WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.120 So we're making our way through John still. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:05.519 I think we'll just be doing this forever, maybe perhaps. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:06.639 We're at John 13. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.720 We've been at this dinner party for a while in John 13, the Last Supper. 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:15.199 And so Jesus and his disciples are in this upper room in Jerusalem. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:17.039 It's right before the Passover feast. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.679 And so a little bit of review if you've been here and tracking with us the last couple weeks. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.839 So the disciples and Jesus, they get to this home, and usually when you came into a home, there would have been a servant there to wash everybody's feet. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:35.920 The servant obviously wasn't there because everybody's still hanging out around the dinner table and they still have dirty feet. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:42.000 So in this situation, usually the person of lowliest stature would have gotten up to wash everybody's feet. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:43.520 This was just custom. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:45.280 Well, apparently they're not doing that. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.640 Actually, they're doing a reverse. 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.560 The disciples are having an argument, and I love this because this is what we do. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.679 They're having an argument about who's the greatest amongst them. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.159 This is just such a human moment right here. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:03.600 And so what should be occurring is somebody washing feet, and instead they're arguing with each other about who's the greatest. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:07.920 And so slowly Jesus gets up and they're not really noticing him. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.079 And this was two sermon two weeks ago. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:14.719 He puts a towel around his waist, fills a basin with water, and he starts to wash their feet. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:26.000 And what we talked about two weeks ago, and what we said is that he's going around to all his disciples, who are basically what they're doing is, you know, John's looking at Peter and saying, Peter, am I important? 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:27.280 Will you tell me I'm important? 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:31.040 And Peter's looking at Andrew and said, Andrew, will you tell me I'm important? 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.560 I need somebody to tell me, will you tell me? 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:38.239 And then Jesus gets up and starts to wash feet, the most important person at the meal. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:43.040 And what Jesus is saying to each of them is, you're already important. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:46.159 Like I'm the one who deemed you important. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.599 I've already deemed you important. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:58.400 And then last week, um, Judas was at the table, and Judas, as we know, if we know the stories of the scriptures, he's the one who betrayed Jesus. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:00.799 And so uh Judas doesn't get it. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:01.760 He doesn't get it. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:03.439 He doesn't get that he's already important. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:05.920 So he's been he's been grasping. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:17.120 At first, he's grasping, thinking Jesus is gonna kind of lead him into an important uh position in maybe in Jerusalem and maybe in the nation we're gonna take over, and then he's starting to see that's not gonna work out. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.199 And so Judas, then he starts stealing money. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:28.400 He's grasping for identity in all these different ways, and eventually he's willing to sell out his friend for$220. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:30.240 $220? 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.280 We talked about last week. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.960 What a horrible negotiator he was. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:34.000 I mean, that's awful. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.520 I mean, that's all you got out of the negotiations to hand Jesus over. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:46.479 And what we talked about last week is that even Jesus washed Judas' feet and and gave him the cup and gave him bread. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:52.000 And what Jesus is saying in that moment is Judas, even you, I see you. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.639 I see what you're doing, I see how you're you're grasping. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:58.719 I mean, you're you're searching. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:04.879 You maybe maybe Judas didn't even realize it, and Jesus saying, I see, I see you though, and I love you. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:07.680 And then we get these comments this week. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:16.960 Same table, Judas has gotten up, Judas has left, and so Jesus has left with eleven, and he starts to focus his words a little bit more. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:24.000 And so, verse 31, it says, When he was gone, when Judas was gone, Jesus said, Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:29.599 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in Himself, and we'll glorify him at once. 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:30.879 A lot of glory going on. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:35.599 A lot of glory going on for Jesus, and all of this is coming to fruition. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:37.599 Jesus talking a little bit in a riddle here. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.639 He's saying, I'm my death is coming. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:43.840 My children, I will be with you only a little longer. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.800 You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now where I'm going, you cannot come. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:52.479 And then this, this is where we're going to focus this morning, verse 34. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:54.240 A new command I give you. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.080 And we can just sort of stop right there. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:59.759 I mean, a lot of us, if you've read this before, you kind of know what's coming. 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:11.520 But think about being one of these 11 disciples, and you've been you've been culturally raised in a rules, commandments. