So John chapter 13 and remember in John's Gospel we jumped forward in time
between chapter 10 and 11 didn't we we jumped a long period in time and put it
in context here in chapter 13 out of 21 if you put it side by side with the
other Gospels we'd be in the last the third from last chapter of all the other
Gospels now so the Last Supper here is is basically the in in chapter is it 20
I think 26 of Matthew and and the same with the other Gospel I think 14 of Mark
so right now we're right at the end of the other Gospel we've still got a lot
of dialogue ahead in the Gospel of John and because really the Gospel of John
from this point really now expands upon Jesus kind of final dialogues with the
disciples yeah so we get all this great information here and and kind of in a
way starting from John 13 but really as we go forward as well so from verse 1
now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hours come he
should depart out of this world unto the Father having loved his own which are in
the world he loved them unto the end let's pray Father I thank you for your
word I thank you for for this great gospel the Gospel of John I thank you
for this great chapter and just help me to be filled with your spirit now and
to preach boldly and to preach preach what you want me to preach and to preach
it clearly for people to have open hearts and ears to your word and in
Jesus name we pray amen so basically even though Jesus is about to go through
immense suffering now and he is about to go through some immense suffering isn't
he his focus is still his disciples up until the end isn't it his focus is
still his disciples and that's why we have the next few few chapters like I
said of some really rich teaching some of some you know just just such profound
stuff and well you know when anyone else pretty much would be pretty self
absorbed in a world of their own right now wouldn't they any normal but any
person at this point in time knowing they're about to die in in in a brutal
way knowing what they're about to go through would pretty much it'd be all
about them wouldn't it it'd be all about them and how they're feeling and what
they've got to deal with and everything else but but not Jesus Christ so I mean
if you if you thought about some top just think about like a top sportsman or
performer or something before the biggest event of their life and I don't
say it's a performance but what I am saying this is the biggest event this is
you know this is a climax now before that can you imagine them just sitting
in their change room giving advice to their apprentice you know just sitting
there you know just telling whoever just just teaching just before that happens
they'd be all about them focusing on themselves just be it'd be all about
themselves wouldn't it that would be anyone in the world but not Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ you know when he's about to do something which is going to be
amazing and going to be you know beyond any suffering that any of us could
really deal with he said telling everyone else what you know telling them
what he what they need to hear and talking to them and putting the focus on
them and putting them first because you know when we have something important
going on in our lives and nothing like that even when there's something we're
about to do or some issue some stressor you know work some interview or
something else often it's the opposite isn't it often we then it's all about us
and well you know I've got to do this and maybe we're short with our wives or
wives are short with their husbands or with their kids or friends because of me
and what I've got to do and what I've got on tomorrow what I've got on this
day or you know what about me right now but Jesus is just just setting the bar
up here isn't he where what he's about to go through and it's all about them
now isn't it it's all about them and what he wants to teach them now so verse
2 and supper being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas
Iscariot Simon's son to betray him okay so same as God lay sings on our heart
the devil lays sings on his children's hearts doesn't he so he's laid it on his
heart now we don't always do what God has laid on our heart do we sometimes we
feel like something we know we should be doing and maybe it's from reading the
Word of God we feel like there's something we should do and we don't
always do it and and in the same way the wicked still have a choice you know
they're not absolved of blame so we don't look at this oh well the devil's
now laid it on his heart so he's just kind of just this vessel now no he still
has a choice doesn't he still has a choice and he's wicked he's still evil
he's still wicked verse three Jesus knowing that the Father had given all
things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God so you
know even though he possesses all things even though he's Jesus Christ he does
now this amazing thing doesn't he and what's this amazing thing he rises from
supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself now in
case you read this and you're wondering he didn't strip down to a towel okay he
laid aside his garments but I mean turn there quickly mark 11 where it's talking
about the triumph and entry into Jerusalem so mark 11 obviously we saw
this in in the last chapter the Luke the John verse but mark 11 it said in from
verse 7 and they brought the colt to Jesus and cast their garments on him and
he sat upon him talked about on the colt and many spread their garments in
the way and others cut down branches off the trees and stored them in the way now
these are clearly they're out of garments aren't they coats you know
whatever you want to call it robes anything else like that and and here he
you know there they've laid him it wasn't like suddenly everyone was just
running around naked okay they didn't all just strip off and in the same way
here when it says girded girded his bounds surrounded he's put it on but it
doesn't mean obviously stripped down he's basically taken off his out of
garments and put a towel in for what he's about to do why why did he do that
well let's have a look verse 5 back in John John 13 a verse 5 after that he
poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith he was girded so Jesus Christ God in the flesh washed
his disciples nasty old calloused bunioned fungal hairy deformed feet I
mean that's pretty amazing isn't it that's amazing he got down and washed
all 12 pairs of those feet and and you know and I think you just say oh he's
just washing some feet but I bet there was some rag feet among those two I
won't there there might be a couple of nice ones but I think pretty much most
said we're pretty off and he got down and he washed them didn't he Jesus
Christ God washed their feet then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter's
