1. Endures (verse 1-3)
2. Descends (verses 4-5)
3. Cleanses (verses 6-11)
4. Follows (verses 12-17)

To be a fly on the wall in an English idiom that means: "to see or listen to something without being noticed" or "to secretly hear or see something." Someone might may, “I’d love to be a fly on the wall during that meeting,"^[1] meaning, that they would really like to hear what’s being discussed, without being detected. The idiom suggests a quiet, unobtrusive observation, just like how a literal fly on the wall goes mostly unnoticed.

This is often used with reference to historical events.

“I would love to have been a fly on the wall in 1787 in Philadelphia to hear the discussions during the constitutional convention, when they were drafting the U. S. Constitution."

“I would love to have been a fly on the wall in 1976 when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were talking computers in that garage in Los Altos, California.”

"I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the 1930s and 1940s to hear C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien talk literature during their “Inklings” meetings."

"I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in 1945 to hear President Truman speak with Secretary of War Henry Stimson as they decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

Now, today, we come to one of those moments, in which many Christians would love to have been a fly on the wall, when Jesus was having his final conversations with his disciples in the Upper Room before he was put to death. Now, the good news is that we have much of what Jesus told them, their conversation is recorded in John 13-17. But it would have been totally different to have been there to see and hear Jesus speaking with his disciples, than merely to have his words. I would love to have been a fly on the way to observe this conversation. Yet, the words are sufficient for us. So, if you haven’t done so already, I would invite you to open in your Bibles to John, chapter 13.

This morning, we will begin our exposition of chapter 13, which begins the “private ministry of Jesus.” Last week, I mentioned to you how the first 12 chapters as the “Public ministry of Jesus.” I also mentioned how the rest of the chapters of John record the “Private ministry of Jesus.”

That is, in the first half of the gospel of John, we have seen Jesus out in the crowds, mixing with the people. We have seen him heal a lame man and a blind man, even raising Lazarus from the dead! We have seen him serving the multitudes by feeding the 5,000! We have seen him at a wedding and a funeral. We have seen him at the feasts. We have seen him teaching the crowds. We have seen Jesus arguing with the religious leaders of the day. We have seen his ministry in the public.

Well now, beginning in chapter 13, we will see his ministry turn and focus upon his disciples. All has been leading up to this moment. Furthermore, the gospel of John is really focused upon this moment. The first 12 chapters covered about three years in the life of Jesus. The last 9 chapters will cover only a few days.

You can further divide the latter half of the gospel of John into two sections. The first comes in chapters 13-17. This is often called, “The Upper Room Discourse.” because these are the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples, which began in the Upper Room where they celebrated the Passover together. The second section comes in chapters 18-21, which contains John’s account of the Arrest, Trial, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. (We will come to that section in due time).

Today, we begin “The Upper Room Discourse” (chapters 13-17). In these chapters, we will see Jesus model what love means (John 13). we will see Jesus having an intimate dialogue with his disciples, as he speaks about, the Holy Spirit (chapters 14, 16), the importance of abiding in him (chapter 15), what to expect as disciples in the world (chapter 15). Finally, in chapter 17, the section ends with a prayer of Jesus. We call it, “The High Priestly Prayer.”

Now, all of these things don’t take place in the Upper Room, but that’s where they began. I sure wish that I could have been a fly on the wall, able to watch over these events. These five chapters are truly remarkable. especially for the tone of these chapters, as the teaching of Jesus is so personal with his disciples. Well, let’s begin the Upper Room Discourse today by reading the first 17 verses.

John 13:1-17
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.

The title of my message this morning is “Perfect Love,” as that’s what we see in these verses. We see Jesus as the model of “Perfect Love.” As we walk through the text, I simply want to pull out some characteristics of the love of Jesus. and apply them to our lives when appropriate.

Let’s begin in verse 1, where we see how Perfect Love 

1. Endures (verse 1-3)

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.

Verse 1 helps to set the stage for chapters 13-17. The time frame is the “Feast of the Passover.” This is not surprising for us, as most of the time in John’s gospel has happened during the feasts of the Jews. Chapter 5 took place during a Feast, though we aren’t sure exactly which Feast it was. Chapters 7-8 took place during the Feast of Booths (John 7:2). Chapter 10 took place during the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22), which is also known as “Hanukkah.”

