Notes
Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.
Matthew 21:9-10
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Luke 19:39-40
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.
John 13:1-3
We are created for praise; don’t wait on the rocks. We have the opportunity to praise the Creator of the universe and walk in His fullness! Here are three things we need to know in order to understand why we should give Jesus all of our praise:
1) Powerful Praise Happens When We Trust Jesus as Savior
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
John 13:4-11
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
Hebrews 10:11-14
Jesus only washes us once. His sacrifice was enough; there is no need for another sacrifice, an offering, or a religious act. Jesus’ act on the cross sets us apart and frees us from sin’s penalty.
2) Powerful Praise Happens When We Trust Jesus as Leader
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”
John 13:10
When we call Jesus our Lord, we’re calling Him our leader. A leader is someone you keep going back to for guidance and direction on the journey, and someone you submit to. Jesus not only forgives, but He offers freedom from the oppression of sin in our lives.
3) Powerful Praise Happens When We Join the Movement
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
John 13:12-17
Don’t wait on the rocks to praise God; join the movement by connecting with a local church and praising Him together. God wants us to not only understand who He is and what He has done, but act on it by serving others in the same way that Jesus served. Follow His example, humble yourself, and serve people so that they can meet the same God who saved and changed you.
Group Questions
- What type of leader was Jesus?
- How does knowing that Jesus' sacrifice was once and for all change your understanding of forgiveness and freedom from sin?
- How can we follow Jesus’ example of service in our daily lives?
- What does it mean to not “wait on the rocks” to praise God?
Prayer
Thank you for showing us the power of praise, and the importance of serving others. Help us to trust Jesus not just as the one who saves us from our sins, but as the leader of our lives.