saith unto him Lord does that wash my feet Peter's probably got the worst of
the lot as it is washing mine as well yeah but there's five there's five you
know it said that he began to wash the disciples feet and wipe them with the
towel so from here it sounds like Peter was the first one to object but it
sounds like people who already had their feet washed at this point so no one else
is objecting do you think who else do you think had already had his feet
washed I got someone I think I'm going with Judas Judas for sure I reckon he's
probably first in line wasn't he Judas has put his dirty old feet up there and
I reckon I do think he did because I reckon Judas loved it didn't he he loved
it getting served by the one he was about to betray did you find that in
life don't you so nice people that really deep down hate you they love you
doing stuff for them and I think I think that was Judas I reckon well at the
least anyway no one else seemed to complain did they I didn't complain so
anyway you you would have thought knowing what he really felt know what
he's gonna do you know maybe he wouldn't have wanted him to also wash his feet as
well but no Judas had his feet washed now verse 7 Jesus answered said unto him
unto him what I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter Peter saith
unto him thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus asked him if I wash thee not thou
has no part with me son of Peter saith unto him Lord not my feet only but also
my hands and my head Jesus saith unto him he that is washed and he doth not
save to wash his feet but is clean every wit and ye are clean but not all now
turn up 1st Corinthians chapter 6 because they're being washed here is a
picture of being sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ so 1st Corinthians chapter
6 and verse 9 1st Corinthians 6 9 know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived neither fornicators nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abuse of themselves of mankind nor
thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit
the kingdom of God and such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are
sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit
of our God so that wash there is synonymous isn't it with being
sanctified being just for the name of Lord Jesus Christ it's in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ isn't it that's what you're sanctified watch not by by
you know something you've done not being washed by your own continuing works of
course these verses we looked at when we went through 1st Corinthians some
people use them you know in the wrong way as well don't they trunk abuse of
themselves in mankind see you know such for some of them well well is an abuser
of himself with mankind because didn't say that's a sodomite even if it was
such for some of you but ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God it doesn't say
here that some of these people were formerly reprobate does it but back to
the point it's in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so they weren't it doesn't
say it says ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified not were
washed but maybe need to be washed again does it say oh you were washed but you
better keep clean says ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified it's
current isn't it's present tense when it happens it's done and back to where we
were in in John 13 look at verse 10 there verse 10 said Jesus saith to him
he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit
and ye are clean but not all so I think he's saying some people go why the feet
well I think he's just basically saying that even though their feet need washing
they're clean everywhere you know he's saying but you're clean you know you're
clean in terms of spiritually but yeah yeah even though your feet need washing
at this point and and I'm sure their feet did need washing it's probably
pretty grimy out there isn't it pounding pounding the the tracts
preaching the gospel but he's saying even though you know your feet need
washing this point you are clean everywhere except for one of them okay
except for one of them so verse 11 for he knew who should betray him therefore
said he ye are not all clean okay and obviously this is because Judas wasn't
saved was he okay Judas wasn't saved and you hear some crazy stuff don't you for
some some terrible preaching sometimes and people trying to claim that Judas
was saved and lost his salvation or Judas I don't know you hear some funny
stuff don't you for people that really just have it all mixed up but Judas
clearly he's saying here you are not all clean yeah being the clean being it being
showing showing salvation Judas wasn't saved was he okay he one of you has a
devil okay that's that's Judas that's not a saved man now so after he had
washed their feet it says in verse 12 and had taken his garments and was set
down again he said unto them know ye what I have done to you you you call me
master and Lord and you say well for so I am if I then your Lord and master have
washed your feet ye also ought to wash one another's feet for I have given you
an example that ye should do as I have done to you verily verily I say unto you
the servant is not greater than his Lord neither he that is sent greater than he
that sent him if you know these things happy are ye if you do them so he's
given him an example to behave in the same way hasn't he okay he's given him
an example now before you all start taking your shoes off and peeling your
sweaty socks off yeah okay it was an example wasn't it okay he's not saying
right basically every time you guys meet up you got to start scrubbing each
other's feet and you know scrubbing down those bunions and stuff no it's an
example verse 15 he said for I have given you an example that ye should do
as I have done to you okay as I have done to you in a similar way so you
could say to that couldn't you could say similar acts of kindness similar acts of
kindness to each other of giving to one another yeah like he said here of wash
your feet ye also ought to wash one another's feet yeah okay giving to one
another he didn't say that one of you needs to take over as a footman did he
didn't say one of you becomes a footman of the church he's just saying that we
should be doing kind things for each other like that and as verse 16 says
where it says very rarely I sent you the servant is not greater than his Lord
neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him we're no better than Jesus
Christ are we anyone here think they're better than Jesus Christ I don't think
so so we should be willing to serve one another shouldn't we we should be
willing to serve each other yeah and and we should all be willing to do that
no one is too high and mighty no one's you know too good no one's too spiritual
or anything else to serve each other and that includes everyone doesn't it that