But now, we find ourselves at the “Feast of the Passover.” This is the third time that John mentions the “Feast of the Passover.” The first was in chapter 2, when Jesus cleansed the temple. The second was in chapter 6, when Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water. (Jesus wasn’t at the feast in Jerusalem for these events, which took place north in Galilee. But they took place during the time of the Passover.) And now, we have the third time that John mentions the “Feast of the Passover.”

John first mentions this Passover celebration in chapter 12, verse 1, giving the time reference that it was “six days before the Passover.” But now, in chapter 13, the Feast of the Passover was at hand, and in the Upper Room, we see Jesus enjoying the Passover feast with his disciples. and Jesus knew that this would be the last time that he would celebrate the feast, as he knew "that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father."

The entire book of John has been leading us up to this point. Way back in chapter 2, at the wedding of Cana, Jesus knew that his hour had not yet come. He told his mother, “My hour has not yet come.” In chapter 7, we see Jesus with the crowds at the Feast of Booths, We read in verse 30, "So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come" (John 7:30). Something similar takes place in John 8:20, "These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come." But now, the hour has come. Jesus would soon be put to death, and his earthly life would end. Then Jesus would be reunited with his Father in heaven.

John, then, reflects upon the ministry of Jesus, saying that Jesus "loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." This is where I get the wording of my first point this morning:
Perfect Love Endures (verse 1-3). John says that Jesus “loved them to the end.”

By the way the reason why I'm calling this "Perfect Love" is because of the Greek word translated "end" in verse 1. The Greek word there is telos, which signifies an end or perfection or completion. "He loved them unto completion. He loved them until the end. He finished all of his love up."

The love that Jesus had for his disciples was steadfast, never wavering, continuing on until the end, even knowing that in the end, all of his disciples would scatter, each to his own home, leaving Jesus alone to face his death (John 16:32).

The love of Jesus for his disciples never waned. It was always present toward his disciples. It was abundant towards them. As the hymn writer wrote,

Now, I have had an opportunity to see such love first hand. I witnessed it as my father loved my mother. Over the past decade, my mother declined slowly. Nine years ago, she had a stroke, which left her in a rehab center. From there, dementia slowly crept in. She became more and more feeble, until her death in April, 2½ months ago.

During all this time, my father loved my mother, becoming the one who cooked the meals for her, becoming the one who washed the clothes, and took care of all administrative duties in the home. She couldn’t drive, so he did. She needed help getting in and out of the car, and he was there to help her. She needed help walking, so he always gave her a helping hand. This he did for almost a decade.

As things got worse, he became her primary caretaker. getting her out of bed, feeding her, washing her, cleaning up after her. He did these things “until the end.” He was there when she drew her last breath. My father’s love for my mother “endured until the end.”

When it was clear that the day of my mother were nearing their end, I encouraged my dad with this verse. I said, “Dad, you have nothing to regret regarding mom. You loved her as Jesus did. You loved her until the end.”

This was the love of Jesus. He loved his disciples, “until the end.” He didn’t forsake his disciples, they left him. My father has often said, “The greatest thing that a man can do for his children, is to love his mother.” My dad did that.

Perfect love endures. Perfect love even endures when no love comes in return. Look at verse 2,

John 13:2-4
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 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, 4 rose from supper.

Verses 5 and following will tell us how Jesus took up a towel and washed the feet of the disciples. But particularly here in verses 2-4, John mentions how Judas Iscariot was at the table with the rest of the disciples. Jesus washed his feet, even when it was in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus.

That’s perfect love. Perfect love loves your enemy. A snitch in prison is hated and treated badly by all. Judas was a snitch on Jesus. Yet Jesus still showed his love to Jesus by washing his feet, and loving Judas until the end.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us what true love was about. He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:43-45). And what Jesus taught, Jesus did.

