Jesus displays the character of God for us to imitate.

Among those involved in rescuing the boys trapped in the Thai cave, earlier this year, much humility was shown. This raises the question ‘where should we look for our example of humility?’  This passage shows the astounding humility of God, in the person of Jesus Christ, taking on flesh and becoming a servant … washing the disciples’ feet.

Jesus’ example is one to imitate. It is how his disciples should act and has different aspects in differing situations. We might admire humility by a worker in a rescue situation which is according to the standards of the world. Jesus’ disciples, however, must follow him. Their humility will often not be on public display but will be seen in their stewardship of the gospel message about the cross … ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved’.

 

 

It’s not circumstances that restrict true freedom

Have you ever wanted to be free from worry … free from the feeling of being ’stuck’ in a situation over which you have no control? There is a desire, especially in the West, for freedom to do and be whoever and whatever we want and not be accountable to anyone. In this passage Jesus tells the Jewish followers they are not free unless they hold to his teaching. If they do this they will know the truth and the truth will set them free.

We see in the Jews response that they misunderstood this …’We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.’ Jesus goes on to say ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin.’ In this he is trying to show them that the real bondage they need to be set free from is sin. Sin and the guilt which comes from it has a type of paralysing effect on peoples’ lives.

The real freedom, which everyone needs, can only be found in Jesus Christ and what he has accomplished on the cross as a substitute. That is why he says ‘if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ Those who are truly free know that, through faith, all their sins, past, present and future, have been forgiven. They have a clear conscience before God. This is to be ‘free indeed.’

 

 

No-one has ever been able to lay down his life and take it up again as Jesus did.

The word ‘apologia’ is used in Scripture, not in the sense of an apology, but rather, as meaning a defense. This is important because people today are becoming ‘out of touch’ with the vital part of the Christian message. Apologetics and the gospel go hand in hand. It gets obstacles out of the way so that people can clearly understand the ‘good news’. By far the strongest reason for the truth of the gospel is the resurrection … to which these passages refer.

The apostle Peter’s early sermon appeals to the resurrection …’we are witnesses of that fact’. The one thing that distinguishes Christ from all those who preceded him is the resurrection … ‘You killed the author of life but God raised Him from the dead’. Peter saw this with his own eyes. The resurrection is one of the most documented incidents in human history. It turned the disciples from a defeated discouraged group into fearless witnesses and martyrs for the faith.

 

There are 3 indicators for us in this: the moral test, the relational test and the truth test

These passages contain information for us on each of these indicators.  With the moral test we are directed to the keeping of God’s commands and especially Jesus’ words: ‘If you love me you will keep my commands’. This is always in the context of free forgiveness through gospel grace.

The relational test is to do with love. Our first love to God and then to those around us …’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself’. It is good to ask the question ‘Do I sacrifice what I want to do in order to help someone else’.

Finally, there is the test for correct understanding of the teaching about Jesus. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ does not have the truth in them (Vs22). Being in a right relationship with God means receiving by faith what Jesus has accomplished for us at the cross.

 

 

God is love and understanding what this means transforms lives.

It has been said that this passage is the greatest piece ever written on love. What is misunderstood, however, is that it was written to inform the recipients about love within the church, in the context of the use of spiritual gifts. Without love every one of these is wasted because it is the reason that they have been given.

The use of verbs to describe love is important because it is not just a concept but an action. It is to do with how others are treated … with patience, kindness and without envy or boasting. People in the church are all on the same ‘team’ and the motive for loving others is the result of God’s first love to each believer. The message of Calvary needs to be always remembered.

 

 

 

The ‘what’ of the Christian message is familiar to most people. The ‘why’ and the ‘how’ however are much less well known.

 

In Romans, Paul begins by putting his name to the letter and then briefly telling about  the ‘what’ before he goes on to the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. We find that the gospel (good news) was promised in the Old Testament Scriptures, it is about God’s Son, descended from David (in one sense) and resurrected from the dead.