goes down to the smallest child here and up to the oldest adult and with that in
mind we should then be happy to do that shouldn't we because he said then if you
know these things if you know that that that's how you should behave happy are
you if you do that so how do we go about serving each other how do we serve each
other well one way that we can serve each other is take you on jobs at a
church isn't it doing jobs at a church take you on roles trying to help out
that's one way we serve each other because the church basically serving
isn't it everything we do here is serving is serving the congregation is
serving the church isn't it to take you on jobs doing stuff at the church
whether or not you know if like like pastor talks to talk about even if it's
just looking at picking things up and just seeing what he's doing straightening
up the chairs cleaning up the place things like that that's all serving each
other isn't it and no one's no one's above that are they no one's too high
and mighty to pick something up off the floor or to you know to clean up if
they go in the toilet after one of the little kids has been in there or
anything else we're all able to do that aren't we were all capable of doing that
but there's other things okay not just that is there we how else can we serve
each other praying for each other okay and again we don't have to sound the
trumpet with it but we should all and we should all have that you know about us
where we should be going home and quietly we should be praying for each
other shouldn't we should be praying for the church praying for each other
praying for every individual in here praying for needs as you see them arise
for people we should be doing that and other acts of kindness as well as you
see them come yeah acts of kindness are important I mean that's something that
we should all be trying to do if we're not doing it we should be trying to get
get our head around doing that we should ultimately be praying they've got to
help us with that as well because we should want to help each other we should
want to do stuff we should want to serve the church church which is serving each
other as well yeah verse 18 there I speak not of you all I know whom I have
chosen but that the scripture may be fulfilled he that eateth bread with me
lifted up his heel against me now I tell you before it come that when it is come
to pass you may you may believe that I am he now you have to turn about the
scriptures in Psalm 41 and Jesus is showing that he knew full well what was
going to happen didn't he and look I think I said this the other week I
remember hearing the kind of Gospels you know story to you know when I say story
just what I understood when I was young at a false church and from school and in
my mind was just like you know you know Jesus I can even evade capture and you
know and managed to get betrayed like he didn't know it was coming like because I
didn't understand that he was God in the flesh I didn't understand it was all
ordained you know from the beginning of the world so for me I just didn't really
understand it but Jesus knew it was going to happen and what the power he
had to just keep doing what he did and keep going through knowing what was
going to happen keep being nice and polite and kind I mean even said friend
at the very end to Judas didn't he betray us our you know the son of man
with a kiss or you know something along those lines and you know that I'll tell
you what lots of strength to be able to do that because you'd be wanting I mean
you'd be wanting to headbutt him or something when you well he went in for
the kiss but no not not Jesus but verse 20 verily verily I said to you he that
receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him
that sent me so in Matthew 10 yeah when Jesus is sending out the 12 out soul
winning he says this too and you have to turn it but Matthew 10 40 says he was he
that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that
sent me but this kind of don't you think this almost feels a little bit out of
place here it's kind of he's not really sending him out soul winning in Matthew
10 he is so the verse seems you know just suddenly he's in the middle of
talking about Judas betrayal and he goes on to talk about Judas betrayal as well
straight after and then he just says he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth
me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me and if you go back to
verse 16 where he talks about those that are sent he said verily verily I say unto
you the servant is not greater than his Lord neither he that is sent greater
than he that sent him he's talking about those sent there if you know these
things happier ye if you do them then in verse 18 he says he's not speaking of
all of them he says I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen but that
the scripture may be fulfilled he that eateth bread with me have lifted up his
heel against me now I tell you before it come that when it is come to pass you
may believe that I am he so I think he's saying I haven't sent all of you and and
the answer be oh but he sent Judas out because Judas wasn't saved okay no one
unsaved is really getting sent out are they now yeah he but you know Judas went
through the motions didn't he Judas went through and was preaching gospel but he
wasn't getting sent he wasn't really being sent was he because he can't get
people saved John 6 70 said have not I chosen you 12 and one of you is a devil
okay Judas clearly was a devil he clearly wasn't saved so like I say he
could go through it and you know and we you know obviously it's coming up a lot
in these chapters and I'm not gonna dwell in it too much tonight but we you
know this is the same at all these churches you get these people that are
going out and they're going through the motions and they're preaching the gospel
and we get in great numbers and they seem to getting people saved but
ultimately they're not are they and no one when they do a fruit inspection is
finding someone really saved who's you know who comes from any of these false
prophets any of these infiltrators any of these Judas Iscariots because it's
easy to get people to repeat things and we look we're all able to do that as
well so we've got to be careful when we're preaching the gospel you can get
someone to repeat what you say you can and an example I'm not saying it is but
an example you can get kids to repeat what you say yeah pretty easily and
that's why we've got to be really careful when we're preaching the gospel
to kids okay because a kid will just stand there and a lot of the time will
repeat what you say because adult telling me what I've what I've got to
say and okay and just answer the questions take it all off okay right
pray and they're not saved are they they're not saved and and we have to be