This is what Paul said that Jesus did. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Paul continues in verse 10 to describe how the death of Jesus was for his enemies! "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." There’s the gospel, right there, that Jesus loved us, even when we were his enemies. Judas was his enemy, and Jesus loved him.

The question of application comes screaming at us here. Do you love like Jesus loved? Is your love faithful? Will your love continue until the end? Is your love even extended to your enemies?

Perhaps names and faces come to mind. Where you have lacked, confess it to the Lord, and seek the strength to love as he loved. Jesus told us to follow in his example of his love. "Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:35). His love endured until the end. His love was a perfect love. This is what Jesus did for us, as an example for us to follow in his steps.

Now, surely, none of us will love perfectly, only Jesus loved perfectly. But this is the standard to which we are called: Perfect love. Jesus said, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Anything less is sin. By the grace of God, it is covered by the cross for all who believe in Jesus.

Let’s move on to see this perfect love in action. Let’s pick it up in verse 3.

John 13:3-5
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.

Verse 3 merely gives us the reminder, that the hour of his departure was on the mind of Jesus. Then verses 4 and 5 describe a great act of humility, where Jesus, the Lord and Teacher of the disciples (verse 14), stooped to do the work of a slave. To give you a hook for this point, we see that perfect love,

2. Descends (verses 4-5)

That is, perfect love, doesn’t sit in the high seats, waiting for everyone to serve you. No, perfect love will take up the apron of a slave, and will wash the dirty feet of the disciples.

We don’t quite understand this today as we live in a place different than ancient Israel. In the days of Jesus, the people wore sandals and walked on dusty, unpaved roads shared by animals. As a result, their feet became filthy from dust, sweat, mud, and possibly animal droppings if they weren’t paying attention. For the sake of hygiene, basic hospitality required feet to be washed when a guest entered the home.

In many cases, guests would wash their feet as they entered the home of a friend, like we do in our home, we often take off our shoes before entering a home of another. But our feet are clean. We don’t walk the dusty streets. We wear socks.

Now, in wealthier homes, a servant or a slave was available to perform the washing for the guests. It was a servant who did the work, because work was considered to be so menial at task. It was low. It was humiliating. It was perfect for a servant to do. It was perfect for Jesus to show his love.

Let’s look at the details of what John tells us.

John 13:4-5
[Jesus] 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.

Think about what happened here. Jesus and the disciples entered the room for the supper. They all settled down at the table, as it says that Jesus “rose from supper” (verse 4). He went to the basin, which was beside the door, which all of the disciples had passed by. None of them had any thoughts about washing each other’s feet. And the fact that Jesus “rose from supper,” showed that he gave them all time to do this task. but none of them did, until Jesus did.

Then we read that Jesus “laid aside his outer garments.” In other words, he stripped down, just like a slave would do for this task. Then, he took a towel. He brought the basin (which seemingly was filled with water). And he went disciple by disciple washing their feet.

I have put a label on this saying that we see that perfect love "descends." That’s what Jesus was doing at this moment. Jesus was descending into the role of a slave.

This is totally consistent with the life of Jesus. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:6-8, "[Jesus] who, though he was in the form of God, 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."

Jesus, here, was a servant to the disciples. In a few short hours, he would become the ultimate servant, by dying on the cross for the sins of these very disciples, who didn’t ever consider descending to wash one another’s feet. This is what Jesus did for us. He stooped to be the slave of his disciples. Ultimately, he descended to the point of death on the cross for our sins. That’s perfect love.

Let’s move on. We have seen how perfect love (1) endures (verse 1-3). We have seen how perfect love (2) descends (verses 4-5). And now we see that perfect love 

3. Cleanses (verses 6-11)

John 13:6-8
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.”

Peter knew enough of the social customs of the day, that it was not proper for a teacher, a Rabbi, to be washing the feet of his disciples. So, Peter objects. He would have none of it! He would not have it today, nor tomorrow, nor ever! Not to eternity would Peter ever allow Jesus to wash his feet. such a task is too low for such a mighty man!

Then Jesus says, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” That’s a strange statement It’s a strange statement if you think that Jesus here is only talking about washing Peter’s feet. What could this possibly mean? If Jesus doesn’t wash your feet, you have no share with Jesus? What?

