The servant king

John 13:1-17 ESV

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. 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. 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.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”  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.”  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.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

These passages are supposed to give us an inside look into the inner sanctuary, what is going on inside the heart of Jesus.

This foot washing is astounding.

When things become familiar, we forget how beautiful and amazing things are. We need to slow down and look again. Jesus knew that he was going to die, a painful and humiliating death. God was going to place all of the world's sin on his shoulders. Most people draw inward when there is stress and trouble. But during this stressful time, Jesus washed their feet. Washing feet was generally reserved for the lowest of the slaves. Peers did not wash each other's feet. It was a humiliating task. Jesus takes off his outer clothes, puts on the uniform of a servant. This is atypical and socially unacceptable behavior. Utterly astounding. It would be the equivalent of the President cleaning out the toilet of one of his secret service men. Even more so, Jesus has been given all power and authority over creation. One who has given life to dust, now kneels and wipes the dust off of a creation.

It's an illustration

Jesus wasn't just washing their feet because their feet were dirty. It is symbolic of his entire ministry. He rose, laid aside, taking, and poured out. He rose from his throne in heaven. Laid aside his godliness and took the form of a man, a servant. Then poured out his life for his own.

Our response

This act can either repel or propel us. Simon Peter rejects the service of Jesus. Peter wanted to serve Jesus rather than be served. But Jesus was saying that Peter needed to be saved and served by Jesus. Our personal righteousness is offensive to God. To have part in Jesus, we must let Him serve us. We must reject our personal righteousness; accepting the righteousness given to us through Jesus. If we accept this, then we must be pushed to serve others. This is the mark of a Christian. One who follows Jesus must be marked by a life of service. Note the order. Jesus first serves us; then calls us to serve. Not the other way around. We can only serve after we've been served.

The Cross: where true glory is found

John 12:20-43 ESV

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.    “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father,   save me from   this hour’? But   for this purpose I have come to   this hour.  Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.  Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.  And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”  Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,   “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”  Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Rev. Charles Han

This is the last week of Jesus' life. John spends half of his book on this last week. It should tell us that he saw it was of great importance.

Glory is mentioned seven times in this passage. John wants to impress upon his audience the importance of glory. During this time, Jesus was at his height of popularity with the crowds. But still many Jews did not believe in Him. Even though there were many signs, they were like blind people. Among those who believe, there were even Jewish leaders. But they did not publicly identify with Jesus, for fear of losing their status, position, and income. John addresses this as a glory issue. We are glory seekers. But two glories are in conflict here. In the beginning of the book of John, he states that Jesus is God's glory. Glory is a person. But there is another type of glory, the glory given to people by God. These are the glories in conflict. We all seek glory, delight, pleasure, and approval from someone... But who? John says we should find it in Jesus... In the cross.

We find true glory when we embrace the crowds of Christ as the sole source of our significance.

When Jesus is asked by gentiles about seeing God, Jesus replied that his hour to be glorified was here. We would usually consider the hour of death by crucifixion the most unlikely act of glorification. Crucification was considered the most humiliating death. But this is where Jesus says that glory is found. This is the exact opposite of what the world expects. Gentiles are confused by it. Jews were stumbled by it. Muslims are offended by this. For the believer, the cross was where the most unfair exchange happened. Our shame was traded for the righteousness of Christ.

What do you boast in? This is our personal glory. Smarts, riches, success, good works. What makes you feel weak? Self hate, failures, and weaknesses. That is also our personal glory. All these things are crucified and buried. We should not listen to the world. We are rich in God and his wisdom.

We find true glory when we follow Christ on the self sacrificial path of the cross. He used an agricultural idea. A seed must die to bear fruit. A seed that is just preserved is useless. It must go into the ground and die. This is how Christians should live. The greatest sign of a believer, one who follows to the cross. Going to the cross and giving your life up to God. Jesus would've made a horrible megachurch pastor. He calls you to live by carrying a cross. Seeking after God's glory. This is finding glory in the eyes of God rather than man.

Simeon's Song of Peace

Luke 2:22-35 ESV

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;  for my eyes have seen your salvation   that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,   a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”  And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Rev. Charles Han

Jesus has been born and there are sacrifices that need to be made for this birth. They go to Jerusalem to offer these sacrifices. There is a man who has been waiting for the coming Messiah. He has been told by prophecy that he will see the Savior in his lifetime. He then blesses both Jesus and his parents.