aware I'm not saying that everyone here is a false prophet what I am saying is
that look we need to make sure that we're thorough and the people that we're
preaching to believe believe what they're being told and not just answer
the right questions to basically get the answer right and obviously kids and
there are many adults that do the same that will just answer in the right way
because that's what they want to please you they want to say the right thing
that you've told them and that's why preaching the gospel we've got to be
careful with that haven't we but in the same way that's why we you know when
they look at these people in these past church we've got one out so winning with
it it doesn't mean anything you know and when it does sadly come come here and it
will come at some point here I hope no one's gonna turn I go oh but I saw them
get someone saved you know once twice ten times hundred times or whatever it
is because it doesn't mean anything it doesn't mean anything because
ultimately getting saves a spiritual thing it's something in the heart and
it's not just ticking some boxes and saying a prayer at the end so point
being he didn't send Judas out and that's why Judas never got anyone saved
did he but Judas looked like he did because no one suspected him Romans 1
17 says for therein is a righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as
it is written the just shall live by faith okay and and that's something we
need to remember it comes from faith doesn't it that's why someone's not
getting saved from a tract that's why someone's not picking up the Bible and
getting saved that's why someone's not getting saved from someone unsaved
preaching the gospel to him okay and we don't have to do all these ifs and
everything else like that's it yeah look if someone's had the gospel preached
unto them and then at some point they get saved you know I don't really care
who they might and might not have spoke to in between but ultimately they had to
have it preached to them they had to have the gospel explained to them by
someone that's saved yeah and that's what it comes down to the you know it's
revealed from faith to faith but because then Jesus says in verse 20 verily verily
I say unto you he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me and he
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me so when someone with real faith
is received Jesus and therefore God the Father as well are being received aren't
they okay when someone with real faith is received okay verse 21 when Jesus had
thus said he was troubled in spirit and testified and said verily verily I sound
to you that one of you shall betray me why was he troubled in spirit do you
think he knew it was going to happen why was he troubled in spirit he always knew
that Judas was going to betray him didn't he but so remember when Jesus
wept in chapter 11 well why was he weeping it was because of Mary and the
Jews weeping wasn't it it was Mary and the Jews he had compassion on them that's
what the compassion was about that's why he wept the Jews got it wrong they
thought it's because he loved Lazarus so much we knew what's gonna happen with
Lazarus Lazarus so why is he troubled here well how do you think the other 11
disciples were going to feel after the betrayal what do you think or even
before knowing that one of just knowing that one of them was going to betray him
that's a pretty that's a rip you know that's a rough thought isn't it I mean
this is a tight-knit group isn't it you would imagine that's a tight-knit group
those 12 there especially but they've been fellowshipping together with God
yeah with God in the flesh they've been together with him daily for for we're
coming up to three and a half years now aren't we okay daily fellowshipping and
they're being told that one of them one of out of all of those is a devil one of
them is going to betray him that's pretty sad isn't it and I believe he's
troubled in spirit here because he knows the effect because he loves he loved
them until the end we saw at the beginning he knows the effect that's
going to have on them and and think like this sort of stuff when it happens in
churches it destroy it like it really hurts people doesn't it destroys their
people that they've been best friends with people they've been you know round
each other's round each other's houses eating meals they've you know they've
been going out I've been out soul winning with them they've told them some
of their deepest darkest secrets so you know and then it turns out this person
was actually wicked from the beginning that that is is hard going isn't it on
people it's hard and that's the reason why people don't want to hear it don't
want to believe it I want to justify it in another way and what our well maybe
it must have been there for the past is just mean or the past has gone too hard
line or whoever it is you know or they can't it must it there's no smoke
without fire they must have left for another reason they must be making
YouTube pages and caning the pastor day in day out week in week out actually
there must be something to that it can't just be that they were wicked because
it's hard it's really hard to take in isn't it it's hard to accept but look at
look at what these people do when they leave when they do they just like it's
like their whole life they like I mean pastor Thompson preached it the other
day they're basically professional stalkers it's weird isn't it but it's
not weird because they're Judases but when it happens people still start to
wonder that because they don't really want to believe that they were do they
they don't want to believe that they were best friends with the Judas and I
think they're saying here these disciples are going to find it hard
aren't they to know what Judas because they never suspected do they they never
suspected him verse 22 then the disciples looked one on another doubting
of whom he spake so turn to Matthew 26
Matthew chapter 26 and verse 21 Matthew 26 21 and as they did eat he said
verily I sound to you that one of you shall betray me and they were exceeded
sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I so as well
as looking at each other we just saw it said then the disciples look one in one
on another we just saw in John 13 22 here in Matthew 26 they questioned
themselves before they questioned Judas so instead of oh yeah Judas oh yeah no
fool well it's going to be him they're questioning themselves that's pretty
extreme isn't it imagine questioning yourselves maybe I'm going to be the
problem at this church you know before you question the bull I mean that's some
convincing some that's some blindness that they had towards him isn't it and
look we we looked didn't we last week at how Judas attacked Mary for for not
selling her own spikenard remember it's her own spikenard instead of anointing
Jesus yeah for not selling of it selling it instead and we were talking about the
