to 1 Samuel chapter 25. I'll be reading verses 39 through 42. 1 Samuel 25, 39 through 42. And then if you turn the New Testament to John chapter 13, I'll be reading verses 1 through 20 for New Testament reading. Hear the word of the Lord as it comes to us from 1 Samuel chapter 25. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head. Then David said and spoke to Abigail to take her as his wife. When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, David has sent us to take you to him as his wife. And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord. And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers to David and became his wife. than our New Testament reading from John chapter 13. Hear the word of the Lord. Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of the 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, 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. And 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'm 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 to 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 is bathed does not need to wash except for his feet, but it's completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him. That is why he said, not all of you are clean. When he had washed their feet, he put on his outer garments and resumed his place. He said to them, do you understand what I've done to you? You call me teacher and Lord and you're 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've 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. I'm 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. I'm telling you this now, before it takes place. 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. Whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me. This is the word of God. You may be seated and let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word read. the means of grace. We thank you for your Holy Spirit who does his work to illumine the word read and heard, to apply it to our hearts and to our lives. Father, you have set apart men whom you've called to the laying on of hands for the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you have established that this would be done in the assembly when we gather for worship. These men are jars of clay, earthen vessels. They have feet of clay, and yet you hide treasure in earthen vessels that you may be glorified in the preaching of the gospel. And so your servant stands before you, an earthen vessel, in need of the strength and the unction of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with both clarity and with power. Lord, grant that unction and open the ears and the hearts of your people who hear. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. I want to begin by just taking a personal moment to say I'm glad to finally be here with you. I was scheduled to preach on this particular Sunday in January, and I got an upper respiratory infection and was not able to come. I was scheduled to come back in February. I got a relapse. of that and when I was unable to come. And then in March, and by then I had overworked my voice and the doctor said, you need to rest your voice and I was unable to come. But God's sovereign over those things as well. And today is the appointed day for me to be here with you. I thank you for your prayers. Though I will admit, as I run into people at presbytery meeting or in churches who've been praying for me, many assumed I was more gravely ill than I actually was. It happened to fall on those Sundays which prevented me from being here with you. But it's my delight to be here and my intent if God so wills it, to be a part of the rotation for the foreseeable future as the search committee is at work to search for the Lord to reveal who will come and be the pastor of Reformation. It's also my joy to meet the folks from Ocean View. And it's been a delight to shake your hands and to meet some of you already in Sunday school and following. And I must say this, there are people who are members of Reformation who have heard my name and heard me prayed for but probably have never met me before. It was my joy in the very beginning of RPC with Steve Doe to tag team the starting of this congregation. with a Bible study first on Sunday evenings, then evening worship, ultimately morning and evening worship. So I have taught and preached at RPC on multiple occasions. But with the call of our organizing pastor, my opportunities have been less and less. So now it's my joy to be restored to you and to come and preach. But the question the preacher always has is what to preach. There are 66 canonical books to pick from to preach. As those who are at All Saints know, I love the Psalms. In fact, there are some churches that think I only have one book in my Bible, and that's the Psalms, because I've preached from them so often. But I've preached much of a series on the Psalms at All Saints. in the evening before John was ordained and installed as organizing pastor there. And so I knew, well, I can't take those up because some of the folks are still in attendance here. But I'm going to do those in the evening while they're at Austin. So we're going to begin a series in the Psalms tonight. But what to preach in the morning? That was the question. And I'm just going to tell you how this particular pericope came to my mind to consider. One Sunday I was able to go to my own church, which is rare because I'm usually traveling and preaching in other places. And my pastor, Hank Belfield, who's the standing clerk of the OPC, as well as my pastor, was preaching through the Gospel of John. He still is. He was at John 15. I was so moved and inspired by his sermon, it triggered the thought in me, this might be a good portion of God's Word to preach at RPC on Sunday mornings. under the general