I do believe that Jesus here is using this washing of the feet as a metaphor to speak about the spiritual cleansing that he provides. This is a little bit like the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Jesus used the metaphor of birth to talk about the new birth. But Nicodemus didn’t understand. He thought that Jesus was only talking about the physical. Thus the question from his mouth, "Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” (John 3:4).

Something similar happens here with Peter. He responds on the physical realm:

John 13:9-10
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."

Jesus says that Peter has bathed. His need isn’t for a bath. His need is for his feet to be washed.

Metaphorically, I believe that Jesus is talking about the cleansing of Jesus that comes in salvation, in believing and trusting in Jesus for salvation. The foot washing is akin to the sins that we still commit as we seek to walk with Jesus. I say this because of how Jesus continues

John 13:10-11
“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.”

In other words, Jesus knew that Peter and Andrew and James and John, and the rest of the disciples (except for Judas) were all clean! They had all trusted Jesus. They were following in his ways! They simply needed to acknowledge their ongoing sins. And Jesus knew that Judas was not clean. That is, Judas had not trusted in Jesus. He was not following in his ways. Judas didn’t need his feet cleaned. He needed a bath! He needed to be thoroughly cleansed.

What about you? Jesus, in his perfect love, cleanses us from our sin! You are either bathed, with dirty feet that need to be constantly cleansed. Or you are unclean, in need of the cleansing that Jesus provides for all who trust in him! Either way, you come to Christ the same way, through repentance and confession. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

So confess your sins to the Lord and be cleansed! Now, our last point. Perfect love,

4. Follows (verses 12-17)

Here is where heavy application comes to us. because verses 12-17 are the application to what Jesus said.

John 13:12-15
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.

Now there are some church groups who take this to mean that Jesus was instituting another ordinance. We have baptism for those who come to faith, by way in which we profess our faith. We have the Lord’s supper, for all of us, that we might remember our salvation at the cross. And some think that there is footwashing: for us all to remember the constant cleansing that Jesus provides for us.

The argument is simple. Verse 15 says, "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." It's the example that Jesus gives for all of his followers to do.

Now, I’m not against feet washing at all. When I have done it, it has been a very humbling and meaningful experience. Yet, I have difficulty in taking one text and lifting it up to the level of an ordinance in the church. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are spoken of in every gospel.

I think that one of the biggest difficulties with this is our culture. Back then, their feet were dirty. They needed their feet cleaned. Not so in our culture. In fact, my guess is that before any foot washing service, those who come have already made sure that their feet are washed and cleaned, let they be embarrassed! It sort of misses the picture.

We need to remember that these verses record what Jesus told the disciples, who lived in a day when their feet were dirty and needed washing. Yet for us it's different. I think verse 15 clarifies how we should proceed forward.

John 13:15
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Jesus says that we need to to “just as.” In other words, we need to do things like what Jesus did. Lest you think that we don't have to wash one another's feet, the command still stands. Have you done something "like" washing each other's feet? Are you stooping in the way that Jesus stooped? Are you descending in the way that Jesus descended? Are you enduring in your love? Are you being stretched in your love?

Let's go back to verse 7, when Jesus says to Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” So, the natural question comes, "When did Peter understand these things?" Consider 1 Peter 4:8, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly." Literally, Peter says that we are to keep loving one another "stretchingly." I think that this is the idea here of footwashing. We are to stoop low and stretch to love other people.

Then, Peter speaks in 1 Peter 5:5, "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" I think that Peter had the picture of Jesus in his mind. Do you remember how Jesus took off his robe and clothed himself with the apron of a slave? Peter says that in the same way, we need to humble ourselves in our love for one another.

I believe that this is what it means to footwash. It means to humbly stretch in your love for other people. So, the question of application comes to you: Do you love in this way? Do you stretch in your love for others?

Do you remember the words of Jesus? He asked, "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46-47). In other words, our love as followers of Jesus should be a different sort of love than the love of those outside the church.

It's easy to love those whom you love. But it is stretching to love those who love you. Perhaps there are those you are struggling to love in your life. Perfect love will love in this way: stretchingly and descending to love.

