Lesson 10.The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus: The Way to Redemption and the Source of Divine Truth

In Lesson 10, the words of Jesus from John 14:6 are central: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement is not only one of Jesus’ most profound revelations, but it also contains answers to the most important questions of human life: How do we find God? What is truth? And what gives our lives meaning and purpose?

Through this lesson, we discover:

• Jesus as the Way, leading us to God and providing direction in our faith.

• Jesus as the Truth, which liberates us, offers clarity, and provides stability in a world full of uncertainties.

• Jesus as the Life, giving us not only hope for eternity but also fulfilling and renewing our daily lives.

This lesson invites us to recognize Jesus as the center of our faith and life, to value the Bible as a living testimony to Him, and to place our trust in Him. It challenges us to understand the connection between His claim and our everyday lives and inspires us to shape our lives in His truth and love.

10.1 I Have Given You an Example
Humility and Service: Jesus’ Legacy to His Followers

Read John 13:1–20. What happened here and why is this event very important? What teachings did Jesus intend to convey?

The Foot Washing by Jesus in John 13:1–20 is a powerful symbol of humility, servanthood, and the true nature of Christian leadership. In this act, Jesus not only shows His love for the disciples but also sets a standard for what it means to follow His example.

The Act of Jesus: A Profound Symbol

At that time, foot washing was a task for servants, typically carrying no significance or honor. Jesus, the Master and Lord, takes on this task Himself. His action turns the usual social order upside down: the one who was to be served serves the others. John reports this in detailed form to emphasize the radical message of Jesus’ humility and love.

The Meaning of Foot Washing

1. Symbol of Cleansing: Jesus emphasizes that foot washing has a spiritual significance. It points to the cleansing from sin that is only possible through Him. Peter’s initial refusal to accept the foot washing illustrates that even the disciples were to understand the deeper meaning later.

2. Teaching of Humility: Through His action, Jesus teaches that true greatness lies in serving others. In John 13:14, He urges His disciples to follow this example. The act of foot washing is therefore more than a one-time event; it is an enduring lesson that clarifies the relationship between discipleship, humility, and love.

3. Preparation for Mission: Jesus’ actions call for selfless service to others, regardless of one’s own status or authority. The disciples should understand that their future mission should be marked not by power or prestige, but by serving love.

Jesus’ Example and Contemporary Practice

In the Adventist Church, foot washing is celebrated as the “Rite of Humility,” a conscious imitation of Jesus’ example. It serves not only as preparation for the Lord’s Supper but also as a reminder of how we should interact within our community: with love, humility, and a willingness to serve.

Conclusion

In John 13:1–20, Jesus demonstrates that true leadership and greatness consist of humbling oneself and serving others. His example is a model for every Christian called to live not only words but also acts of love and humility. Jesus’ words, “I have set an example for you,” challenge us to emulate His example in daily life and put the meaning of service into practice.

What does the Rite of Humility teach you about following in Jesus’ footsteps and serving others humbly?

The Rite of Humility teaches me how to live Jesus’ example in everyday life and serve others with love and humility. It imparts several key lessons:

1. True Greatness is in Serving Others

The rite reminds us that true greatness is not in power, status, or authority, but in the ability to serve others with a humble heart. Like Jesus, who took on the lowest task, I am called to embrace even the small, often unnoticed services that bless and support others.

2. Humility is the Foundation of Christian Community

The act of foot washing symbolizes the willingness to lay down pride and accept others in their needs. It challenges me to set aside my own desires and opinions and focus on the needs of others. Humility is not a sign of weakness but of spiritual strength.

3. Forgiveness and Cleansing as the Core of Service

Jesus used foot washing to point to the spiritual cleansing made possible through His death. The rite teaches me to be ready to forgive others and seek reconciliation in my attitude. Serving often means helping others carry their burdens and making God’s love tangible.

4. Putting Practical Love into Action

Service is more than good intentions or words—it requires concrete actions. The rite encourages me to actively seek ways to help others, to encourage them, and to support them with practical love, whether through time, resources, or compassion.

5. Equality in the Community

The Rite of Humility reminds us that all members of the Christian community are equal—no one is too great to serve, and no one is too small to be served. This awareness challenges me to respect and value others regardless of their status or role.

6. Discipleship as Daily Service

Jesus says in John 13:15, “I have set an example for you, that you should do as I have done for you.” The rite challenges me to show this attitude not only in a symbolic act but to look for daily opportunities to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and become a humble servant in my environment.

Conclusion

The Rite of Humility is a constant reminder of how I can follow in Jesus’ footsteps: by serving lovingly, selflessly, and without expectations. It is an invitation to continually examine my heart and, through my actions, show others the character of Jesus.

