Don’t Be Afraid to Submit
Scripture Reading: John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had
come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own
who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having 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 to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and
girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash
the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing
my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand
now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part 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, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is
completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who
would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again,
He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me
Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he
who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed
are you if you do them.
This is a passage that really shows the nature of God. Jesus, the Creator of the
universe, left His throne in heaven to be born in a lowly place where animals are kept
and here He puts Himself in the place of a servant. Can you imagine being one of
His disciples watching this scene? They were probably wondering what He was
doing at first but then He comes to the first disciple and begins to silently wash his
feet. They all believed He was the Son of God, some may already believe He is God
though I can’t say this for sure. They had certainly seen Him do many mighty
miracles. The deaf heard, the blind saw, the maimed were made whole, the dead
had been made alive. Then He comes to Peter and Peter says what I’m sure they all
had been feeling. “Lord, are you washing my feet?” He has to be thinking, I should
be the one doing this for you. You know that song we sing ‘Amazing Love’? It says
in that song, ‘How can it be, that You my King should die for me?’ It’s asking the
same question that Peter is asking. How could You, Lord, put Yourself in a position
of lowliness for me?
Jesus responds simply by saying you don’t understand but you will later. It’s need to
know and right now you don’t need to know. That should have been sufficient for
Peter but it was not. It many ways it is the same for us today. There are many things
we do not understand and that should be ok because we have faith in God that He is
in control. It’s like when Kimberly wants to go somewhere and she brings me my
purse and my shoes. She doesn’t know where I will take her but she trust that I will
not take her to a bad place. I remember when I had to take her to the dentist to have
her front teeth removed. I felt so bad. I literally had to hold her down. But, you know
what? Even after that she still brings me my purse and shoes and trusts that I will
take her to a good place. So many are looking for answers but not necessarily
looking for God’s truth. There are many things that are for us a need to know basis
and right now we do not yet need to know. Almost daily I discuss Christians who
have succumbed to evolution because they say it answers questions for them. They
ask things like what about stars that are billions of lightyears away, and where did all
the water come from for Noah’s flood, and how was the water above and where were
the waters below? There are some things that can not yet be explained and that’s
okay. Just like Kimberly trusts me, I trust God, implicitly. He’s told me much of what
happened in Genesis so how it happened is unimportant. He told me that it
happened and that’s enough for me.
Then Jesus tells Peter that He must wash him or he will have no part in Him. After He
washes their feet, He redresses and then explains what He has done. He tells them
that if He, their Lord and Teacher, could be humble and submit Himself to do this for
them, that they (and we) should follow His example to be humble and submit to one
another. Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:5-7,
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you
be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Submission is a very important part of our walk with God. We must learn to be
submissive. Colossians 3:18-24, 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is
fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not
with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that
from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the
Lord Christ.
Also in Romans 13:1-4, 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the
ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the
same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid;
for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to
execute wrath on him who practices evil.
I read in Colossians where it says that whatever we do we should do as if we’re doing
it for the LORD because we serve Him. Whether it’s your boss, or your parent, or
anyone else God has put into authority over you, it is really God we are serving. In
Romans, Paul tells us that we should be subject to the government because all
authority comes from God. I think it’s really so we can learn to be submissive to a
higher authority. Jason was Marine. He had to under submission to his
commander. By the time he was done, he had those who were under his authority.
When push comes to shove a soldier has to hear an order and do it. Period. No
questions. No discussion. Just do it! In order to prepare them to be able to respond
to authority in that way, they had to go through a very difficult basic training. Many
can’t handle it but for those that get through, by the time they’re finished with it they
are ready to respond appropriately when given an order. I think that’s why it so
important that we learn to be submissive to those God puts in authority over us. This
is our basic training. We are supposed to get to the point where the Holy Spirit can
lead us. How can we submit ourselves to the one who can’t be seen if we have not
first submitted ourselves to those we can see? This submission is the key to
everything else. James 4:6-8, 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
God resist the proud. That’s definitely good to know. What in your life would you
choose to do differently knowing that God resist you when you are proud, puffed
up? We submit to those we can see so we can be ready to do what it says here.
‘Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ Yeshua submitted to
authority.
Luke 22:42-44
42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours
be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
He didn't want to do this! His flesh didn't want to go to the cross. He asked His
Father to take this from Him but then, even then submitted to His will. That we must
learn to do by His example. Christians all over struggle with temptation and sin
wondering how they can stop doing the things they know God doesn’t want them to
do. Many struggle with things all the way to the grave not knowing that submission is
the key. The world tells you that you have to stand up for yourself. God’s Word
says in James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you
up. The world will lead you headlong into conflict, God’s Word leads you toward
peace. The world says don’t take that from them, God’s Word tells us to turn the
other cheek (Matthew 5:39). The world tells us to get them back, God’s Word tells
us to let Him be our avenger (Romans 12:19).