What about your home life? And I’m thinking particularly of you men, as you are in a position of authority in your home. It was Jesus, the "Teacher and Lord" who stooped to love in this way. Men, you are leaders in your home. Are you stooping and descending to love those in your home in a sacrificial way?

The application of footwashing for us today is to descend and consider others as more important than yourselves. Are you a servant at your house? Do you help with the cleaning and the washing? Do you clean up the mess of others without saying a word? Fathers, if you have small children, do you change the diapers? I remember when my brother had children of his own, he had a standing deal with his wife that he was available to change diapers at any time. Fathers, are you patient with your children?

In an attitude of humility, husbands, are you loving your wives in this sort of way? Are you serving them and helping them to make their path go smoother? Are you doing whatever it is that they ask of you? Are you helping in whatever way you can help them? Husbands, do that for your wives. This is what Christ did. He gave himself for the church, his bride (Ephesians 5:25). Husbands, serve your wives with perfect love with an attitude of humility in your homes.

Husbands, are you the first to admit your wrongs? Are you the first to apologize for your failings. are you calm in the argument? Are you filled with thanksgiving? Are you willing to defer family activities to the desires of others? Isn't this what Paul wrote? "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). Footwashing is an exercise in humility. That's how Peter described it in 1 Peter 5:5.

Are there jobs that are “beneath” you? Men, fathers, bosses, there should be no job beneath you. What about at work? Are you the one who will help others when they fall behind? Are you willing to help others for the sake of the team? Are you willing to do anything that the boss asks of you? If you are the boss, are you willing to do anything that you ask your subordinates to do?

Do you encourage your boss? If you are a boss, are you encouraging those under your supervision? Are you willing to stay late when there is work to be done? Are you the one complaining? Are you the one resisting the boss? This changes things at work. When you are a lover at work and you descend in love and are willing to serve others, it makes a difference.

When you do all things without grumbling or complaining (Philippians 2:14), you stand out! You stand out "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). You stand out because the world complains. So descend and be willing and love and you will stand out as different in this world. It is by this that all men will know that you are disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35).

What about at church? Do you serve others in the church? Or, is church just for you? Do you come here because you like the place? You come in and are greeted by smiles and coffee. Afterwards, there are some nice snacks to enjoy. Do you like the place because you are served? Indeed, we are seeking to serve you, but is the the entire reason why you are coming? Or, are you coming to help and serve others at church? Are you hear to descend and serve? Or are you here because the church serves you?

There are plenty of ways to serve around her: Snacks or nursery or children’s church or cleanup at the end of Sunday. But one of the biggest ways to serve is by looking around to see if there are those who are standing around and not talking to anybody, and choosing to go and talk with them. If someone isn't talking with anyone, there may be some reasons for that. Maybe they are hard to talk to. Maybe it's stretching to talk with them. Love will stretch and go and talk with such people. Are you reaching out to people? Are you loving people? Are you trying to bring people into your world?

I would simply encourage you to come with an attitude of love and humility. Catch what Jesus said in verse 16

John 13:16
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 the Lord of the Universe came to wash the feet to the disciples, so ought we to was the feet of others. If the head of the church serves the lowliest of all, who are we to think that there is any task too small for us.

Our hearts should be open to others, reaching out and encouraging others. We should connect with others during the week. We should pray for people behind the scenes? This is what footwashing is about.

Again, I return to my father’s counsel to me. He said, “Steve, I will never ask you to do anything that I have not done first, or that I am not willing to do?” I saw that in his life. He never asked me to do something that he wasn't willing to do. It carried over to church and his work and our home.

That’s what Jesus did for us. When he asked us to love one another stretchingingly, it's not like he didn't do that himself. Indeed he did as he washed the feet of the disciples. He washed the feet of Judas, who he knew was going to betray him. Jesus doesn’t expect of us anything different than what he did himself.

John 13:17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Church family, I want you to be blessed! So do these things!

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on June 22, 2025 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] See https://www.theidioms.com/fly-on-the-wall/.

[2] Trevor Francis. See https://hymnary.org/text/o_the_deep_deep_love_of_jesus.