Robert Holmes, in his book God’s Man, describes a man who went home with his friend for dinner. The man was impressed by the way his friend entered the house, asked his wife how her day went, and told her she looked pretty. Then, after they embraced, she served dinner. After they ate, the husband complimented his wife on the meal and thanked her for it. When the two guys were alone, the visitor asked, “Why do you treat your wife so well?”
“Because she deserves it, and it makes our marriage happier,” replied the host.
Impressed, the visitor decided to adopt the idea. Arriving home, he embraced his wife and said, “You look wonderful!” For good measure he added, “Sweetheart, I'm the luckiest guy in the world.”
His wife burst into tears. Bewildered, he asked her, “What in the world's the matter?”
She wept, “What a day! Billy fought at school. The refrigerator quit and spoiled the groceries. And now you've come home drunk!” (Robert Leslie Holmes, God's Man, Kregel, 1998; www.PreachingToday.com)
Her husband tried to love her, but it didn’t look or feel like love to her.
As we work our way through the Corona Virus situation, we have an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love to each other and to a world in desperate need of such love.
But what does that love look like? How do you love people in such a way that they don’t think you’re drunk. Well, if you have your Bibles I invite you to turn with me to John 13, John 13, where God in the flesh demonstrates His love.
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (ESV)
How did He love them?
John 13:2-5 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (ESV)
Jesus loved his disciples by serving them. He washed their feet. Jesus had all authority – all things had been given to Him (vs.3). Jesus was the Messiah, sent from God and going back to God. Jesus had the place of honor and power, and yet he took the place of a servant and did the dirty work nobody else wanted to do.
You see, in Bible days, the streets were dusty, and people wore sandals without socks or stockings. As they traveled from one place to another, their feet got very dirty, so a host would often provide a servant to wash his guests’ feet after they arrived. If no servant was available, then the lowest ranked person did the job.
Now, according to Luke, the topic of discussion at the table that day was, who is the greatest (Luke 22:24). The disciples were arguing with each other over who deserved the highest rank, and no doubt they fought each other for the top places at the table, those places closest to Jesus Christ.
Now, when you picture this scene you have to get out of your mind Leonardo DaVinci’s painting of the Last Supper of Christ. This is NOT the scene as it took place in that upper room. For one thing, the disciples didn’t SIT on one side of a long table. They RECLINED around what is called a “Triclinium,” i.e., a U-shaped table. This is the way formal meals were done in Bible days, and there is no reason to believe that Jesus and his disciples did it any different.
The second place in was reserved for the host, with the places next to him reserved for honored guests, one on his right and one on his left. Of course, Jesus was the host at this meal. On Jesus’ right was John. Verse 23 it indicates that John was leaning on Jesus’ bosom, so he had to be reclining at the table next to Jesus for that to happen.
Guess who got the last spot. It was Peter. In verse 24 it says “Peter motioned to [John]” to get his attention. Well, if John is laying on his left side facing away from everyone else, the only one he could see without turning himself completely around was the person at the last place of the table. So that’s where Peter had to be to get John’s attention simply through a motion or gesture.
As the disciples fought for the best places, John, the youngest disciple, was quick and able to get the top spot. Peter, who was considerably older, got last place. And you can get bet your last dollar, he wasn’t too happy about that, especially since it meant that he had to play slave to the rest of the guys. No way! He deserved better than that, so he just stayed there and sulked.
That’s when Jesus got up from the table, laid aside his outer garment, took a towel and girded himself. Then He starts washing the disciples’ feet, beginning with John.
Tell me, if you were Peter, how would you feel as Jesus makes his way around the table washing each one’s feet? How would you feel, knowing that it was your job, but you refused to do it because of pride? How would you feel when Jesus finally got to you to do for you what you should have done for Him and the others?
John 13:6-8a He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” (ESV)
Peter was embarrassed!
John 13:8b “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
I.e., you cannot share this meal with me. You connot fellowship with me.
John 13:9-11 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (ESV)
Jesus says, “Peter, you don’t need a bath again. Sure you blew it. Sure you acted in selfish pride, but you haven’t lost your salvation. You just got your feet dirty walking in this world, and you just need me to wash away the pride.”
You see, when you trust Christ as your Savior, you get a spiritual bath. Your sins are washed away and forgiven. However, as you walk in this world, your feet become dirty. Perhaps you pick up some of the attitudes of this world. Perhaps you even pick up some of its actions. Even so, you don’t need another bath; you just need your feet cleaned; you just need to have those dirty attitudes and actions washed away.
And Jesus can do that for us if you ask Him. He sure knew how to take away Peter’s pride here. He did it by washing his feet. Jesus showed His love through service. He showed His love by taking the part of a slave and serving those under Him.