holier-than-thou the kind generous Judas how it resulted in the others being
angry with her murmuring at her and but driven we saw how he was undermining
Jesus at the same time as well there was undermining Jesus really because Jesus
had accepted that and let that happen so you could argue couldn't you that there
were already signs there couldn't you like you could you know you would hope
you would think didn't people just see the signs there turning on others that
he did with Mary fake spirituality division causing undermining not only
the leadership but God himself yet they questioned themselves first didn't they
I mean that's a lesson to all of us isn't it how easily we can just be
blinded but then it gets worse doesn't it so verse 23 back to John John chapter
13 and verse 23 now there was leading on Jesus bosom one of his disciples whom
Jesus loved okay now this is the Apostle John okay so I remember in John 21 24
when talking about the disciple whom Jesus loved he says this is the disciple
which testify of these things and wrote these things and we know that his
testimony is true so talk about the Apostle John here he wrote obviously the
Gospel of John now and this is in the same way that Jesus had a greater love
for Mary Martha Lazarus he has the same for the Apostle John doesn't he okay so
there's that that emphasized love now why was he leaning on Jesus chest or
lying on it we just saw in verse 25 and I don't know I don't know if any of you
guys anyone heard these explanations of the culture that they the way that they
would all lie around the table on their sides anyone heard this stuff before no
okay so I've read some different stuff about this how they would all lie on one
side and everything else and be on one arm so John was on his chest side so
they would describe it as that but maybe he was just literally leaning on Jesus
hey because I tell you what if God let me lean on him I could be quite up for
leading on him you know that's pretty amazing is there imagine leading on
Jesus Christ so John is able and Jesus allows him and he is and he's you know
that he has that that closer relationship and he's lean literally
leaning on Jesus I mean that's amazing isn't it verse 24 Simon Peter therefore
beckoned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake he then
lying on Jesus breast I think that's pretty clear isn't it rather than the
position of the table or something saith unto him Lord who is it Jesus
answered he it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it and when he
had dipped the sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon and it's a
piece of bread okay and after this and after the sop Satan entered into him
then said Jesus unto him that thou doest do quickly now no man at the table knew
for what intent he spake this unto him no man so who does that include that
includes John who just asked him who it is so he's just asked him who it is
Jesus replies and says here it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have
dipped it and when he had dipped the sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot and then it
says no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him so again
John who's obviously you know for me I think it's because you know if you
love me keep my commandments I believe that God has that extra love for people
that that are really you know doing more for him living for him doing that do the
best they can resisting sin and I believe that John is it is a special guy
but John didn't clock it did he John still didn't like John even has the
inside info there the guy that I give the sop to and still no idea can't be
Judas just so lovely you know it's so kind so generous he's done a real number
on them isn't it Judas verse 29 for some of them thought because Judas had
the bag that Jesus had said unto him buy those things that we have need of
against the feast that he should give something to the poor maybe part of it
was him having the bag and I'm thinking well he wouldn't be trusted with the bag
would he but Jesus is just treating him like everyone else isn't he so they're
thinking it must be that Judas was out to do something charitable he's really
done it so they decide at Judas he must just be out to buy something for the
poor you know and that's how they see Judas now verse 30 he then risk having
received the sop went immediately out and it was night okay why did he go
immediately out look at verse 27 again verse 27 and after the sop Satan entered
into him then said Jesus unto him that thou doest do quickly so Satan himself
yeah enters into into Judas but who's given the orders Jesus Christ yeah who
follows the orders I see Satan yeah who's entered into Judas Colossians 1 16
you don't understand that says for by him were all things created that are in
heaven that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and for
him Satan and Jesus aren't some sort of equals duelling it out are they yeah and
you probably heard that sort of people have this sort of view like oh it's like
Satan's arrival or match for God no he's not no he's not at all he's allowed to
exist he allows him to exist and here he's giving him an order he tells him
what to do doesn't he Jesus is God in the flesh Jesus made him didn't he Jesus
is God okay he made him he tells him what to do and he does as he's told he
tells him to do it quickly and he went immediately out didn't he he goes
immediately out now verse 31 therefore when he was gone out Jesus said now is
the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him if God be glorified in
him God shall also glorify him in himself and shall straightway glorify
him so basically they're both glorified by each other because they are both God
yeah one God three persons okay little verse 33 little children yet a little
while am I with you you shall seek me as I said unto the Jews whither I go you
cannot come so now I say to you now he's referring to heaven as verse 36 says
thou shalt follow me afterwards obviously he also goes to hell first
verse 34 a new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have
loved you that you also love one another by this shall all men know that you are
my disciples if you have loved one to another so how should people know that
we're Jesus disciples yeah it's a love isn't it and and you know yeah nothing
wrong with dressing nicely you know dressing right trying to not dress like
the world and you know not showing our nakedness you know being being modest
and and everything else but ultimately the way they should know for sure is if
we have loved one to another yeah that's what the Bible says should they know
that we're as a size is it because we're so softly spoken we're just so softly
spoken like the you know Church of England vicar on TV yeah no is it
because we live in a commune that people know no is it because we dress
