Introduction – Preparing for hosting our General Synod meeting provides an opportunity to server the household of faith. Our theme verses for our preparation for synod are Galatians 6:9-10.
I. Serving People and the Cross, 1-17
A. The motivating factor for what Jesus's actions in chapter 13 and all the teaching in the Upper Room Discourse is his love for his disciples, 1, 3.
B. The foot-washing is not something that is part of our culture today, but it was very common in NT times, 4-5.
C. After he had washed the feet of a few paralyzed disciples, Jesus gets to Peter and is met with opposition, 6-10.
D. Back to the original object-lesson: serving one another, 11-17.
II. Loving People and the Cross, 31-35
A. Jesus looks at the cross and the resurrection as his being glorified, 31-32
B. With tremendous tenderness and love, he wants his disciples to know that this is not the end, 33.
C. In essence, Jesus is saying that his presence will be keenly felt by his people when they love one another, 34.
D. Notice that loving one another through serving one another is of the essence of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, 35.
E. Notice again that there is no command to demand love, just to love.
"But it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand on us. 'See,' they say, 'how they love one another,' for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; 'see how they are ready even to die for one another,' for they themselves will rather put to death." Tertullian
Conclusion
"…see how they are ready even to die for one another…" That is what we desire for our church. We desire a church where every person loves one another, where deep friendships are built around the Gospel. And we want our relationships in the church to scream loud and clear to the world: THEY LOVE JESUS! Preparing for synod and serving during synod give us the opportunity to love Jesus!
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