Soren Kierkegaard used to tell the story about a king who loved a humble maiden. He was a great king and he could have whatever he wanted. Every statesman feared his wrath, every foreign state trembled before his power; they would have all sent ambassadors to the wedding.
He realized that if he asked his courtiers they would say, “Your majesty is about to confer a favor upon the maiden for which she can never be sufficiently grateful her whole life long.” That was the problem! Even if she wanted to come with him, he would never know for certain if she would have loved him for himself. So he wrestled with his troubled thoughts alone.
Finally, he decided. If she could not come up to his high station and be sure to love him freely, he must descend to hers. And he must descend stripped of his royal power and wealth, for only then would he know if his beloved loved him freely, as equals. So he laid aside all his privileges, along with the trappings of his power, and he came to her as her equal, to win her love (Soren Kierkegaard, Philosophical Fragments, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2009, Page 21; www.Preaching Today.com)
That’s what Jesus did for us! Philippians 2 says, “Though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus laid aside all the privileges of His position as the Sovereign Lord of the universe. He became one of us, even dying for us, to win our love. Jesus showed His love through service, and that’s what he wants you to do.
John 13:12-17 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (ESV)
Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to be happy? Do you want fulfillment in life? Then serve one another, because happiness and fulfillment are not found in places of wealth and power; they’re found in places of service.
Now, the coronavirus pandemic gives the church a wonderful opportunity to serve! It’s what the church has done throughout history, especially when plague and disease threatened entire continents like the coronavirus does today.
In the Third Century, the plague spread throughout the Roman Empire. It brought death and disaster when it struck, and it was merciless in its sweep, claiming the lives of all who stood in its path.
So, when an outbreak of the plague struck Carthage in AD 232, the local authorities acted swiftly and decisively. Dead bodies were disposed of and those who were suspected of having been contaminated were put outside the city walls. The impact was enormous suffering and death and disease on an epic scale.
The Bishop of Carthage at the time, Cyprian, also acted swiftly. He called the church together and invited them to go and live among the sick and dying. He challenged them to give up the comfort and security of their own well-being and to step into the world of the rejected and the forgotten. (Malcolm Duncan, Risk Takers, Monarch, 2013, p. 60; www.PreachingToday.com)
And that’s what Christians did! They served those that everyone else rejected, and the church grew as a result. It was a demonstration of love that many could not resist.
Now, the coronavirus is nowhere near as deadly as the plague. but it does give us opportunities to serve today! Since the schools are closed for the rest of the school year, we can open our church facility to students needing access to high-speed internet, so they can complete their studies. We’ll need some people to supervise, so that’s an opportunity to serve. I’ve also heard that the school is looking for volunteers to distribute school lunches at various locations throughout the city. It’s another opportunity to serve. Or you can go shopping for those who are the most vulnerable, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, who shouldn’t get out at this time.
Please, certainly, take the appropriate precautions, but use this crisis to find opportunities to serve and so demonstrate the love of Christ. Do you want to show the world what God’s love is all about? Then...
SERVE ONE ANOTHER.
Help each other. Humble yourself enough to attend to each other’s needs. But don’t just serve those you like...
SERVE YOUR ENEMIES.
Serve those who mistreat you. Help those who have hurt you. That’s what Jesus does. He serves even his betrayer.
John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ (ESV)
Jesus is talking about Judas here. Judas, His trusted table companion, will turn against Him.
John 13:19-26 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (ESV)
Can you imagine that? Jesus gives Judas the sign of friendship and honor! You have to understand that in a typical, formal meal in Bible days, the host took a piece of bread, dipped it into a stew, and then fed it to his guest of honor as a sign of friendship. This piece of bread was called “the morsel,” and this is exactly what Jesus gave Judas. In other words, Jesus not only washed Judas’ feet; He honored Judas as His guest of honor. And He did it, knowing that Judas would betray Him. He did it, knowing that Judas would set in motion a string of events that would lead to the cross.
John 13:27-30 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night [both literally and figuratively] (ESV)
Judas walked away from the Light of the world and stepped into the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Judas was going out to betray Jesus, and Jesus knew it! Even so, Jesus served His betrayer.
Jesus served the man who probably more than any other man hurt Him the worst, and that’s what Jesus wants you to do. He wants you to serve even those who hurt you. He wants you to forgive them and love them for His sake.
Ernest Gordon, who was the Dean of the Chapel of Princeton University for 26 years, wrote about his experience in Kwai, a Japanese prison camp during World War II. His book, Through the Valley of the Kwai, describes leaving the prison camp after months of suffering and torture. He writes:
“We found ourselves on the same track with several carloads of Japanese wounded after we were freed from the Kwai prison camp. These unfortunates were on their own without medical care. No longer fit for action in Burma, they had been packed into railway cars which were being returned to Bangkok.