like the Amish no it's because we have loved one to another that's how we
should that's how they should know because of the love we have one to
another now it's love not flattery not endless gift-giving love yeah okay I
want what's best for each other yeah like we said before praying for each
other willing to help each other willing to do things for each other willing to
give our time for each other you have to turn about Romans 12 10 says be
kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honor preferring one
another now okay this is a particular love for other disciples isn't it okay
this is other disciples he's talking about here he says by this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples if you have loved one to another is it
something that we just feel do you think it's something you just
automatically feel oh well there's another disciple I love them because
they're another disciple is that the sort of love he's talking about is it a
mushy feeling you know do we all get mushy feelings for each other I hope so
no but no it's a commandment isn't it it's a commandment first a new commandment
I give unto you verse 34 that ye love one another it's not your disciples
you're gonna automatically just get mushy feelings and you know that you
just gonna all start getting a bit dizzy when you're around each other and
thinking how much you just want to spend your lives hanging out together no he's
it's a commandment a commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I
have loved you now he's loved us isn't he and he loved these disciples didn't
he loved them until the end yeah and that's a love that we should give to
each other but it's a commandment isn't it it's a commandment so it's as Jesus
loved the disciples did Jesus just say what they wanted to hear is that the
sort of love Jesus gave I love them so much I'm just gonna tell him nice
flattery flattering things and what they want to hear no did he give them
expensive gifts no I don't think Jesus cracked open the spikenard did give them
eternal life but did he agree with everything that they said he's
constantly rebuking them isn't he telling them when they're wrong he's
being honest with them he's saying the truth in love isn't he but he was
willing to give his life for them wasn't he he's willing to give his life for
them turn over to 1st John chapter 2 because we could sit here and go well
I'm pretty loving to my Christian friends I show a lot of love to some
people be it in the church or outside the church sure but are you secretly or
maybe not secretly hating others so so you know for me everyone here is a
disciple they're all in church they're all trying to live for God so that's
what that was what the commandment was it wasn't just the ones that you get you
know that you've got the most in common with the ones that agree with what you
say you know the ones that you know do things the same as you so you've you
know you you don't have any challenging issues there you can all just do
everything to say no this to his disciples now when you look at 1st John
chapter in verse 9 he that sayeth he is in the light and hateth his brother is
in darkness even until now he that loveth his brother abideth in the light
and there is none occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his brother is
in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because
that darkness have blinded his eyes so that hatred blinds you and makes you
stumble doesn't it okay now you know like I saying you you don't have to be
best friends with everyone in fact it's weird if you are okay that's a bit odd
if you're literally best friends with everyone that's a bit strange that for
me means you're probably not very genuine you know okay yes and no we
don't have to be best friends of everyone in the church but if you're
harboring hatred for other brothers and sisters in the church then basically
you're walking in darkness aren't you okay you walk your darkness if you deep
down your heart have hatred for other saved men and women of God and not just
saved but disciples that's the problem isn't it and then and then what do you
do with that because what happens from that you unwillingly affect those that
you love too don't you yeah so you might love certain people but you're harboring
hatred for others you might affect them because you know that that hatred like I
said it's not it's not necessarily open animosity it's not obvious is it okay
it's not always obvious but something you know I don't know anyone here spoken
to people I'm not talking about the church I don't want to start you know
creating an issue here but just in life you just been in contact people through
work through family friends when when deep down you know they hate you anyone
had that deep down you know they hate you yeah they don't admit it they don't
make it obvious and most people around probably don't realize but you know they
okay okay we really don't want that in a church like doing okay we have to be
careful not to have that in a church because like I said it's not often it's
not usually open animosity but there is something that you get a lot in all
walks of life so not just in churches it's a passive-aggressive hate yeah
that's the passive ago that's a little comments little digs little comments
here and there you know because really you hate someone really you don't like
you might say oh it's a bit strong I hate me they just irritate me with
everything they do and say I I just don't like everything about them and I
don't like you know everything they stand for it every way they do X Y and
Z and whether it's I don't like the way they pair it or I don't like the way
they they talk to someone else the child I like the way they do this so you just
you know and instead of saying anything instead of trying to put you know maybe
just deal with it instead of just actually bearing it and going none of
it's really that important we're just different I'm just gonna make little
comments I'm gonna make little digs just say question just a little question
here and there a little comment here and there you know a little just just make a
comment and and that's passive-aggressive isn't it it's passive
because it appears to everyone else like it's just an innocent comment but when
it starts to become loads and loads and loads of them you know you know what
you're dealing with don't you but sadly most other people don't so and you know
I'm talking about in life in general as well and all of us probably have been
through this if you look back you think about those people they just can't see
saying things are just a little bit off a little bit questioning a little bit
rude a little bit just trying to make you feel crap about yourself and that
that's that passive aggressiveness and for me it's it's wicked isn't it really
it's wicked because I have some balls yeah you got a problem tell someone you