In order to get the devil off our backs we must first submit to God. In order to truly
understand all that entails, we must learn to humble ourselves and submit to each
other.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: May 21, 2006
Revised: April 20, 2008
Scripture Reading: John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had
come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own
who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having 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 to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and
girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash
the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing
my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand
now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part 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, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is
completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who
would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again,
He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me
Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he
who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed
are you if you do them.
This is a passage that really shows the nature of God. Jesus, the Creator of the
universe, left His throne in heaven to be born in a lowly place where animals are kept
and here He puts Himself in the place of a servant. Can you imagine being one of
His disciples watching this scene? They were probably wondering what He was
doing at first but then He comes to the first disciple and begins to silently wash his
feet. They all believed He was the Son of God, some may already believe He is God
though I can’t say this for sure. They had certainly seen Him do many mighty
miracles. The deaf heard, the blind saw, the maimed were made whole, the dead
had been made alive. Then He comes to Peter and Peter says what I’m sure they all
had been feeling. “Lord, are you washing my feet?” He has to be thinking, I should
be the one doing this for you. You know that song we sing ‘Amazing Love’? It says
in that song, ‘How can it be, that You my King should die for me?’ It’s asking the
same question that Peter is asking. How could You, Lord, put Yourself in a position
of lowliness for me?
Jesus responds simply by saying you don’t understand but you will later. It’s need to
know and right now you don’t need to know. That should have been sufficient for
Peter but it was not. It many ways it is the same for us today. There are many things
we do not understand and that should be ok because we have faith in God that He is
in control. It’s like when Kimberly wants to go somewhere and she brings me my
purse and my shoes. She doesn’t know where I will take her but she trust that I will
not take her to a bad place. I remember when I had to take her to the dentist to have
her front teeth removed. I felt so bad. I literally had to hold her down. But, you know
what? Even after that she still brings me my purse and shoes and trusts that I will
take her to a good place. So many are looking for answers but not necessarily
looking for God’s truth. There are many things that are for us a need to know basis
and right now we do not yet need to know. Almost daily I discuss Christians who
have succumbed to evolution because they say it answers questions for them. They
ask things like what about stars that are billions of lightyears away, and where did all
the water come from for Noah’s flood, and how was the water above and where were
the waters below? There are some things that can not yet be explained and that’s
okay. Just like Kimberly trusts me, I trust God, implicitly. He’s told me much of what
happened in Genesis so how it happened is unimportant. He told me that it
happened and that’s enough for me.
Then Jesus tells Peter that He must wash him or he will have no part in Him. After He
washes their feet, He redresses and then explains what He has done. He tells them
that if He, their Lord and Teacher, could be humble and submit Himself to do this for
them, that they (and we) should follow His example to be humble and submit to one
another. Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:5-7,
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you
be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Submission is a very important part of our walk with God. We must learn to be
submissive. Colossians 3:18-24, 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is
fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not
with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that
from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the
Lord Christ.
Also in Romans 13:1-4, 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the
ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the
same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid;
for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to
execute wrath on him who practices evil.
I read in Colossians where it says that whatever we do we should do as if we’re doing
it for the LORD because we serve Him. Whether it’s your boss, or your parent, or
anyone else God has put into authority over you, it is really God we are serving. In
Romans, Paul tells us that we should be subject to the government because all
authority comes from God. I think it’s really so we can learn to be submissive to a
higher authority. Jason was Marine. He had to under submission to his
commander. By the time he was done, he had those who were under his authority.
When push comes to shove a soldier has to hear an order and do it. Period. No
questions. No discussion. Just do it! In order to prepare them to be able to respond
to authority in that way, they had to go through a very difficult basic training. Many
can’t handle it but for those that get through, by the time they’re finished with it they
are ready to respond appropriately when given an order. I think that’s why it so
important that we learn to be submissive to those God puts in authority over us. This
is our basic training. We are supposed to get to the point where the Holy Spirit can
lead us. How can we submit ourselves to the one who can’t be seen if we have not
first submitted ourselves to those we can see? This submission is the key to
everything else. James 4:6-8, 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
God resist the proud. That’s definitely good to know. What in your life would you
choose to do differently knowing that God resist you when you are proud, puffed
up? We submit to those we can see so we can be ready to do what it says here.
‘Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ Yeshua submitted to
authority.
Luke 22:42-44
42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours
be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
He didn't want to do this! His flesh didn't want to go to the cross. He asked His
Father to take this from Him but then, even then submitted to His will. That we must
learn to do by His example. Christians all over struggle with temptation and sin
wondering how they can stop doing the things they know God doesn’t want them to
do. Many struggle with things all the way to the grave not knowing that submission is
the key. The world tells you that you have to stand up for yourself. God’s Word
says in James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you
up. The world will lead you headlong into conflict, God’s Word leads you toward
peace. The world says don’t take that from them, God’s Word tells us to turn the
other cheek (Matthew 5:39). The world tells us to get them back, God’s Word tells
us to let Him be our avenger (Romans 12:19).
In order to get the devil off our backs we must first submit to God. In order to truly
understand all that entails, we must learn to humble ourselves and submit to each
other.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: May 21, 2006
Revised: April 20, 2008