The peace that Christ brings

Simeon says that now he has seen Jesus he can die in peace. We usually say this in a playful way. But this reveals something of our hearts. But Simeon is not being playful. This is more of a heavenly peace. What does this mean? He is ensured peace with God. He has been delivered from the fear of death. He is assured that when he dies and meets God, he will be live in heaven and find favor from God. Since we do not control when and how we die, there will be  plenty loose ends. But in Jesus all the necessary work has been done. There are no loose ends that needs to be done. This peace comes from eyes of faith. Simeon held baby Jesus and saw salvation.

How this peace is brought

When Simeon blesses the couple, he speaks of conflict. Rising and falling of people in Israel. A sword piercing Mary. He brings peace in the midst of conflict. What a paradox. He brings this peace by expanding the kingdom of God. We find peace when Jesus reigns in more and more of our lives. When Christ comes, there is opposition. Whether Jerusalem or our hearts, when Jesus comes in there will be conflict. When we become a Christian, there will be opposition and rebellion within our own hearts.

Are you like the Jews trying to find peace in your life by having God improve your circumstances? Or are you trying to submit more of your life to the Lord Jesus? Jesus doesn't come to change our circumstances. He comes to save us from our sins. It is a spiritual struggle. That is what constitutes a Christian life. A spiritual war within as well as an inward peace. That is what is necessary for heavenly peace.

Mary's Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56 ESV

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Rev. David Skinner

Mary hears that her old aunt is pregnant. They are together in miraculous pregnancy. This is a tumultuous time. Mary is a virgin. She's pledged to be married. And then along comes an angel, who says she is pregnant. Rumors and gossip are starting to circulate in her town. Joseph is planning to quietly divorce her, otherwise she might be killed. What is the first thing she heard upon coming to visit her aunt, Elizabeth? Blessed. There are many troubling things, but she is favored by God. God is here and in our lives. Jesus is not just a baby in a manger. Jesus is in the world, permeated throughout every aspect of our lives. But we don't see it, we often live as functional atheists. But God is there in our everyday lives.

Mary is greeted by the angel... And there is no freaking out on her part. There are plenty of people who freak out when an angel appears throughout scripture. But she is calm, she's more troubled by what the angel says then the appearance of an angel. The angel tells her that she's pregnant. She takes the angel at his word. She believes that she was pregnant and then says how she could be pregnant, being a virgin? She's wondering if this angel knows how pregnancy works... Just a conversation with an angel. Nothing amiss here. The angel replies, the holy spirit will be the father of her babe. Mary says, okay.

Mary applies the scripture in her life. She sees God in the everyday. Her song includes words from various parts of the bible. Her reaction to the angel is the reaction of one who assumes the world has angels and a God who intervenes. On earth as it is in heaven so to speak...

When she sings of God, she exalts in God. One who gives mercy and raises the lowly. She is familiar with how God works. This is just like God to do something like this. She is a simple young girl from a small town. And God comes to save the world through her.

Do you fear God? God can give us wrath and death beyond imagination. He can destroy both body and soul. He gives grace to the humble and fearful. God humbles the proud. He lifts up the humble. Repent of our self glorification. The instagrams. The pictures of food. Stop trying to make our mark on the world. God is against such people.

God feeds the hungry. He offers food, true food and pure living water. Not food that does not satisfy. Mary lives in a world where God provides for those who are his. Where angels are normal. And babies can come from virgins, if God wills it.

God gives his perfect son through a virgin. To die upon a cross so that we who are lacking will have enough; those who are afraid will be given courage; those who don't live god fearing lives, will have help. So that sinners will have a great help.

The songs of Christmas: Zachariah's praise

Luke 1:57-80 ESV

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us  from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Rev. Dan Whang

Advent is a good time to draw close to God through the story of the incarnation, Jesus' coming. To take time away from all the shopping, food, and celebrations... And celebrate the coming of the Christ.

The passage speaks of Zacharia's response to the coming of Christ. Benedictus is the name given to his response. This word came after a long period of silence. The prophets had stopped. The people had only the old testament words to study and wait for the coming Savior.

Reasons to live with hope

Christ's visitation had a saving purpose

When Jesus came, it was to save. To save his people from soon and death. It was to bring redemption and deliverance. He is God's compassion and love to sinners. This should give us an enduring hope.