“They were in a shocking state.” Gordon says, “I have never seen men filthier. Uniforms were encrusted with mud, blood, and excrement. Their wounds, sorely inflamed and full of pus, crawled with maggots. The maggots, however, in eating the putrefying flesh, probably prevented gangrene.”
“It was apparent why the Japanese were so cruel to their prisoners,” Gordon writes. “If they didn't care for their own, why should they care for us?”
Then he goes on to say, “The wounded looked at us forlornly as they sat with their heads resting against the carriages, waiting for death. They had been discarded as expendable, the refuse of war. These were the enemy. They were more cowed and defeated than we had ever been.
Gordon says, “Without a word most of the officers in my section unbuckled their packs, took out part of their ration and a rag or two, and, with water canteens in their hands, went over to the Japanese train.”
He says, “Our guards tried to prevent us, bawling, ‘No goodka! No goodka!’ But we ignored them and knelt down by the enemy to give water and food, to clean and bind up their wounds. Grateful cries of ‘Aragatto!’ (‘Thank you’) followed us when we left...”
Gordon says, “I regarded my comrades with wonder. Eighteen months ago, they would have joined readily in the destruction of our captors [if they had the opportunity]. Now, these same officers were dressing the enemy's wounds.” (Ernest Gordon, Through the Valley of the Kwai; James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, pp. 219-220; BI# 2200-2209; 7/1996.700)
That’s what Jesus did and wants you to do. Dress the wounds of your enemy. Give him or her food and water. Serve one another. Serve even your enemies. And so...
DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU FOLLOW JESUS.
Show that you belong to Christ. Prove that you are one of His disciples.
John 13:31-35 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV)
It’s not your Bible knowledge; it’s not your ability; it’s your love that proves you belong to Jesus. Compassion shows your connection to Christ.
With the U.S. government encouraging people to self-quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Washington Post recently ran an article (March 2, 2020) about Eyam, a small village in 17th Century England that did just that. The Black Plague or Black Death spread throughout Europe from 1347 to 1665 and killed at least 25 million people in in the continent and anywhere from 75 million to 200 million worldwide. The symptoms were “flu-like” after an incubation period of 3-7 days.
In September 1665, a tailor’s assistant brought a bunch of flea-infested blankets from London to the little village of Eyam. The fleas carried the plague and soon many of the estimated 800 residents of Eyam were dying.
Eyam’s rector (or pastor), William Mompesson, along with the previous rector, convinced their little Christian community to quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the disease to other communities. Eyam lay on an important trade route between two prominent cities, and if the current plague was brought to those cities, many more would die. Mompesson said if they agreed to stay – effectively choosing death – he would do everything in his power to alleviate their suffering and remain with them, telling them he was willing to sacrifice his own life rather than see nearby communities desolated.
According to eyewitness accounts:
A quarantine cordon was established with a one-mile radius marked by a ring of stones. For 14 months nobody went in or out of the village. Food was left at the boundary stone by nearby townspeople in exchange for gold coins submerged in vinegar, which villagers believed would disinfect them. The death-rate skyrocketed... One woman, Elizabeth Hancock, buried six of her children and her husband inside a month.
To limit infections within Eyam, church services were held outdoors, and some villagers left their homes to live outdoors nearby. By the plague’s end, 260 of Eyam’s estimated 800 residents died, more than double the mortality rate of the plague in London. The villagers’ self-sacrifice had worked. The plague never spread to nearby towns and, 14 months later, in November 1667, the quarantine was lifted.
To this day, Eyam’s ancestors are honored as those, “who in a sublime, unparalleled resolution gave up their lives — yea: doomed themselves to pestilential death to save the surrounding country.” (Zach Purser Brown, “Bubonic plague was so deadly an English village quarantined itself to save others,” The Washington Post, 3-2-20; www.PreachingToday.com)
They demonstrated that they were followers of Christ, who Himself gave up His life to save people from a plague far worse than the Black Plague. Jesus died on the cross to save people from their sins, which can plague them forever in hell.
You may be concerned about the coronavirus today, which can make you sick for a few days. But you should be more concerned about your sin, which can condemn you to hell for all eternity.
Please, if you haven’t done it already, trust Christ with your life; depend on Him to save you from your sin. Then show people what Jesus is like as you serve them sacrificially with the love He showed to you.
Serve one another. Serve even your enemies. And so demonstrate that you follow Jesus.
I close with this benediction from Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate:
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there.
God has a purpose in your being right where you are.
Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit,
wants to do something in and through you.
Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
