The Time Has Come Week 1
The Time Has Come Week 1
Jesus’ Love Revelation & Love Directive
John 13:1-17
March 1st, 2026
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, The Life of Reason.
“If you don’t know who Jesus was and why He came you are destined to live life the only way you know how… on your own.” Charlie Weir
John 13:1-17 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
That First Passover was observed annually as promise reminder and a person refresher. God Delivers and God is a Deliverer.
Spiritual freedom is more freeing than physical freedom.
Jesus’ Love Revelation
John 13:1-4 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus purposely interrupted the meal to reveal the extent of His love.
“I love you enough to serve you and I am the only one who can make you clean and keep you clean, you can’t clean yourself. You won’t have to keep coming back and forth to the cross but you will need to be routinely washed from the daily dirt that clings to your feet from this dirty world.” Jesus
The Jesus Revelation
My whole-self love for you is expressed in my whole-self service to you.
Jesus’ Love Directive
John 13:12-16 (NIV) 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
What were the disciples to understand and emulate?
In God’s Kingdom, leadership is servant-ship. If the Lord of Lords serves, everyone serves. God’s Kingdom dynamics works inversely to worldly kingdom dynamics.
Humility isn’t the goal, transformation and cleansing are the goals. God’s love directive isn’t to humble us, it is to transform us and cleanse others.
Humble service is sourced in love. Love elevates the lowly.
Jesus’ loving service of the cross has a cleansing impact and a purpose impart.
John 13:17 (NIV) 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Blessing #1
The Emergence of Imago Dei.
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." Michelangelo in answering how he carved the statue David.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
If I identify myself with the crucified Christ, I will live in the power of the resurrected Christ! But, I can’t connect myself with the power of the resurrected Christ without identifying myself with the loving crucified (serving) Christ.
Blessing #2
The Fulfillment of Life Purpose.
More lives are changed with loving acts in simple moments than with grand gestures when the spotlight is on.
[Show pics of Uganda children having their feet washed by our team]
Ephesians 5:1-2 (Message) Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Jesus has purposely interrupted your weekend to reveal to the extent of His love. You desperately need it.
Jesus has purposely interrupted your weekend to direct you to humbly serve on another. Other people desperately need Him.