Secondary Significance of the Passage

In this part of the sermon: Martin examines Jesus' actions in verse 12a, noting how he resumes his garments and sits down again. This reversal of action, like a 'home movie' in reverse, signifies Jesus…

John's description of Jesus resuming his garments and sitting down is compared to a home movie being played in reverse, illustrating the careful, deliberate nature of Jesus' actions in both taking on and laying aside the servant's role.

So, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and sat down again. What we have here is what you experience when someone has a home movie and they take you through an incident and then they reverse it. Perhaps the incident is Dad is sitting out on the back lawn reading a magazine. And one of his kids comes up and throws some cold water on him and he gets up and chases the kid around the yard.

12:54 - 13:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Husbands, do not make your wives your servants by leaving your dirty clothes for them to pick up.

Martin humorously notes that his description of the low-lying, U-shaped table 'blows a hole' in the common artistic depiction of the Last Supper, emphasizing the historical and cultural accuracy of the setting.

Each of the disciples is reclining on a mat, resting on one elbow, reclining at the table. That was the fashion and the pattern in that particular cultural setting. He very carefully describes that Jesus pushes himself away from the large, probably U-shaped coffee table. Sorry that I've blown a hole into Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper.

13:58 - 14:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Husbands, do not make your wives your servants by leaving your dirty clothes for them to pick up.

The detail of Jesus folding his head napkin in the tomb is used to argue that he would not have carelessly thrown the apron-like towel, reinforcing his consistent character of order and humility even in small things.

When he had washed his feet, washed their feet, and taken his garments, he undid the apron-like towel, and I cannot conceive of our Lord just throwing it anywhere. Can you? The one who, before he left his tomb, folded his head napkin, placed it neatly in the tomb. I cannot picture my Lord Jesus taking off the apron towel and throwing it for somebody else to do him service, to pick it up and put it where it belonged.

14:54 - 15:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Husbands, do not make your wives your servants by leaving your dirty clothes for them to pick up.

Martin directly applies the principle of not making others serve by citing husbands who leave dirty socks and underwear anywhere, sending a message that their wife is their servant, contrasting with Jesus' example.

Do you hear me, husbands? Your dirty socks and your dirty underwear, thrown anywhere, are sending out a message. My wife is my servant, consistent with his role as servant. Jesus would not make someone else take the role of a servant to take care of the dirty towel.

15:30 - 15:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Shut down distractions and think deeply and reflectively about spiritual truths.

The analogy of children's 'connect the dots' pictures is used to ask if the disciples (and listeners) have truly understood the 'picture' of Jesus' actions, or merely observed the individual 'dots' without grasping their significance.

Not only in its redemptive significance, but in its significance for becoming part of the society of the towel in the basin. Have you connected the dots? You kids know, when you were small, mom and dad got you little books of dot pictures. They had a bunch of dots.

22:20 - 22:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Jesus' explanation, starting with the disciples' titles for him: 'Teacher' (Rabbi) and 'Lord.' He explains the significance of these titles, emphasizing that…

Martin quotes Donald Carson's summary of the meaning and usage of 'Rabbi' to provide scholarly backing for his explanation of the title's significance as a term of honor for a teacher.

Here, I read the excellent summary by Donald Carson in commenting on this very verse in John 1. The two disciples of the Baptists begin their response with, Rabbi, the word literally means my great one, but was a common term of honor addressed by a student to his master, his teacher, as John's explanatory aside points out for the sake of Greek readers. By the end of the first century, the word became restricted to certain, quote, ordained teachers who had successfully completed an appropriate course of rabbinical instruction. But, at this point in the century, that is, when the Gospel of John ...

27:47 - 28:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Be concerned about names and titles reflecting reality and truth, not violating the ninth commandment.

Martin uses the example of calling human beings 'Holy Father' or 'Priest' to illustrate how Jesus is concerned about names and titles reflecting reality, condemning such titles as blasphemous and contrary to biblical truth.

Why? Because that accords with truth. For I am. Jesus does not look with pleasure upon calling human beings, peace and the Holy Father.

34:32 - 34:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not treat names and titles lightly, especially for those in leadership, as they reflect biblical principles of respect and recognition of authority.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about being called 'Al' by young medical staff, using it to illustrate the erosion of respect for titles and the biblical principle that names and titles should reflect reality and proper relationships.

With all the medical care my wife and I have needed in the past years it's been an eye opener to me. I make an appointment and I don't make the appointment under the name of reverend. I don't like that. I'm pastor to you people, other people.

36:40 - 36:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The passage concludes with a blessing pronounced on those who embrace and fulfill this duty as a pattern of life. Martin explains that this 'blessedness' (makarios) signifies joy…

The story of a mother asking her son why he didn't take his raincoat and umbrella despite knowing it was raining is used to explain that Jesus' 'if you know these things' is an 'if of certainty,' not uncertainty.

Here's a mother. Says to her son, look, son, it's raining. Take your raincoat and take your umbrella. Comes back in dripping wet later and she says, did you know it was raining?

54:29 - 54:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I can never be more assured of the blessing of my Savior upon me than when I have the towel in the basin.

Martin quotes Lenski's definition of 'Makarios' (blessed) to explain that it denotes joy and satisfaction arising from divine favor, especially when engaged in humble service for the Lord.

To know that the God who made me and the Savior who redeemed me smiles upon me because of the fruit of the working of His own grace within me. Listen to Lenski. The adjective, Makarios, is especially significant in this connection for it denotes the joy and the satisfaction arising from possessing and experiencing the divine favor in one or the other of its manifestations. Whereas he who thinks himself great feels disgraced by a menial task rendered to those beneath him, the true disciple of Jesus regards such a task as a great opportunity and reaps from it the feeling of joy and honor for the...

55:49 - 56:34 Read in full sermon