The Rite of Humility, as depicted in Jesus’ foot washing, holds deep significance for our daily lives and our faith. It reminds us that following Jesus is not a theoretical idea but is put into practice through practical, loving, and selfless actions. The connection is evident in several dimensions:

1. Daily Life: Humility in Our Relationships

In daily life, the rite calls us to approach one another with humility. This means:

• Respect and Appreciation: No one is too great or too important to help others. Likewise, no one is too small to be served. This calls us to show mutual respect in all relationships—family, work, friendships.

• Servant Attitude: In our fast-paced world, we often tend to think first of ourselves. The rite teaches us to consciously recognize the needs of others and ask, “How can I help you?”

2. Faith: Following Jesus

Belief in Jesus calls us to follow His example. This means:

• Active Discipleship: Being a Christian is not only about professing faith but also about living as Jesus lived—through loving service.

• Humility as the Core of Faith: The rite shows that true greatness lies in serving and challenges us to substantiate our beliefs through practical acts of love.

3. Daily Life: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

The rite points to the cleansing from sin. In daily life, this means:

• Learning to Forgive: The act of foot washing calls for resolving conflicts and approaching others with a reconciled heart.

• Sharing Burdens: Just as Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, we should be willing to help others carry their burdens and support them in difficult times.

4. Faith: Preparation for Mission

The rite prepares us to share the Gospel through our lifestyle:

• Love in Action: Christian service becomes visible through concrete actions, as Jesus demonstrated. This means helping people in their need, whether through practical assistance or spiritual support.

• Testimony of Humility: A life characterized by humility and service is a powerful testimony of faith.

5. Daily Life: Strengthening Community

In a world often marked by selfishness and competition, the rite teaches us:

• Unity and Equality: The rite highlights the equality of all. Whether a leader or an employee, everyone is called to serve one another and live in community.

• Helping Without Expectation: Humility means helping without expecting anything in return. This principle can be practiced in friendships, families, and communities.

Conclusion: A Life of Service

Jesus’ foot washing is an invitation to adopt a servant attitude in both daily life and faith. It involves:

1. Living Out Love and Humility in All Areas of Life

2. Overcoming Conflicts Through Forgiveness

3. Making Faith Visible Through Practical Acts

4. Strengthening Our Relationships Through Respect and Helpfulness

The Rite of Humility shows that living in Jesus’ footsteps is not a one-time act but a continuous process of change—a process that brings us closer to God and our fellow human beings.

True greatness is shown in humble service and love for others.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-10-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-10-1-i-have-given-you-an-example-themes-in-the-gospel-of-john-living-faith/

December 1, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – Romans Chapter 7

1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

King James Version. Public Domain

 

Commentary

Introduction

Romans Chapter 7 is a theological masterpiece in which Paul examines the relationship between humans, the law, and sin. This chapter offers an in-depth analysis of how the law reveals sin and makes the inner struggle of humans visible. It serves not only as a reflection on the limitations of the law but also as a moving depiction of human weakness and the necessity of divine redemption through Jesus Christ. This passage is directed at all who know the law and shows how faith in Christ opens up a new way of life.

Commentary

Romans 7 is a multifaceted text that deals with two central themes: freedom from the law through Christ and the inner conflict of humans under the power of sin.

Freedom from the Law
Paul begins with an analogy from marriage: A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but after his death, she is free to marry another man. This metaphor illustrates that death in Christ frees humans from being bound to the law. The law is not a negative thing—it is holy, righteous, and good—but it reveals sin and intensifies its effects. The sinful nature of humans uses the law to arouse desires and plunge people into guilt.

Christ has created a new reality through his death. Paul emphasizes that we no longer live under the old “letter of the law” but in the new “spirit of the flesh.” This distinction shows that the Christian life is not characterized by external regulations but by the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Humans under the Law
In the second section, Paul describes his personal experience, which is also universal for humans. The law shows what sin is (“Do not covet!”), but it offers no solution to overcome it. Humans recognize their sinfulness through the law, which throws them into an insoluble conflict. Paul describes this inner struggle with painful openness: Humans want to do good but are unable in their members because of sin. This description is not a devaluation of the law but a revelation of the power of sin, which is made visible through the law.

The most well-known verses in this section (“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing”) summarize human frailty. There are two laws within humans: the law of God, which they love, and the law of sin, which they are enslaved to. This struggle leads to a poignant lament: “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”

The Solution in Christ
Paul concludes with the triumphant answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Only through Christ is humans freed from the power of sin and the law. Acknowledging their own helplessness leads to dependence on God’s grace. Humans remain weak and flawed in their flesh, but their spirit can serve the law of God through Christ.

Summary

Romans Chapter 7 shows that while the law is holy, it does not bring redemption. It reveals sin and makes human weakness visible. Paul illustrates this state with a personal testimony about the inner conflict of humans: the desire to do good is thwarted by the power of sin. This struggle leads to the realization that only Christ can set humans free. Through his death and resurrection, Christ provides a new reality in which humans are no longer led by the law but by the Spirit of God.

 

 

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/1-11-2024-romans-chapter-7-believe-his-prophets/