heading, the night that he was betrayed. That is beginning with chapter 13 through chapter 17 of John's Gospel. And if the Lord brings us a pastor sooner, then we'll end the series probably without finishing the series. But if the time is extended long enough, hopefully we can finish this particular series in God's Word. I think these are important words. Of course, all the Word of God is, we know that. But in particular, we see in this text a loving act of the Lord Jesus Christ. We're going to look at this morning, the washing of his disciples' feet. As you come to 14, 15, and 16, loving words, the words that he taught to his disciples, words they would need the very next day when he was crucified. They would need those words when they were confused and scattered. And then they would need those words when he departed in ascension and then sent the Holy Spirit in carrying out the commission that the Lord Jesus gave to them to make disciples of the nations. They would need those words. And those are the words that he spoke to them. And then he loved them by praying for them in John 17 in the high priestly prayer. And by extension, in that prayer, he turned to pray for us, for those of us who would believe because of their testimony. And so we see Jesus' prayer in John 17. So this morning, we're going to be looking at this loving act. Now, I've heard a lot of sermons on the foot-washing event, and I'm sure that you have as well. And oftentimes, the thrust of the sermon is not the thrust of the task, but assumptions that are made. We know from the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, what was going on among the disciples earlier that day. It had even happened before this, or begun to happen before that. And even this particular night, that they were arguing among themselves as to who would be the greatest when Christ came into his kingdom. And they were arrogant and they were proud. And we read that in the synoptic tradition. And so oftentimes the text is approached in this way. They were so full of themselves, they didn't wash each other's feet. This customary cleansing. And Jesus comes in and realizes they haven't done it, and so he washes their feet. That's not in the text. It may have happened. It's possible that that's what happened, but the text doesn't tell us anything like that. We look at John chapter 13. In fact, I don't think this was the customary foot washing here, but something Jesus did particularly at the meal itself when they were eating Passover together. And we understand that from the synoptic tradition more than we do from reading John's gospel. Typically and customarily what happened in that day is you would bathe before you would go to someone's house to visit them. And then when you arrive, the servants of the house, or sometimes the children, what's usually called the least among them, would perform this customary task of washing the feet of their visitors as they came in. I suspect, though the text doesn't tell us this either, that that had already been done by someone within the house where they were meeting in the upper room where Jesus would administer Passover and change it forever. And that this is a unique washing. Because in the Seder service, even today, there is ceremonial washing that takes place. Typically, it's a washing of the hands in consecration before the beginning of the Seder service. I think that that's probably what Jesus did here, but he took it to the next level when he washed his disciples' feet. Now, look at his motivation that we see in the text. We read in verse one, now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Your translation may say he loved them to the uttermost. It can be translated either way. Both things are true. Jesus had loved his disciples since he called them. He had loved them through this three years when he is preparing them for their apostolic ministry after his work of redemption. He loved them up to this very point and even beyond this point. We see he ultimately loved them when he died on the cross for them the next day. He loved them to the end of his earthly ministry. He also loved them to the uttermost. We see the full extent of his love, not only in the foot washing, but beginning there, but most prominently when he was crucified the next day on the cross. You want to know how much God loves you? Look to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's how much God loves you. That's how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves you, to the uttermost. He died in your stead. Here he begins to show that love, but doing the menial task of washing his disciples' feet. I think it's interesting, and secondly, to see his interaction with Peter. And Peter's Peter, isn't he? We're not surprised, are we, that Peter blurts out whatever comes to his head. We've seen it sometimes for good, like at Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus said, you know, who do men say that I am? And they tell him what all of the people are saying, that he says, who do you say that I am? And it's Peter who says, you're the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus is excited by his answer and says, Simon, Barjona, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who's in heaven, you're listening to God, you're not listening to man. That's exactly who I am. And then he began to tell them the nature of his messianic calling, which is to be delivered over and to be crucified. And the very same Peter says, no, this will never happen to you. And Jesus responded to him that time by saying, get thee behind me, Satan. You're a stone of stumbling to me. Peter could be rash, impulsive. Anybody here like that? Anybody want to admit it? Often He didn't guard His words. Sometimes He spoke that which was true. Sometimes He hadn't thought things through. But Jesus still loves Him and loves Him to the end and washes His feet. But that's what we see in the encounter here, beginning with verse 6. He came to Simon Peter who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Are you actually going to wash my feet? Look, He calls him, Lord, Lord. He recognizes the lordship of Jesus Christ. He recognizes he is the servant. Do you wash my feet? Are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered and says, what I'm doing, you do not understand now, but afterward, you will understand. Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. There's the brash Peter. Of course, in one sense, he's right. He should be washing Jesus' feet. Even the greatest of the old covenant prophets at that transition point to the new, John the Baptist says, I'm not worthy to unloose the sandals of his feet. I'm not worthy to wash the feet of him who comes after me. But Jesus is not only Lord, he is our servant. And he loves us. And so he says to Peter, if I do not wash you, you have no share with me. If you don't let me serve you, if you don't let me serve you, you have no share with me. You don't let me wash you. And of course, he's talking about the washing that comes through his own blood. You have no share with me. And Peter, as the pendulum swings, says, Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head. Wash all of me. He goes from, no, you're not going to wash my feet, to wash everything. You can understand what Peter's going through here. But look at what Jesus says. He says, said to him, the one who is bathed does not need to wash except for his feet, but it's completely clean. And you're clean. You see, Peter was already washed. Peter is already regenerate. The 11 are already regenerate, but there's one among them who's not. And I want to come to that here momentarily. What he says to Peter is, no, you bathed already. You're clean. Only your feet are dirty. But he's also saying, I've already washed you. You're already mine. I've already chosen you. You're already clean. Yes, you need your feet washed, but you're already clean. And he says, and you are clean, not just to Peter, but to those who are there, but not every one of you. And then he says in verse 11, for he knew who would betray him. That's why he said, not all of you are clean. One of the things that I find extraordinary, it's in John's gospel, even beyond this, but especially in this event, is John has an almost preoccupation with Judas. and his betrayal. You see that already in verse 2, which says, during supper, when the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him. You see, John interjects up front here, Judas is not clean. than the text we just read in verse 11. For he knew who would betray him. That's why he said, you are not all clean. And then if you drop down, you see in verse 18, the latter part, but the scripture will be fulfilled. He who ate bread has lifted his heel against me. We sang of that in Psalm 41 just momentarily. Three times in these 20 verses, he refers to Judas, the one who is not clean, the one who would betray him. And yet, if we look at the text, we see something extraordinary. Jesus washed Judas' feet. Did he serve him the Lord's Supper? That's harder to discern when you look at the synoptic gospels. I think probably not in terms of the chronology that you see, but it's undoubtedly true that he washed Judah's feet. He also dipped the sop with Judah's. Yes, in one way to say this is the one who will betray me, but that's an honor to do that. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself the question, why would he wash Judas' feet when he knows what Judas was preordained to do as reprobate to fulfill the scriptures, but also had determined to do already under the influence of Satan? Why would he wash his feet? Why would he dip the sock with him? I believe in the free offer of the gospel. I have brothers and we have brothers and sisters in our reformed tradition who do not. I believe that God savingly loves his elect. I believe that God in his wrath hates the reprobate. But I also believe that there is within God himself the capacity to love, not unto salvation, even the reprobate, and that grounds the free all for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all. And in a sense, the washing of Judas' feet is almost like Judas You don't have to do this. We need to think about these things. We do our evangelism. Yes, Jacob I loved, Esau I hated. The Bible teaches that. We understand that. And it's not just Esau's sin that God hated. It's Esau, the sinner. But there is the capacity in God not to desire the death of the wicked, not to take delight in it. Even though he has decreed whom he will save an election and will pass by the reprobate. Is this an offer even to Judas? but of course not accompanied by the Holy Spirit who regenerates and who gives a new heart that responds in repentance and faith. And yet, is it a sincere offer? Hating the reprobate is difficult for us. There's a sense in which we must. But our righteous indignation against wickedness, which is genuine, can so easily in us become carnal anger. You have to guard your heart. Do you desire the salvation of everyone you meet? Because they're an image bearer of God who needs the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is elect and reprobate belongs to God. It doesn't belong to you. I'd love it when you're celebrating worldwide missions and the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to every tribe, every tongue, and every nation. We must be winsome. And yes, even love those who are wicked and long for their salvation. Am I pressing this too far? Perhaps. With Judas, but why would he wash Judas' feet? He could have sent him out before. When he does send him out after dipping the