got a problem with them you know or don't or move on you know but instead
it's a little comments little digs yeah and then what are you doing you're
affecting the rest of the church aren't you so then ultimately what you end up
doing is you affect those people that you do love because how does it affect
the rest of the church because so let's give an example say I don't know say
I've got a real problem with brother Gary okay okay this is an easy one for
me okay say I've got a problem with brother Gary yeah but so I'm just you
know I'm just constantly just just making brother Gary feel a bit crap
about himself just a little comment here little dig there you know little comment
to maybe to other people but mainly to Gary say I don't want to be accused of
being a whisperer so I'm just gonna make you know needle him you know say little
thing so Gary who does Gary what what does that do to Gary because it could be
grim being on the receiving end of that can't it so Gary then who's gonna first
see be affected by that sister Natalie isn't she because that's a Gary Gary's
wife so she's gonna have a knock-on effect to that then that might knock on
effect someone else because now sister Natalie's unhappy and maybe sister
Natalie you know she's getting a bit stressed Gary's a bit stressed that then
starts going on to other people and suddenly you've kind of got a knock-on
effect here haven't you well where then people are being irritated with each
other or maybe they're stressed maybe they're upset maybe it may be at the
least where you know just brother Gary's just really unhappy and and maybe he
can't even put a finger exactly on why just doesn't feel that popular you know
just doesn't feel that light and you know and that could have a problem say
it's the other way around say I don't know brother John here brother John's
just got a real problem with me you know so brother John is is having little
digs at me maybe maybe it's a little passive-aggressive comments maybe it's
making me feel insecure maybe it's you know just a little comment about you
know a little preaching point here and something else there in a way I did this
and the way I did that and eventually it affects me to the point where now I'm
preaching I'm just a bit you know the confidence is gone I'm a bit deflated
I'm not preaching I'm not I'm not bold with any of it you know and it starts
getting a bit you know I feel I know that some of these people are you know
John you know John at least he's looking to catch me in my words you know so I'm
just feeling a little bit and suddenly now the whole church's been affected
aren't they you know or maybe it could be the other maybe John's got a problem
with my wife or with one of my kids you know so so it's just you know it starts
affect them that affects me that affects the church it's not just me it could be
with anyone can't it so and you can see the knock-on effects these things can
have so again we might feel like well it's just that one person but it will
affect the church because we want the church as a whole to be happy we want
the church we want the church to thrive don't we so so we want to get rid of
that obviously and hopefully we don't have that but we want to make sure we
don't because the commandment is that we love one another and if you love if you
love certain people in the church then try and love everyone else because that
will only affect them in a positive way as well yeah so we want to have that
love now you don't have to turn it but Psalm 133 one says behold how good and
how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity and and that's
that's what we want don't we so we want this church we want brethren here to be
dwelling together in unity don't we and like I said that doesn't mean you do
everything the same it doesn't mean that that you just agree with everything each
other says it does but but what you don't have is harboring you know ill
feelings for each other yeah and sometimes it's good to get out issues if
there's a problem and that can be hard sometimes how to get that balance right
isn't it where so I don't want to just be constantly rebuking people and stuff
but the other hand you don't want to let that stuff fester do you if you feel
like something's really a problem and a lot of the time if it's it most of it's
not important enough to ask someone or to say something is it it can be just a
little thing but but you don't want to be accused of being someone that's just
constantly digging constantly saying little things because that passive
agreement that's just worm behavior isn't it really isn't it it's just like
trying to be clever trying to just annoy trying to irritate and and the world does
it you see the world over people like that you see in a workplace see all over
the place see it amongst families you see it sadly amongst churches as well we
don't want to be like that you know be honest you know when it needs it when it
doesn't don't you know then how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity wouldn't that be great you know if we just had a church where
just there's just love for each other yeah it doesn't have to be sleepovers
every night you know just love for each other just just you know wanting what's
best for every person in the church you know obviously apart from the Judas
no I'm not saying but but truthfully yeah you know really for each other we
should all look we're all here as far as we're concerned everyone here is a safe
man and woman and child of God and you know we're here we love each other we
want to we want what's best for each other we don't want to be here harboring
ill feeling and look you know that that like I said before that will come as
well we put people in certain positions and it might and I'm not just saying
myself it could be like the sole winning captain you know I just always pairing
me up with this person he's always doing it you know and certain positions will
irritate people in certain ways people do certain jobs it might be the way
someone cleans when you're a part of a cleaning cleaning team with him it might
be other things like that but ultimately it's none of it's really important
enough to then cause an issue which can rebound and affect the church yeah so
back to all the points are made in 1st Corinthians that's something we need to
just make sure we get rid of because our own selfish dislikes of people can
affect a church can't it so because what did Jesus say there Jesus said back in
back where we were in John John 13 he said a new commandment I give unto you
it's not optional that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye
also that ye also love one another so and and like we said how did Jesus love
us yeah it's not that we're all just sugarcoating everything we say to each
other but he gave his life didn't he gave his life for each and every person
