Americus times-recorder., 1919-11-26

MOI TO De lIlIlSlGLGu uLlbr Jul ~ tiAi4i'S
ter, and to give his life ransom for
many-Mat. 20;2S
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI~MaTk 10:
36-45; Rom l23s; Phil. ash; Peter.
ssh.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Washing the
Disciples Feet.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Jesus Taking the
Place Of a Servant
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-The Dignity
/ of Common Tasks
!. christ's Amazing Love for His
Own wv. I-3).
/ Jesus was fully conscious of what
! was upon him. He knew that the cross
! with all its anguish was just before
/ him. He knew that his disciples would
shamefully fOrsake him in a few hours
I He knew that one of that number
would be the Instrument in the hands
of the devil in his betrayal. He knew
that all things were in his hands; was
fully conscious OF his deity Notwith-
standing all this, he displayed patient
! and untiring love. He did not with
draw his love from them because of
their weakness and the shameful fail
ure which he knew would soon be
made manifest
II. Christ Washing His Disciples
Feet (vv. AID.
This act is symbolic of his amazing
love for his disciples. Jesus did not
regard his hands as too holy to do this
menial service The true Christian
does not allow his rank in society to
keep him from acts of lowly service.
1. Steps in this service: % He
rose from supper. (2) laid aside his
garments, (3) took towel and grid
ed himself, (4) poured water into 8
basin, (5) washed has disciples feet,
(6) wiped them with towel where
with he was girded These steps sym
bOlize Chrlst's entire work Of redemp-
ton. His rising from supper repre-
sents his rising from his place of en-
joyment In the heavenly glory; his lay
ing aside his garments, his putting
aside his yesture of majesty (Phil 2:7,
81 his girding himself, his taking the
form of n servant (Phll. 2:7) the wa
ter in the basin, his cleansing blood
his washing of their feet, his actual
cleansing of men through his Word
John 1913; Eph. :26) his taking his
garments again, his return to his place
and position of glory.
2. Peters lmpetuous ignorance. He
goes from one extreme to another. IT
in his failure 10 understand the sig
nificance Of this servlce that caused
him to behave 80 strangely
3, The significance of this service
to those who psrticipate IN i. O IT
IS . spiritual cleansing q 81 Fsll?Y,
ship With Jesus Is only possible as we
are continually cleaGsed from our sins.
"He that is washed needeth not save
to wash his feet, but is clean every
whit" ". 1O). The cleansing here is
not the washing of regeneration, but
that of sanctificatiOn. Even regenerate
folks need the continual cleansing Of
Christ's blood in order to have fellow
ship with him. He that is regenerat
ed--washed in the blood Of Christi
symbolized by baptlsm-does not need
q repetition of the act; he only needs
the cleansing of sanctification, symbol
lied by the washing Of the feet AS
we go through this World after regen-
Grafton we are contaminated by its
sins. He is Wiling always to cleanse
| A badge OF brotherly affection. This
! act showed his abandonment to the
! service of his own. This is lesson
| that is much needed today. We need
more and more the fulness of broth,
erly love This love needs to be man.
ifested so that it may be seen and re
! allied. True love can only be proved
by the service it renders. (3) A proof
of humility This is q lesson much
needed by US all, The disciples had
! just been dlsputing as TO who should
( be the greatest In the kingdom; theil
selfish ambition was expressing itself
| Today, on every hand, we see expires
sions of pride, vanity, and even AFRO
gance on the part of those who are
professed followers of the lowly Jesus
| IL IIt SOn VI NOu WIS uOl dNhdliCu IL
Stoop to lowly service his disciples
should not regard 1t beneath their dig
nifty TO follow in his steps (4) Equal
Ization. As they would thus stoop Il
serve each other in the name of Chris
there would be sure destruction Of
caste among them The Spirit ot
Christ in this service is the great lev
eler of humanity.
wi. An Example for Us wv. 12-16)
The disciples of the Lord are unde'
obligation to do unto each other al
ne did unto them. This obligation rest
upon his Lordship ". l4. All whit
call him Lord in sincerity will ODE!
him. To refuse to obey MIN is to pu
ones self above his Lord