salt, he says, go and do what you, go do it quickly. It's to fulfill scripture. His betrayal leads to his arrest. His arrest leads to his trial. His trial leads to his crucifixion. And that's your redemption. That's your salvation. There's no hope without it. It's all a part of the plan. Now, Judas was ordained unto this end. He fulfills scripture. The Bible makes this clear. And yet, Judas is not compelled by the decree of God to do this evil thing. He does it willingly and freely as a sinner. Is this the extension? The offer of grace to a man that Jesus knows will not receive it. I just find it extraordinary. Three times we find in this text reference to Judas. And it's clear that Jesus washed even the feet of Judas. But what does this mean, this act? Well, there certainly are implications of the gospel here. But he's talking to Peter, as we've seen. And he says, I don't need to wash all of you because you're clean. You're clean already. You're already regenerate. You already belong to me. Yes, you become dirty in this life. And yes, you need to seek forgiveness of sins every day. Yes, but you're justified by grace through faith. You're one of mine. And I think that that's here in this, pictured here in this act of Jesus. But he tells us in that last paragraph more specifically why it is he does it. Look at verse 12 and following. 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. That's something else we see throughout this text. Jesus knows who He is. He knows His hour has come. He knows that the Father has given all things into His hands. He washes their feet, not from a posture of weakness, but from a posture of strength. He is their Lord. He is their teacher. You call me teacher and Lord, and you're 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've given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. Jesus does this by way of example to them of how to live in the kingdom. Now, does this mean that next Sunday we need to bring basins and towels and everybody wear sandals so that it will be easy to get your shoes off and we should wash each other's feet? There are brothers and sisters in Christ who believe exactly that and do practice foot washing because they say Jesus instituted it. Most of the church doesn't see it this way, not in the sacramental sense. It's not instituted with the heart of it being the gospel, like you see in baptism and like you see in Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper. No, Jesus isn't telling us all to wash each other's feet. He's telling us to serve one another. This is how he demonstrated that to them. And we need to understand the kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. And the kingdoms of this world, it's the weak who serve. The strong do not serve, they're the ones who are served. Christ says, he who is least will be greatest in my kingdom. He who is greatest will be least in my kingdom. The kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. And what is to mark the life of the church is a spirit of submission and service to one another. In fact, this is a fruit of being filled with the Holy Spirit, submitting to one another. Now, I'm not an egalitarian. There are authority structures that God has established. Jesus is Lord and teacher. God has established that. You know, they are the servants of him as Lord, and they are the students and disciples of him as teacher. He has the higher role and place and office over them. All of them recognize it. This is why Peter says, no, you're not wash my feet. Everybody knows that, including Jesus. And God has established authority structures in the family, in the church, in the state. These are important in this life and world and are to be honored. But in the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, your pastors and your elders and your deacons, Of course that's what deacons are, they're servants, they're ministers, ministers of mercy. Your elders and your deacons are to be your servants from a position of strength. And this kind of mutual service is sometimes lost and even in our circles it's lost. I have seen people who ridicule the notion of servant elders and ministers, and see elders and ministers only in terms of the authority that they rightfully have. But if you're to be like Jesus, elders, deacons, Husbands in the family structure of your home. Parents in the family structure of your home for your children. Don't be like the world, you be the first to serve. Because that's what love looks like. That's what love looks like. And that's what Jesus is showing us in this text. In woe to those churches where the position of authority goes to the head and men who seek to be served instead of being the examples The greatest examples of serving in the church because Jesus is the greatest example of all. And what did the Lord Jesus do? He who is Lord and teacher. He took a basin of water. He took a towel. He got down on his hands and his knees. If they still had their sandals on, he loosed them. He took them off of their feet. He gently took their feet and washed the feet of his disciples, and he dried it with his towel. And the next day, what did he do to serve us? What did he do in order to save us? He went to the cross. He was nailed on the cross, and he bore the wrath of God in your stead. That's what love is. And in the church of Jesus Christ, this has got to characterize our life. And when it does, and when unbelievers come in, they say, I've never seen anything like this before. how they love each other. I've never seen anything like this before. It may repel them. They may turn and run. The Lord may use it to open their ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ under their salvation coming into the life of the church of Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word.