarely done. No one wanted to do it. Who would want to touch another person’s dirty feet? It was seen as such a low and degrading task for a person that it was reserved specifically for Gentile slaves and women.
Yet what happens in today’s passage? Jesus – the Messiah and the Teacher – takes it upon himself to do what no one else wants to do or thinks of doing. He could’ve taken the best seat at the table. Instead, he washes the disciples’ feet, one by one. And he does it in the middle of a meal.
Jesus doesn’t do this out of feeling obligated. He does it out of his love for the disciples. He does it in a tangible, visible and concrete way.
Couldn’t Jesus have done something else to show his love, though? That seems too invasive! He could’ve been nice to his disciples, giving them a hug – something less demeaning than washing their feet?
That’s what Peter felt at first. He was totally thrown off by what Jesus was doing. He felt uncomfortable and vulnerable.
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
I’m sure if we were him, we would’ve said the same thing. We would’ve felt embarrassed at Jesus touching our feet. But how does Jesus respond?
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
John 13:8
That is love. Love isn’t all about having some warm, sentimental feeling. Love isn’t expressed comfortably from a distance. Love is going beyond what is comfortable and convenient. Love is going all the way for the other person, even if it’s uncomfortable and even “uncool”. For his disciples, Jesus was ready to do that. Even for Judas.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he [Jesus] loved them [the disciples] to the end.
John 13:1
That’s why when we have love for others, we reach out. Love is expressed and practiced up close. But we don’t stop there. Love goes further. When we love, we also SERVE.
Serving doesn’t mean doing a “task” for someone. That’s impersonal and meaningless. That’s why many of us don’t like this word.
Serving means caring. Being a friend is to care for another person in a tangible way. When we care for others, we are serving them. Through our acts of service, the other person experiences love.
The disciples didn’t know how to be friends. Three years didn’t automatically turn them into friends. They didn’t know how to love each other like friends. They were always concerned about who was better than who. They were always thinking about themselves first.
That’s why Jesus did something so radical as washing their feet. They had to experience the power of love hidden in serving. They had to see that love is more important than popularity. So Jesus went all the way. He showed that there’s no “holding back” in serving others.
When everyone is purely concerned with themselves, there can be no community of friends – but a competitive, hostile community of enemies. But when everyone is concerned with serving and caring for one another, there can be a supportive community of friends.
We may not need to wash each other’s feet in this day and age. So when Jesus says, “you also should wash one another’s feet,” he’s not being totally literal. As he says right after that, it’s an example he has set for the disciples to follow after he’s gone.
Think about how you can be a friend to others through serving. It can be small, simple acts of care. Holding a door open for others instead of going in first. Allowing someone else to go before you in line for a meal. Or handing them a plate while you wait. Even offering to take their plate once you finish eating. If you see someone (like an Exec) setting up and handling many things on their own, asking them, “Is there anything I can do to help?” All these things show consideration and thoughtfulness.
Serving doesn’t begin with “What do I have to do?” You already don’t want to do it. Serving begins with, “What does [so-and-so] need?” When you love others, you will be concerned with their needs. You will lay down your own need to put yourself first.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13
Be a friend to each other by serving. Your heart will become full. Your relationship with the other person will deepen and grow. What would our Hi-C be like if we all served each other?
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:17
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