 

We also catch a glimpse of Paul’s heart, addressing the believers in Rome as ‘beloved’ …… showing his care and concern for them and hope to visit them.

 

This first part of Chapter 1 finishes with Paul giving a glimpse of the ‘why’. He says he is not ashamed of the gospel, the momentous truths about Jesus dying on the cross and rising again from death, because it is God’s way of saving people and we now get a glimpse of the ‘how’ …..  it is by faith. Faith is simply ‘confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’.

 

Verse 17 is the key …….. it contains a quote from the Old Testament “the righteous man shall live by faith”. Another way of saying this is ‘the one who through faith is righteous shall live’. Its not about what we have accomplished but our participation, by faith, in what has been accomplished for us by Jesus Christ on the cross.

 

A different perspective on genealogy can lead us into very profound territory.

There is a TV show which has the name ‘Who do you think you are?’ It is concerned with the modern interest in genealogy … searching for those of previous generations in our family line. This passage, however, is about a different version of the same question which occurred in response to Jesus’ activities.

Jesus upset the Jewish people, and especially the leaders, with what he said about his identity … that he has come to offer eternal life. How will this be done? In a totally unexpected way, through the cross. Our response to Jesus, the son, shows our attitude to God.

Jesus shocks the people again at the end of the passage. He tells them clearly of his equality with God. They responded to this claim by picking up rocks to stone him to death. The bigger question for us is ‘who do we think Jesus is?’ The answer either puts us with Jesus or against him.

 

 

 

 

A different, and most wonderful, kind of freedom.

In the gospels we encounter Jesus, the miracles he did and the challenging things that he said to the people and disciples. This passage challenges us again. What does it mean to say ‘I believe in Jesus’?  To really be his disciple means to embrace his teaching and this sets people free.

The first teaching is that if you sin then you are a slave to sin … you are under its control and power. This means a guilty conscience, fear of the consequences of what we have thought, said and done and a broken relationship with God.

In the gospel, however, the Son, Jesus Christ, sets us free in the most important sense of the word. By receiving God’s forgiveness, through trusting in Jesus crucified and risen, no accusation can be brought against us in the court of heaven, which is above all human wisdom. This is freedom for all eternity. Jesus achieved our freedom by giving up his freedom at the cross.

 

 

 

 

No-one has ever been able to lay down his life and take it up again as Jesus did

The word ‘apologia’ is used in Scripture, not in the sense of an apology, but rather, as meaning a defense. This is important because people today are becoming ‘out of touch’ with the vital part of the Christian message. Apologetics and the gospel go hand in hand. It gets obstacles out of the way so that people can clearly understand the ‘good news’. By far the strongest reason for the truth of the gospel is the resurrection … to which these passages refer.

The apostle Peter’s early sermon appeals to the resurrection …’we are witnesses of that fact’. The one thing that distinguishes Christ from all those who preceded him is the resurrection … ‘You killed the author of life but God raised Him from the dead’. Peter saw this with his own eyes. The resurrection is one of the most documented incidents in human history. It turned the disciples from a defeated discouraged group into fearless witnesses and martyrs for the faith.

 

 

 

A difficult teaching which caused many to turn away.

When Jesus described himself as the ‘bread of life’ it would have sounded strange to many people. This, however, is really a wonderful pointer to what he was coming to do through his death on the cross. It is ‘food’ for all those who recognize that they are sinners and need God’s forgiveness.

Two aspects in particular can be hard for people to take in. Firstly is the fact of his incarnation. His taking on flesh and becoming like us … being born of a woman and living an earthly life. We are told in this passage (v33) that he is the ‘bread’ which came down from heaven.

The second thing is his being a substitute who would make things right between those who trust in him and God. He spoke of the ‘bread’ of his flesh which he gave for the life of the world. These difficult teachings caused many of his followers to leave him because they could not accept him in this way.