Learning from Jesus (John 13:12-20) (2025/02/17)

Learning from Jesus (John 13:12-20) Living Life 02/17/2025 Daily Devotional Bible Study

 

Learning from Jesus

 

Welcome to living life. 

In this word we have many titles we use to refer to people besides their name you know like a lawyer President Doctor pastor mom dad singer designer 

Ah the list keep goes on and let me give you an example.

Do these titles mean the same thing to everyone?

I believe not. 

If I call someone a singer I might think of Jazz singer a musical theater performer or like a pop artist
but I rarely think of someone who sings classical music.

That's probably because I measured a Jazz vocal in school.

However when my mother who majored in classical voice refers to someone as a singer she almost always means someone trained in classical music.

The meaning of such titles may be the same in the dictionary but it can change greatly depending on how the person leaves it out and how we understand it.

But today we are finding out Jesus as our teacher and our lord.

As we reflect on the true meaning of these titles I hope we experience God's grace together.

Let's dive into today's passages

 

 

Learning from Jesus

 

John chapter 13 verses 12 to 20

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

 

Let's look at today's passage verse 13 and 14 

13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

 

As we discussed yesterday we don't want to view Jesus washing the disciples' feed through the lens of our own culture.

Sometimes we have foot washing ceremonies in churches as an act of love and commitment to our families and community.

Ah that can be beautiful meaningful experience but in Jesus's time washing Summon's feed was an extreme act of impossible love and humility.

It was essentially saying 

I have no value as a person I am your slave nothing more nothing less I'm just your possession.

But did the disciples deserve this kind of love and service?

Think about the disciples soon they would all abandon Jesus 

even after spending over three years with him they were still arguing about who among them was the greatest.

Peter would soon deny him with the curses and Judas would betray him for the price of slave.

Honestly they weren't the kind of people you would think that worth such sacrifice of Jesus 

but Jesus washed their feet anyway What does what does this mean?

It means he was declaring I will lay down my life for people who are completely unworthy.

He was saying I will give all my loyalty and devotion to God the father to save you 

and since he as the lord and teacher did this he tells us to do the same.

So here's an important question I want to ask today 

is he truly your lord and teacher?

Why do I ask this? 

Because many times we don't value service and sacrifice as much as Jesus taught and demonstrated.

We go to church every week, serve in various ministries and participate in many Bible studies.

We might think all of these count as service and sacrifices but a true sacrifice means giving without expecting anything in return.

Sometimes we turn to worship just ask to God for blessing but not returning to God.

We study the Bible to gain knowledge that makes us feel satisfied but not obeying with the word we learned.

We might even serve in a ministry but it is to build our reputation or feeling of achievement.

That's not the kind of sacrifice Jesus talks about.

Israel was a God's chosen people among all nations yet they crucified Jesus.

The twelve disciples were handpicked by Jesus yet they all abandoned him.

No one would say it was worthwhile to serve or sacrifice for such people 

but Je just did our lord and teacher choose to do so and do we truly honor the sacrifice?

To put it simply we call him Lord and teacher but we often don't treat him as our lord and teacher 

we don't fully obey him 

and this isn't just our problem it's trend in the world.

Over the past 20 years the concept of teacher has changed dramatically.

People now turn to the internet to learn anything like piano writing cooking boxing photography design coding.

There are countless expert videos available for free 

but now we are not satisfied with just any lesson we want the quickest most efficient way to improve.

That's why you see video types like Sing high notes in just three minutes or like Messer Tennis with this one video and how to win people over in the office.

We crave instant learning we don't want deep life changing discipline.

People resist submitting their lives to any kind of teaching 

they don't want a truth they don't want the truth that take hold of their hearts.

Instead they seek skills and knowledge to gain an advantage in the world 

and maybe we've made Chesus into teacher like that.

 

Maybe we're saying we wanting the prayer that God always answers

how to find the perfect spouse worship songs that instantly bring peace.

I'm afraid I disagree with this approach.

Jesus took off his outer garment and wrapped a towel around his face.

He carefully washed each disciples' feet one by one.

He carried the cross step by step towards Calvy 

on the cross. He endured every bit of suffering in those self giving sacrifices we encounter Jesus most vividly

and that is the true source of the life and that's transformed the world and bring the heaven on the Earth.

 

 

What acts of service can you carry out to model the love and humility of Jesus?

 

 

We call Jesus our Lord which means we follow his commands service ministry and sacrifice.

This may sound heavy but don't forget he has already become a servant for us.

Don't forget that he submitted to God the Father even to the point of death 

and Jesus went through it all and helps us when we are struggling to do. So. 

He carries our burdens for a life like that overcomes any power like even death.

Our Lord has already conquered the word So how can we his servants
loose to the world? 

Let us pray 

 

 

Heavenly Father 
we sometimes misunderstanding what is the true power of God.
It's not about like many people or like many like huge finances 
It is not about big building 
It is all about sacrifices loving and serving.
So while we are knowing it but we always we often fail to live the life of sacrifice and serving.
So today we are praying so that you can help us to be like you Jesus we know that that's a true power.
Please help us Lord we love you Lord and Jeus name you pray 
amen