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:14.800 600 and something in the Old Testament, obey enough of them. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:15.840 You're pleasing to God. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.639 And Jesus says, Hey, I got a new commandment for you. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:21.360 And they're what it what is it? 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:24.639 Because I need to obey this one also in order to be pleasing to God. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.160 And so they're breaking out the pencils, um, and they're they're they're they're ready. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:28.959 A new commandment. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:31.199 All right, Jesus, I'm ready. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.839 And then Jesus says, Love one another. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:36.160 As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:41.360 And you know they've got to be going, Jesus, that's Leviticus 19, 18. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.079 We already have that commandment. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:48.319 But Jesus is saying it's a new commandment. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:55.360 And then Jesus says, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.399 So it's not new, but it's new. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.399 It's not new to the disciples. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:02.240 It's Leviticus 19, 18. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:06.720 They've already been told to love one another, but Jesus is saying, I give you a new commandment. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:08.959 So, so what what how is it new? 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.560 What does this mean? 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:15.199 Uh let me I was thinking about it this week, and this is how I started to understand it a little bit. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:19.040 Uh, we moved to Grant Park eight years ago. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:31.600 We lived there for about five years, so we moved it in as this little house, little poster stamp lot, and there's a big oak tree uh just to the left of our lot, and it hung out over our our driveway, and it just dumped leaves. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:37.120 And I would go out there with a rake and just work, right? 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:38.720 I mean, just I mean, we've done this, right? 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.759 I mean you rake them in the pile and then you put them in the bag and then you carry the bag. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.240 I mean, and it was it was it was unending. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:46.959 I mean, it was just a debt I could not pay off. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.000 It just over and over it, and I I hated it. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:51.040 I hated it. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.480 It was all work. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:56.959 Like the ratio of work and reward was so far off. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.240 And I'm out there and it's it's obligation. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:04.000 It was no fun. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.480 So then uh track with me a little bit. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:13.120 Five years later, we moved to a home in Buckhead, and it had tons of trees all over the lot. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.480 And I'm I'm just thinking back to this one tree. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:19.600 I'm had I had one tree to deal with, and now there's all these trees. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:24.000 And so, first purchase, guys, you know, you know my first purchase. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:26.319 Backpack blower. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:32.319 The idea of strapping an engine to my back is one of the coolest concepts. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:41.920 I know it's it's it's it's a little stupid to put a gas engine on your back, but I love the idea of a gas engine on my back. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:54.480 And so the leaves start falling, and I break out the gas engine powered backpack, and I'm out there just right, and and the ratio of work reward is is totally flipped. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.319 I mean, it changes everything. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:01.839 You can go out there and your whole life can feel like a mess. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.240 And you put that gas backpack blower on. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:08.399 A few of you know what I'm talking about. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:15.279 You can clear a yard, you can clear a driveway, and the sense of accomplishment and reward is just soaring. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:22.000 I mean, I I've become a little addicted to this because you know I I can't control a lot in my life. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:30.560 I mean, even Friday we're we're giving Greta, our one-year-old, a bath, we're giving her a bath, look to the left, toilet to the left, toilet seat. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:36.240 You know the little connection pieces at the back of the toilet seat that connect the seat to the toilet? 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.879 Um, well, one of the little plastic pieces that covers the screw is gone. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:46.000 So every time you look over there, you you you see, well, every time I look over there, I see the screw. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.639 Maybe everybody else sees the other 98% of the toilet. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.639 I see the 2% there that's visible. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:51.920 And I'm going, where's this piece? 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:56.319 I'm down on my hands and knees, I'm looking for this piece, I'm hating, hating Greta a little bit. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.600 You know, where'd she put it? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.279 And I'm I'm I'm on the hand in the bathroom, nothing in the bathroom, in the hallway. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.560 I mean, where did she put this? 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:03.519 It was in the trash can. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:05.680 She put it in the trash can in the bathroom. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:06.480 Thank you, Greta. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.720 I can't control, I can't control all that. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.800 You know, you you know what I'm talking about, these feelings. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:16.000 You can't control maybe your spouse, maybe you can't control your boss, maybe you can't control things at work. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:27.519 You can't you can't control every everything in your your life, but I can strap on a gas blower on my back and go out, and I can clear a driveway, and the world's gonna be okay. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:29.839 And so I've become a little addicted to this. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:36.320 Here's my point my motivation for the task completely changed when I was empowered to do it. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.799 See, see, it was the same task. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.159 Clear the leaves. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:43.679 Same task. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:51.759 But it became new because my motivation and the way in which it was done was changed. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:57.360 So this word, a new commandment, that word new, that that word new means unexpected. 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:03.360 It means that there's there's a fundamental shift in how you approach something. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.120 So, same commandment. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:10.720 Love one another, totally new, completely new. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:22.240 So uh this this week we had a men's Bible study, and David was there, and Keith was there, and Patrick, and the four of us sat around my living room, and we talked Luke 15. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:23.600 They kind of gave me a hard time. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:27.360 They said I was working on my sermon as we talked, and I secretly I think I was. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:34.080 And uh, so this story in Luke 15, we we've we talked for an hour and a half, and there's another men's Bible study going through the same thing. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:42.320 And so this week, I've just in my mind and my heart has been rolling around this John 13, this Luke 15, because this this first phrase, as I have loved you. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:46.240 So this week I'm searching, like, how do I how do I communicate that? 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.039 What does that mean? 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:49.440 And this story of Luke 15, this is what it means. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.039 I mean, Jesus is telling the story. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.000 This is my favorite story, so you're gonna get it probably about every six weeks. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.200 It's gonna show back up. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:59.200 You know, it's the prodigal son story, is what we know it as. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:10.799 Some of you remember this, the younger son goes to the father, and the father seems to be a relatively well-off guy, and and so the younger son goes to the father and says, I want my inheritance now, which would have been would have been a shameful thing to ask for. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:14.320 I mean, it would have been like you know, it's basically saying, I don't care about you. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.080 I just want your money. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:16.799 Right? 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:21.200 I don't I don't want a relationship with you, I don't care if you're here or not here, I just I just want the money. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:28.720 The father gives him money, the son runs off to another country, foreign land, starts spending it. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.240 Things are fun. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.679 He's having a great time. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.159 He is l he's living it up. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.600 Slowly that bank account is dropping. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:44.559 He's getting poorer and poorer and poorer, and eventually he's at the bottom, he's bankrupt. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:49.840 He's bankrupt financially, he's bankrupt morally, he's he's bankrupt, you know, uh sense of self. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.759 He is at the end of himself, he hires himself out to a farm. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:11:02.159 He's working on the farm, and he is so hungry, he he's envying the food that the pigs are eating. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.480 He's at the bottom. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:10.720 And then it says in Luke 15, it says, he came to his senses, which means he remembered. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.799 He remembered his father. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:17.919 And here's the question that he had to be start to ask inside of his mind and his heart. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:22.159 If I go home, will he still love me? 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.799 What's this love like? 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:33.039 You know, I said Jesus, as I have loved you, John 13, Luke 15, the the wandering son, he's wondering, like, what's the what is this love like? 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.960 Is it is it still is it limited? 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.240 Like that go past the limit, they go over the line? 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:42.720 And so he works out his little speech of what he's gonna say, and he's gonna say, you know, he's working it out. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.159 I so he's he's headed back home. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.440 I here's what I'm gonna say to dad. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:49.039 I'm you know, dad's gonna be, he's gonna be he's gonna be upset, so I'm gonna present it. 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:52.399 I've sinned against you, against heaven, so I'm gonna be honest, I'm gonna come right out. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:56.240 I'm not worthy to be your son, and say that, and that that's gonna be maybe that'll help. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.120 And then and then dad, just make me like one of your hired men. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:03.120 You know what they break me as a son, just kind of let me back in, I'll work my way back in. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.720 And then it says this in verse 20. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:11.279 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, was filled with compassion for him, and he ran to his son. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:12.159 Crazy thought. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.159 Middle Eastern man, they don't they don't run. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.200 This is crazy. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:19.679 But the father runs to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:23.519 And then the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.480 So he's starting a speech. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.559 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.639 But the father said to his servants, it's like the father doesn't even hear it. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:39.279 Quick, bring the best robe, put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, bring the fattened calf and kill it. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.440 Let's have a feast and celebrate. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.240 For the son of mine, still a son, right? 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:46.559 You know the son had to feel good when he heard that. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:50.399 For the son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.600 He was lost and is found. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:53.360 So they began to celebrate. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:57.440 And what Jesus what Jesus is communicating here is no limit. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.279 There's no limit to the love of God. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.039 I mean, the father was waiting. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:07.279 The father had never forgotten about the son. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:21.039 So this is where it gets really interesting because the other son, this is where our conversation Tuesday night was centered, the other son, the elder son, which we know as sort of the moralistic son. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:28.720 He's judgmental, he's distant, you know, he's he's judging his brother, and he goes to that and says, you know, I don't like any of this. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:30.080 You never threw a party for me. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.440 I've been here, I've been loyal. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.200 Like he said, I've earned it, I've earned that, and you're giving it to him. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:38.879 So this son's working off of like a merit scale. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:43.120 All these years I've been here, I've been slaving away for you. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.200 Never given me a party. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:49.840 And so this brother, this brother's proud, he's judgmental, he's self-consumed with his own record. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.080 He makes himself feel better by comparison comparing himself to his brother. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.120 He has no ability to extend compassion. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.039 And he just he thinks his younger brother should have to earn his way back in, is what he thinks. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:09.440 And then in verse 31, the father says to the to the older son, he says, You're you're you're always with me. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.960 Everything I have is yours. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:18.000 Like, no, you see, my relationship with you is a gracious relationship, my relationship with your brother's a gracious relationship. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.000 But he doesn't get this. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:26.080 The older brother doesn't get that that beginning phrase in John 13, as I have loved you. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.600 He doesn't get it. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.080 He doesn't get that it's without reservation. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:36.159 He doesn't get that that Jesus would wash the feet of Judas. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:44.559 He doesn't get how his father could come off of a porch and run to a rebellious son that had rebelled against him. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:52.559 So he sees his brother wrapped in a robe and he's livid. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:59.120 Because he left and he's he stole from dad. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.840 Maybe he's back to steal some of my inheritance. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:10.559 So he stands in judgment over his brother, and because he doesn't understand as I have loved you, he can't love his brother. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:14.080 So a whole realm of questions are unavailable to him. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.840 So he cannot ask. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.799 He cannot ask, why did my brother feel like he needed all that money? 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:26.799 He cannot ask, Why did my brother feel compelled to run away? 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:31.600 He can't ask, what I wonder what is hurting inside my brother? 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.600 He can't ask, how could I help my brother? 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:43.519 I mean, these questions are unavailable to him because he has objectified his brother. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.720 He has reduced his brother out of personhood into a set of behaviors. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:56.799 And see, if we objectify people into a set of behaviors, then we can judge the behaviors and we can feel superior to the other person. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.879 This is what we do. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.440 Right? 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:04.000 This is what judgment's about, this is what comparison is about, this is what gossip is about, this is what lust is about. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:18.000 It's about uh you know, dehumanizing an individual into a set of behaviors so then I can I can feel whatever I want to feel towards a set of behaviors, and I can assert myself over them, and if I assert myself over them, and then I can feel more important than them. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.600 This is the same thing as the argument around the table in John 13. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.919 John to Peter and Peter and Andrew, am I important? 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.960 Will you tell me I'm important? 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.200 It's the same thing, it's the same thing. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:49.279 This is what we do in our poverty when when when our hearts are needy and we're not receiving God's love, and we become so needy that we start to do this with other people and need pulling from other people and objectifying other people. 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:56.799 But the question is, is what what if the what if the elder brother had understood his father's love? 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:02.000 I mean, think about the difference in the response that the older brother would have had to his younger brother. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:05.599 A whole different set of questions would have been available to him. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:14.319 I mean, this is what happens when when when we are receiving the love of God as I have loved you, love one another. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:19.599 When the first half of the verse, it's important to get this to the second part, this is why it's a new commandment. 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:28.079 The first half, when when we're when we're living in that, a whole new set of questions can come to us when we approach another person. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:33.200 We don't have to objectify them into a set of behaviors as to judge them or gossip or feel superior to them. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:38.240 We can ask, I wonder why they feel so anxious. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:42.880 I wonder why they're I wonder what they're afraid of to feel like they gotta go do that. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.279 I wonder what broke in them. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:49.279 Like, what what broke in them to to get to that? 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:58.079 Like what what's I wonder what's driving driving them to get to that behavior. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:04.400 And so instead of judging the behavior, you're concerned about a person's heart. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:07.279 And that's what's love-loving another person is about. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:13.440 But you can't do that unless you've received the love of God, because if you haven't received the love of God, you're gonna objectify the person. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:29.759 We we were at dinner with Sam, his wife Rachel on Thursday night, and uh talking and and I can talk about a bunch of nothing for a long time. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:37.839 And uh it was toward the end we're having ice cream and the place next to where we where we ate uh for dinner, and we're having ice cream, and I don't know what we're talking about. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.119 I think we're talking about I think we're talking about vacationing or something, right? 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.200 I mean my favorite topic to talk about pretty much. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:45.279 So uh we're we're talking about nothing. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.480 But it's it's great, right? 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:53.759 Like hanging out, and and I'm pretty much just self-absorbed at this point, enjoying my ice cream sorry Sam, I'm thinking about my ice cream. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.799 I mean, I'm thinking about this strawberry ice cream, it's fantastic. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.160 And and Chrissy asks, she just says, how how can we do you remember that? 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:04.640 She said she said, how how can we help you guys? 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.079 And I'm like, like, I probably should ask that. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.839 I was like, wow. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:19.759 I I I'm I'm married into somebody who loves people well. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:26.319 And this idea, and some of you know what I'm talking about, some of you maybe naturally you love people well. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.559 I don't na naturally I love myself well. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:37.519 You know, this idea of loving other people, like watching my wife do this, I mean I mean it's all the time, you know, she'll be doing something. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.240 I'm like, what are you doing? 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:45.599 She said, Well, you remember this is happening to whatever person like I don't remember, like, unless my iPhone tells me something, I'm just thinking about me. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:20:00.880 You know, and to watch somebody else love people so well, and and then slowly, and I'm I'm talking slowly, there's been some transformation in my life, not much, apparently, because I'm more concerned about my strawberry ice cream than asking them how we could help them. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:12.160 Slowly there's been some transformation here, and and what it has felt like to begin to care for people is uh, do you remember in the Truman Show? 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.759 Do you remember that movie The Truman Show? 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:31.039 And and Truman is in this like fake world that's just very surface, and actually it is a fake world because he was born into it, and it's basically a TV show, and everything's perfect, and everything works around him, and then at the end he's he's trying to get out, get out, get out, and he sails across the water, and then he's walking up the stairs and he's opening that door and he's going past the wall. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.519 So you know what I'm talking about, you can rent it later. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.160 Um, that's what it's felt like. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:42.079 Like caring for people has felt like going through that doorway. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.359 And for me, that's not easy. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.920 I mean, it's much easier to live in the stream and show and just think about myself and just please my own needs. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:21:01.039 See, at least for me, uh I'm at the argument at the table of who's the greatest. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:09.279 I mean, even last night we're we're at a we were at a wedding, beautiful out, all these people, there's probably 250 people there. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.519 And what what and what am I doing? 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:14.079 Some of you are much more spiritual than me. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.319 I I'm always I'm scanning the crowd of like, I wonder who's here. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.839 Like, I wonder if there's anybody important here. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.200 Right? 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.599 I mean, some of y'all do this, you go to a wedding, and you go, oh, well, you know, you know who's here. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.039 You know, they're here. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.599 You know, you know what I'm talking about. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:35.599 And I'm like, this is I'm I'm crazy. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:41.599 You know, and there's all these people, and they're all people, and and that's what I'm doing. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:47.680 See, um, I will use, and some of you do this too, I will use status to feel more important. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.400 This is just objectifying people. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:55.839 This is this is this is also just arguing around a table about who's the greatest. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:05.759 And and and I almost I don't even I I don't even realize that's what I'm doing until I feel some water on my feet. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:11.039 And then I I realize Jesus is trying to tell me that I'm already important. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:16.640 And this is actually what played out sitting at that wedding last night over on the side, you know, normal wedding. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:19.759 Christy's cousin's getting married, and I'm looking around and I wonder who's here. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.119 And oh, he used to do this. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:46.240 And I'm over there, and um, and and there's that moment of me, um, this is going on in my heart and mind, me using status to feel important, and then me repenting of using status to feel important, and go, God, I'm so friggin' broken, this is ridiculous, and using, and it's a you know, God, I, and then to go, to realize that Jesus washes my feet, I'm already deemed important. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.680 As I've loved you, love one another. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:58.240 And then, and then being set free to love other people, anybody, right? 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.680 Not just people that can better us. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:09.759 So then verse 35. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.720 Love this, verse 35. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:27.920 By this, okay, so by receiving love and giving love, and so literally, you gotta think at the table, and Jesus is is uh he's going around, he's and he's he's he's giving the cup of the new covenant, so he's he's sharing uh wine, he's saying, This is the cup of the new covenant. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:37.279 He's like, there's a new way, not the way like obey all the commandments in order to please God, but you're already pleasing to God, so therefore obey two very different things. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:45.759 One's the covenant of law, one's the covenant of grace, and Jesus is going around, he's saying, here's the cup, here's the bread to receive love, we give love. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.240 That's what verse 34 is about, verse 35. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:54.720 By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:24:26.880 So, what this does not say is by your perfect purity in every way, by your church attendance, by your tithing, by your quiet times, by the length of your quiet times, by the frequency, by how successful you are, by your political beliefs, by your impressive reading list, or you've just been buying the books and putting on the bookshelf and makes you feel better. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:31.920 By any of that, people will know you're in reciprocals. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.799 No, that's not what it says. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.680 Because you love people. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.319 You love people. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:41.680 That's what people are waiting for. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:50.240 People are waiting for us to stop objectifying each other and stop sitting in judgment over them and just to start to care for them. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:55.599 And we can all track back to people who have done that for us. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:04.559 I can, I can think through, man, he did that, and he did that, and he did that, and what refreshing it is when somebody actually cares for us. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.160 Here's what I also know this morning. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:15.519 I was thinking back, I've I I don't have any remembrance of not being loved. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:23.920 I mean, I come from a family and my parents split and divorced, but I I never remember not being loved. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.759 Not by my father and not by my mother. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:33.279 But what I do know is some of you do remember not being loved. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:39.039 So even the concept of as you have been loved is maybe difficult. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:44.000 That may be a difficult concept to get your mind and your heart around. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:49.359 And when we when we don't receive it, we start running to other things. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:53.119 And what the way of the world says, it says, indulge. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:26:01.759 Drink of it another cup and another cup and another cup and another cup and drink more of that cup and then drink more of that cup, and then eventually, you know, you will fill your tank. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:06.559 And what happens with that was be careful, be careful of what it'll drive you to. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:11.440 And we become more self-centered, and then we don't see people. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.279 See, if you don't receive the love of God, you cannot love people. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:19.359 And because you're just always needing another cup and another cup. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:25.680 But here's the good news: we've already received a cup that has more than enough for you. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:34.079 And this is Jesus going around the table with the cup of the new covenant to each person, and he sends the cup of the new covenant. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.240 Take and drink of me. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.480 He's saying to you, he's saying to you, I see you. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.680 I see you trying to assert yourself over other people to feel more important. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:52.319 I see you objectifying people. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.240 You don't have to do it. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.599 You can stop. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.480 I've loved you. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.480 Drink of this cup. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.799 It will set you free to love other people. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.319 Let's pray together. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:18.559 God, we thank you for this call that's more than us to love other people, to care for people, and to not use them to make ourselves feel important or better or superior. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:23.599 But we only know how to do this when we rest in you. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:28.160 When we see how you did that for us, you sacrificed yourself for us. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:30.559 You didn't consider yourself more important than us. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:40.559 You humbled yourself to the cross, and our sin is laid on you, and you have given us your righteousness, and you say to us, We're already important. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:44.000 You say to us, I see you, I see you, and I love you. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:46.799 Would we receive all of this this morning? 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:50.480 Would we receive the promise as to receive the call? 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.720 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.359 Amen.