Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-03-04

A%tN%H9C-N hA1-John lS.l-l4.
GOLDEN TEXT-,'fhe Son Of Man
came not to be ministered unto. hut to
minister and to give His life ransom
for many."--Matt 2O.2s.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Loving Serv-
ice OF Jesus
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Loyal Service
Of Jesus
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
lC-Jesus Dignfies Loyal Service
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP-
lC-The Spirit OF Christianity Illus
trated.
With this chapter we enter into the
very holy Of holies Of the book. name
ly. the inner revelation of Christ to
His disciples.
l. Jesus Amazing Love fer His Own
wv: l-3). Jesus was fully conscious Of
what was upon Him. He knew that
the cross with oil its anguish was just
before Him. He knaw that His dis
Tpses would shamefuliy fersake Him
H,itbin few hours. He knew that
one OF that aualber wsald be the in
strument in the hands of the devil in
His betrayal, He knew that all things
were in dis hands-was fully CON
scions of His deity 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. He loved them to
the end"-te the uttermost. True love
does not consider circumstances or the
shortcomings of the person loved
u. Christ Washing His Disciples
Feet tyv. 4-1D. This act is symbolic
Of His amazing love for His disciples
Jesus did not regard His hands too
holy to do this mental service.
l. Steps in This Service wv. A. -.
(1) He arose from supper (2)
Laid aside His garments. (3) Took
towel and girded Himself (D
npoured water into basin 90 Washed
His disciples feet CO.. Wiped them
with the towel wherewith He was
girded
These steps symbolic ChristS work
of redemption. His rising from supper
represents His rising from His place
of enjoyment in the heavenly glory
His laying aside His garments is put
ting aside His vesture of majesty
PhiI 81. 81. His girdng Himself is
incarnation (Phil. 2:7). The water
in the basin, Bis cleansing blood His
washing their feet. their sanctification
by actual cleansing men through His
Word (John 1873; Eph. :26) lis
taking His garments again. His re
turn to Hia place and position of
glory Uuk& q :51).
2 Peter's 1mpetuous Ignorance (vv.
6, o..
He goes frofG one extreme to the
other. His failure TO understand the
Significance of this service caused him
i to behave strangely
8 The Significance of This Service
to Those Who Participate in 1t wv
1922.
ID 1t Is a Spiritual Cleansing " s.
Fellowship with Jesus Is only pos
sible as we are continuously cleansed
from our sin. "Eie that is washed
needeth not save TO wash his feet but
II ,,ean every whit" (y l9). The
cleansing here Is not the washing of
regeneration Git. 3:5), but that of
sanctification (John 17:17) Even re-
generate people need the continual
cleansing of Christ's blood in order 10
have fellowship with Hin He that
is egener8ted-w washed in the blood
of Christ lsymbolized by haptism)
does not need repetition of the act
he only needs the cleansing of sancfi
ication symbolized by the washing of
the feet After regeneration az we go
through this world we are contain
mated by its sin.
~ 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
brother!y love Only can true love be
proved by the service it renders.
(3) A Proof of Humility
This was a lesson much needed by
the disciples and much needed by us
all They had just been disputing as
to who should be the greatest in the
Kingdom Their selfish motive was
expressing itself Christ's action was
concrete expression Of His Spirit.
"a Equalization.
AS they would thus stoop to serve
each other in the name of Christ,
there would be the sure destruction of
caste among them. Such service in
the spirit of Christ is the great Ieyeler
of humanity.
III. An Example for Us wv. 12-17).
The disciples Of the Lord are under
obligation to do TO each other as He
did unto them. This obligation rests
upon His Lordship (v. IA. All whe
call Him Lord in sincerity will obey