Setting an example - 4/1/2021
Call to worship:
L: We gather to commemorate our Lord’s observance of the Jewish Passover,
P: Which ends with the people’s pledge, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be faithful.”
L: We gather to commemorate our Lord’s institution of Holy Communion,
P: Which ends with the Lord’s assurance, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
L: We gather to commemorate Holy Communion and renew our covenant with the Lord and one another.
A: All that the Lord shall speak we will do, and we will be faithful.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: His Name is Wonderful #174
His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;
He is the mighty King, master of everything,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
He's the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He;
Bow down before Him, love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
Opening Prayer:
O Merciful God, tonight we take our place at the table with our Lord. When he predicts our betrayal, let us examine not our neighbors but ourselves. When he predicts our falling away, let us remember that the crow of the cock is more predictable than any of us. As we contemplate his imminent arrest, let us feel not only the pain of our great loss, but the shame of our tragic guilt. Then, as we anticipate his impending death, empower us so to live that he shall not have died in vain.
Gospel Reading: John 13: 1-17, 31-35
¹ Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Sermon Title: Setting an example (link)
A few years ago, a song sung by Rodney Atkins came out and made quite a difference in how parents think. The song is about a father and son who upon experiencing a sudden red light and the boy’s lunch ending up in his lap, then had to deal with the fact that this young boy then expressed his disgust with the mess with a four letter curse word. Upon hearing this word come from the back seat, the father, very concerned, asked the young boy where he had learned to talk like that.
Well, the boy told his father that he had been watching him and he wanted to be just like him. When he heard this, the father was very concerned and filled with shame because he knew that the boy had heard that word come out of his mouth; so he went to pray and he sincerely asked God to help him be a better father to this young man. Later on that night, as the lad was getting ready for bed, he got down on his knees and began to pray and the father noted that the boy was talking to God as if to a friend. This time the father was impressed and he asked the boy where he had learned to pray like that. Thankfully, the answer was the same as before. “I’ve been watching you, Dad,” he said. And he reiterated the fact that he wanted to be just like his father in every way.
If you are a parent, or have ever been in a situation where a child looked up to you, then you know the anguish of seeing them emulate the “not so good” things that you say or do. We understand how important it is to set a good example for those who are watching and listening to us.
Jesus knew that the disciples, just like children, were watching everything he did and listening to everything that he said and so he knew that he had to set the ultimate good example so that when they took over his ministry, they would not only know what they were doing, but also why they were doing it.
When God sent himself to us, he could have done so in so many ways, not the least of which would have been to come in with a roar and just fix stuff to get our attention. Instead, however, He came in the form of Jesus. He came as an infant and went through every human challenge that we go through, only without sin. Thirty-three years on this earth, growing, building, learning, loving, and then, when we should have been embracing him and his ministry; we put him on trial, tortured and mocked him, and then crucified him.
Tonight, though, we have the chance to break bread and drink wine with Jesus as he prepares to leave us for just a few days in order to fulfill the prophecies. Just like the scapegoat that the priests used to “cleanse” the nation of Israel, Jesus will offer himself to the authorities and be hung on a cross to die. He will offer each person in that room the same meal and the same options. And before all of this, he will kneel down as a servant and wash their feet, to set an example.
Tonight, before we sup with Jesus, and because I’m going to assume that no one came in here with dusty feet, I will wash your hands. Let the water and its healing powers soak into the creases and lines of your outstretched palms; feel it as it drips from your fingers; accept the towel that dries the tears, and know that you are a child of God; washed in his blood, cleansed from your sin, and loved with an everlasting love.
Amen.
The Washing of Hands by Pastor Kay.
Service of Holy Communion #9 (link)
L: O Christ, you knew the hearts of your disciples at the Last Supper but did not flee from their presence. And you know the hearts of your followers here tonight; still you do not flee. Your mercy astounds us, you have welcomed us to your table, though we are no more worthy than were those first disciples.
P: Gratefully we take our place in your presence and call upon your name, not because our goodness qualifies us to do so, but because your grace invites us to do so.
Hymn: Spirit of the Living God #393
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
L: Jesus then led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and he asked them to pray for him as he went further into the garden to be alone. Jesus prayed while in the garden, but his friends kept falling asleep. Finally Jesus prepared to leave the garden and found his friends asleep once more and he rebuked them.
P: Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him. The disciples ran; even Peter, who only hours before this moment, had promised to go with Jesus to prison and even death, followed at a distance.
L: Peter remained in the shadows while the trial was going on and just as Jesus had told them, Peter denied him a third time, just as the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter and he wept.
Closing Hymn: Were You There #288
1 Were you there when they crucified my Lord?(were you there)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there)
Oh! sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there)
2 Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (were you there)
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? (were you there)
Oh! sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? (were you there)
3 Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (were you there)
Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (were you there)
Oh! sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side? (were you there)
4 Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (were you there)
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? ((were you there)
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? (were you there)
5 Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (were you there)
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (were you there)
Oh! sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? (were you there
(Reminder to leave the sanctuary in reflective silence and please return for the Good Friday service to be held in Dayton at 7:00 pm.)