The sermon titled "The Love of Jesus on Display" by Fred Evans explores the profound love of Christ as demonstrated through His actions in John 13:1-17. The main theological topic revolves around the concept of Christ's servanthood and sacrificial love, particularly in the context of His impending crucifixion. Key points include Christ’s deliberate actions in washing the disciples’ feet as a demonstration of His grace and humility, which reflects the nature of true service. The sermon emphasizes Scriptures such as John 13:1, which states that Jesus loved His own until the end, and references His sacrificial death as fulfilling the law and providing redemption (Ephesians 1:3-6). The doctrinal significance lies in understanding that Christ's sacrificial love offers believers assurance of their acceptance and calls them to extend that love to one another, embodying the principles of grace central to the Reformed faith.
Key Quotes
“Everything Jesus did, He did on purpose. This was on purpose.”
“The greatest act of love our Lord did was to lay down his life for the transgressor.”
“If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
“Should I not forgive you even as He has forgiven me?”
The Bible reveals Jesus' love through His sacrificial act of washing His disciples' feet, demonstrating humility and service.
In John 13:1-17, Jesus exemplifies His profound love for His disciples by washing their feet, a task reserved for the lowest servant. This act signifies His willingness to serve and to take on the burdens of those He loves. Jesus demonstrates that true love manifests in humility and self-sacrifice, particularly as He prepares for the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross, where He lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:15). His love is not momentary; it is eternal, as stated in John 13:1, 'He loved them unto the end.' This love is foundational for a believer’s relationship with Christ and serves as a model for how believers are to love one another.
John 13:1-17
The Bible reveals that Jesus loves His own to the end, demonstrating His love through acts of service and sacrifice.
In John 13:1, it is stated that Jesus, knowing His hour had come, loved His own 'unto the end.' This profound love is displayed in various forms throughout the Scriptures. Notably, Jesus exemplifies His love through the humility of washing His disciples' feet, a task typically reserved for the lowest servant (John 13:4-5). This act signifies not just His care for His disciples, but it also foreshadows His impending sacrifice, illustrating the depth of His love that leads Him to give His life for those He loves. Biblical love, especially as portrayed by Jesus, is characterized by selflessness and an unwavering commitment to those He calls His own.
John 13:1, John 15:13
Jesus fulfilled His role as the true servant of God by completing the work of salvation through His obedience and sacrifice.
The identity of Jesus as the true servant of God is demonstrated through His unwavering obedience to the Father and His sacrificial mission. As stated in Philippians 2:7-8, He 'made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.' By accepting this lowly position, Jesus was able to fulfill the law and provide a perfect righteousness for His people. His washing of the disciples' feet not only serves as a literal illustration of His service but also as a foreshadowing of His impending death—where He would pour out His life for the redemption of sinners (Isaiah 53:12). Thus, Jesus embodies the traits of the servant prophesied in Scripture, affirming His deity through His fulfilling of all righteousness.
Philippians 2:7-8, Isaiah 53:12
The doctrine of Christ's atonement is affirmed through fulfilled prophecy and the consistent testimony of Scripture about His sacrificial work.
Christ's atonement is central to the Christian faith and is supported by a wealth of biblical evidence. The culmination of all Old Testament prophecies and types, especially the Passover lamb, points towards Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for sin (John 1:29). His sacrificial death was not a possibility but a divine necessity, as reiterated in Hebrews 10, which states that He came to do God's will and offer Himself once for all. This fulfillment of prophecy and Jesus’s conscious act of laying down His life (John 10:18) serves as a robust confirmation of the truth of His atoning work. Thus, our assurance rests not on our own merit but solely on the completed work of Christ.
Isaiah 53:5-6, Hebrews 10:10, John 1:29
The washing of feet represents Christ's humility and serves as a foundational example for Christians to follow in serving one another.
The act of washing feet, as performed by Jesus, is significant for Christians because it embodies the essence of servanthood that believers are called to imitate. In John 13:14-15, Jesus states, 'If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.' This command not only illustrates the necessity of humility in service but also reflects the kind of love that should exist within the Christian community. It challenges believers to look beyond themselves and serve others selflessly, as Christ did. This symbolic act reinforces the idea that true greatness in God’s kingdom is found in serving others, reflecting the humility and love of Jesus in all interactions.
John 13:14-15
Jesus washing the disciples' feet symbolizes His humility and the necessity of servant-hearted love among His followers.
The act of Jesus washing His disciples' feet is rich in symbolism and significance for Christians. It represents the profound humility of Christ, the Son of God, who took on the role of a servant to illustrate the nature of true leadership and love (John 13:4-5). This act encourages believers to practice servant-hearted love towards one another. Jesus uses this moment to teach His disciples about the necessity of washing each other's feet, a metaphor for mutual care and forgiveness among Christians (John 13:14-15). It challenges us to reflect on Christ's love—self-sacrificial and profound—and strive to embody that same love in our communities, emphasizing that greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured by our willingness to serve others.
John 13:4-15, Philippians 2:5-7
Jesus' love is displayed through His role as the substitute for sinners, taking on the sins of the elect and offering His life for their redemption.
Jesus' substitutionary role is central to the understanding of salvation in the Christian faith. In John 13 and through His entire ministry, Jesus showcases His deep love for His followers by demonstrating that He would ultimately bear the weight of their sins. In Isaiah 53:6, it states, 'the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.' This foundational concept shows that Christ, in love, took the punishment deserved by sinners, fulfilling the demands of justice while providing grace. His impending sacrifice on the cross was a necessary act of love that ensures believers are saved not through their own works but through His righteous offering, as established in Hebrews 10:10. This assurance lets believers rest in the truth that their salvation is wholly dependent on Christ’s perfect work.
Isaiah 53:6, Hebrews 10:10
The hour of Jesus' sacrifice is pivotal as it marks the fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation and the atonement for sin.
The 'hour' of Jesus’ sacrifice—identified in John 13:1 as the time when He would depart from the world—signifies the culmination of God’s redemptive plan established before the foundation of the world. This hour is pivotal because it encapsulates the profound truth that all human salvation rests upon the sacrificial offering of Christ (Hebrews 10:12). It emphasizes that Jesus knew the weight of responsibility He carried, having been entrusted with the salvation of His people. At this critical moment, He demonstrates His sovereign grace by willingly laying down His life, fulfilling the law, and satisfying the demands of justice. This hour not only assures believers of their reconciliation with God but also glorifies Him as the victorious Savior who triumphed over sin and death.
John 13:1, Ephesians 1:4-5, Hebrews 10:12
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