here that's saved and and he gave his life you even if you unsaved yeah but
you know he's given his life for everyone it's up to them if they want to
want to choose to have you know to receive that free gift but but this
shall all men by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have
love one to another it's a commandment it's not automatic there's an if there
we have the choice to follow it or not don't we and that's something we you
know we should be wanting to do it's a commandment we should definitely be
wanting to do it make sure we have love for each other now verse 36 Simon Peter
said unto him Lord whither thou goest Jesus answered him whither I go thou
canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards no so he said thou
shalt follow me afterwards didn't he he didn't say you might do he said you will
thou shalt follow me afterwards okay it's not it's not conditional Peter said
unto him Lord why cannot I follow thee now I will lay down my life for thy sake
Jesus answered him will thou lay down thy life for my sake
verily verily I say unto thee the cock shall not crow till thou has denied
me thrice so Peters got the big words there you know he's saying he will lay
down his life for Jesus and you know I spoke about this the other the other day
as well because we had Thomas saying something similar didn't we about going
into going into Judea and look we should have we should have high we should raise
a bar for how we want to and we should be aiming high shouldn't we should be
aiming high in our Christian life but we should also we should also be aiming
with something that we really believe we can realistically succeed in because
I'm sure there are many people here but maybe there are maybe they're not that
feel like yeah I would lay down my life for the Lord Jesus Christ we should be
feeling like that shouldn't we and yeah we might fail probably a lot of us would
fail at that but look there's no point sitting here think you'd lay down your
life for the Lord Jesus Christ when you when we get a third service and you
can't come to church three times a week you know you know like that's not laying
down your life for the Lord Jesus Christ is it you know make it work make it
happen that's laying down your life for the Lord Jesus Christ that's laying down
your secular life you you know whatever it is it's so important to you and I'm
not saying you have to just you know just put it all in the Lord's hands and
quit your job you know and come and live like on the streets of South End or
wherever we end up based yeah but what I am saying is we should make it happen
shouldn't we you know we'll lay down our life for the Lord Jesus Christ but we
only go soul winning once a month or something else you know because life
gets in the way it's a bit busy you know we lay down our life for the Lord Jesus
Christ but morning Bible reading means getting up a bit early doesn't it you
know don't know about that don't know if I can get up an extra 15 20 half hour
early so look maybe maybe you're sitting there going well I don't think I'd even
lay down my life for the Lord Jesus Christ so you know why should I have to
do all that but really we should want to shouldn't we we should you know and and
we should want to do that in a way you could say as well he said to love each
other as he loved us yeah okay he laid down his life for us and I okay this
might be I might be going out on a thread a bit here but but if he if every
single person in this church read their Bibles regularly yeah they would be
actually doing a benefit to everyone else in the church when they if everyone
in this church was here every service come rain or shine barring sickness and
borrowing something they cannot get out of then that's gonna benefit the whole
church isn't it and in a way therefore you're loving each other like Jesus
loved you because you're willing to lay down your life for each other yeah and
if that's if that's you know mugging off the the family engagement do party
or whatever that that just has to be on a Sunday if that means you know making
sure those Saturdays work once a month where you can get out and preach the
gospel and be there so it doesn't start dwindling to the point where there's
eight nine of us meeting up if that means you know making sure you read
your Bible so you can help each other in their time and need when when they need
some godly wisdom that you're not scratching your head wondering what
sermon it was you heard recently that said something along those lines and
you can actually go to the Word of God and you can tell them this is what the
Word of God says not what my favorite preacher says if you can do all those
things and for me you're you're you're loving you're loving each other as well
aren't you and and you know Peter he's got the big words there but obviously
when it came to the crunch he fell short but with the big big words we should
also have the big ambition shouldn't we and we should also if we're gonna say it
and we're gonna we're gonna go yeah look you know I want to be part of a
good church I want to make this the best church we can possibly make it I want to
make this something other than we want to be trying our utmost to do that as
well don't we and that means whatever whatever comes in the way we do our best
to get through those obstacles and not just the first excuse just drop out yeah
Jesus said will that lay down thy life for my sake verily verily I said to you
the cock shall not crow till thou has denied me thrice sadly he did fell there
and it's a famous denial isn't it and and look we don't want to all have our
own famous denials in our life do either let's just try our best and we're gonna
have some some great great chapters coming up over the next few chapters
that are gonna you know give us some strength give us some words give us so
much wisdom and everything else so that's gonna be great on that note let's
pray father I thank you for your word I thank you for for John chapter 13 and
all the lessons we've learned from from the Gospel of John so far and that we
have yet to learn and I pray that you just help us to you know to have the
intention to want to lay down our lives for you to want to do our best for you
to want to do our best for each other as well to want to love each other as
you've commanded us to do and the start you know the first thing is going to be
to make sure we're back here next week both services to make sure that we're
we're turning up to soul winning times to make sure that we're just just you
know living for you and and therefore you know positively affecting that you
know the other brethren as well and we pray that you know everyone will get
home safe and sound that we'll all have a good week a good week where we're
honoring you and glorying you and that we all managed to make it back here next
week and we pray all these