Christ's visitation was predicted and fulfilled

Christ came to fulfill the word of the prophets. He is the one to complete the covenant. He is a promise from God. This is not a promise from people, but God. This is a guarantee from God. This means there are things that we can build our lives on. That God will be with those who love and follow Him. That there is always grace for the day. God works for those who love him. We have hope regardless of how our lives or faith is doing. We can stand on the authority and promises of God.

Christ's visitation brought a transforming enablement.

Perhaps we are stuck by fear. That we must serve to keep people happy, to keep God happy. Or we are afraid to serve, we think we are unworthy or not good enough. But Jesus is our acceptance and worth. He brings love and grace. Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole law. Something that we sinners cannot do. He justifies us and clothes us in His righteousness. For those who serve, we fail constantly. But we are covered by His righteousness. We can serve confidently because we are covered by Christ.

Christ's visitation leaves an eternal impact

He brings light to those in darkness. Pardon for those condemned. And guidance for those walking in the shadow of death. He comes for those in shadows and doubt, He brings light. For those caught in sin, he brings life and freedom. For those lost and wandering, there is a shepherd who will guide you.

Members of one another

Romans 12:3-8 ESV

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Rev Dwight Yoo

What does it mean to be a member of a church?

To belong to each other

Salvation is not by what we do but rather what Christ has done. It is started by the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit will complete the work. What does this look like? All of life becomes an act of worship. The church is an integral part of this process. The process of becoming like Christ requires a church. When we become a believer by faith, we now have a relationship with every believer. We are all brothers and sisters to one another. Regardless of political stance, race, ethnic background, etc. When we are adopted into the body of Christ, we don't get to choose our family members. But we don't belong to an organization, we belong to a body of believers, the people of the church. We belong to the individuals of the local church. We are not a club where we can pay dues and get benefits. The church is not for consumers. It is a body. It requires both give and take. The eye requires blood to function. It also gives; it gives sight to the body.

To contribute confidently, but not condescendingly

Everyone in the body has gifts. They are all to contribute to the body. Some have more gifts than others in the body. But Paul tells us to watch our attitudes. That those who have more gifts have been given more by God by grace. These are gifts from God by grace, not by works. We are to be humble in contributing with our gifts. We are, as members, to contribute to the body. But we are also to use it with the right attitude.

Meeting consistently and constructively

We are to meet each other regularly. And not just to play, but to spur each other to do good works. We are to remind each other. We are to encourage one another. To keep fighting the good fight.

When we do not meet regularly, this can often come from idolotry. From fear of losing out in our career or school. We forget that living and loving one another is one of the marks of the Christian is the way we love one another.

Culture, creativity, and grace

Genesis 2:8-25 ESV

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Psalms 8:1-9 ESV

O Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Mr. Andy Crouch

Most of our time is spent working. It is what takes up the most of our time outside of church worship. To get a good picture of work, we should not start in Genesis three, but rather Genesis one and two. The first references to humans is "earthling". They are not yet man and woman. But rather like earth. We are not extraterrestrial. We are much like the rest of the created animals of earth. Not only that, but these earthlings are given a lot of authority. We have an innate sense of responsibility for animals. We have been given dominion over not only domesticated animals, not only land animals, but even birds and even the teeming fish of the sea. So what does this have to do with our work? We are given a piece of God's creation and we are to celebrate and improve this small part of God's creation. But we are also naked. We are incredibly vulnerable. Humans don't fit into any one ecological niche. We are so vulnerable when we are first born. As image bearers, we are both authoritative as well as vulnerable. We are not meant to be alone. We have authority over the world, yet we retain the created creature's vulnerability. It is erroneous to think we can grow in authority without growing in vulnerability. We are meant to clear over each other's vulnerability in relationship. We are many to create and cultivate. Our purpose is not to sit back and drink little drinks with little hats. We are meant to cultivate. To maintain and increase the fruitfulness of creation. We are meant to keep culture good. We are meant in our workplaces to find that which is good and keep it as good. We are not called to impact the world. We are to maintain and keep it good. But are not to just to conserve. We are also to create with the things of creation. All healthy work is a combination of conservation and innovation. To have one without the other is unhealthy.

Consider live music. It requires using our authority and considers traditions and that which currently exists. And it requires vulnerability on the part of the performer. And it requires a relationship with your audience. Only when we have authority, vulnerability, and relationship can we have flourishing.