The Generous Life Series

Generous Use of Power

Insoo Kim

Proverbs 31:8-9

January 17-18, 2014

Attention Leaders!

Be prepared for God to speak to your group. The Holy Spirit is with you as you prepare, as you open Scripture, and as you lead discussion. Prayerfully consider the needs of your group; who will be there; and what God has done recently in your group. Remember, aim for balancing discussion and teaching; more sharing than answering; and more listening than telling.

Sermon Summary(Time Suggestion: 5 mins)

These notes are to help you give your group a quick recap of the weekend sermon in your own words. If God spoke to you personally through the message, do share that too.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19, Insoo preached on the subject of power - the generous use of power.

The first question that Insoo asked was, “What is power?” Power is the God-given gift to make a difference. Because we are created in the image of God, God has given us power to work alongside of him as he is in the process of making “all things new.” God is in the business of restoring all of creation to the way it was mean to be.

But for many people the question arises – “Do I have power?” Insoo tells the story of Rosa Parks, an African-American woman who is famously known for not giving up her bus set when the bus driver tried to make her move for a white passenger. It would have seemed like this older, African-American woman might have little power in the 1950s, but she used the power she had to be a catalyst in the Civil Rights movement.

Insoo made the point that it is impossible for us to be generous with the power we have when we don’t acknowledge the areas in which we have power. He referenced the story of Queen Esther in Esther 4, where her uncle tells her of the power that she has to save her people, the Jews, if she will only use it. And she does, and the Jews are saved. But she first had to acknowledge her power.

To be created in the image of God is to have power – the God-given gift to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others.

So how do you use your power? There are three steps that Insoo lists in order to allow God to use us to make a difference.

Open our eyes to see the need
Speak up for those who need you
And let them know you are with them by joining them in their cause.

Link to the Sermon/Opening Questions(Time Suggestion: 5 minutes)

Feel free to use either or both of these questions. We think they’re really helpful as conversation starters to get people thinking on the topic that will be discussed.

Who is the most powerful person that you’ve ever met? What do you think makes them so powerful?

Fun word association game: Say the word “power” to your group and ask them what the first word or image that came to their mind was. This could be a mix of insightful and funny!

This Week’s Bible Study

Text: John 13:1-17

Background and Context

The chapter immediately before Jesus and his disciples had just entered Jerusalem during the Passover – an incredibly significant Jewish holiday that celebrated the Exodus, their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In John 12:12-19, he enters into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as people came out to meet him, laying down palm branches and celebrating him as the king of the Jews (the Messiah).

And yet, Jesus says to them that he is going to have to die which the crowd cannot believe. They thought that the Messiah was to live forever, so how could he die? And he said all these things he leave them and hides.

John goes on to say that even though Jesus did many miracles, most people didn’t believe him. And those that did believe in Jesus, kept it secret because they were afraid of what the other Jews, especially the Jewish leaders would say.

The passage that we will be studying finds Jesus with his disciples at the Passover dinner about to eat dinner when Jesus does something incredibly strange.

Study & Discuss

Ask two or three people to help read this passage.

Read John 13:1-17

1 It was just before the Passover Festival.Jesus knew that the hour had comefor him to leave this world and go to the Father.Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,and that he had come from Godand was returning to God;4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied,“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered,“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10Jesus answered,“Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean,though not every one of you.”11For he knew who was going to betray him,and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.“Do you understand what I have done for you?”he asked them.13“You call me ‘Teacher’and ‘Lord,’and rightly so, for that is what I am.14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

In v.1 & v.3, the narrator states several things specifically that Jesus “knew”. Of course Jesus knew many things, but what specifically does it say? Why do you think the narrator tells us this

Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave the world (v.1), that the Father had put all things under his power (v.3), that he had come from God (v.3), and was returning to God (v.3)

There could be several reasons but in the context of Jesus washing the disciples feet, he was doing full knowing what was going to take place next and that this would be one of the last “teachings” that he would give them before he died. If you know you are leaving, you only communicate what is most important. This should cause us to pay even closer attention to what will take place. Also, in the context of humbling and serving in this way, he did it fully knowing that he was the Son of God. This knowledge makes this act that much more powerful and that much more of a shock.

Oftentimes, it’s been said that the Son of God, Jesus, gave up much, including power, in order to become a man and die for us (Philippians 2:6-8). But Jesus demonstrated power throughout his ministry and in v. 3 specifically we’re told that the Father gave him power to use. Does this change your view of Jesus, and if so, how?

In v.3, it says that Jesus knew that “all things had been put under his power” and yet what is the first thing that he does with his power? What do you know about the washing of feet in the culture of this day?

The couches would be arranged around tables containing the food, with the upper part of each person’sbody facing the food and their feet away from the table. Jesus would go to the outside of this circle to wash each person’s feet. After travelers had come a long distance, the host was to provide water for their feet as a sign of hospitality. Yet loosing sandals and personally washing someone else’s feet was considered servile, most commonly the work of a servant or of very submissive wives or children (cf. also 1 Sam 25:41). (Travelers’ sandals would not be covered in dung, as some scholars have suggested. Side roads were very dusty; the main streets of Jerusalem, however, would have been kept as clean as the city could make them, especially the Upper City, where Jesus ate this Passover meal.) Jesus’ removing his outer garments to serve them would also appear as a sign of great humility before them. Unlike Greco-Roman society, Judaism stressed humility; but like other societies, it also upheld societal roles. Jesus overturns even positions of social status. Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi (about a.d. 220) was said to be so humble that he would do anything for others—except relinquish his superior position; seating according to rank was crucial. Jesus goes beyond even this.[1]

How is this different from the use of power that we normally see? How does this model for us a true use of power?

Most often power is self-serving whether it’s to gain more power, influence, wealth, or position. Power is not normally used to genuinely serve others, to put others first, or to show love. Power is often associated with force, physical strength, violence, or the ability to coerce. Jesus flips that idea completely on its head.

Jesus even knows that someone will betray him and yet he chooses to show love to his disciples. He uses his power to serve and to show love (v.1). He doesn’t use power to protect his privilege or status but pours it out over and over again until the end.

Ask someone to summarize the interaction between Jesus & Simon Peter. What sticks out to you in that? Can you relate to any of Peter’s reactions? Which ones?
Why do you think that Jesus says to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me?” What is Jesus’ foot washing foreshadowing? Why do you think Peter resisted so strongly?

Jesus is foreshadowing what he will do on the cross, dying for our sins in order to cleanse us. Only looking back, will the disciples understand the symbolism. There is also the element more broadly that they must allow Jesus to serve them in order to be a part. This can oftentimes be one of the greatest challenges of being a Christian or becoming a Christian – acknowledging our need of Jesus’ death for us.

Jesus washed one of his disciple’s feet, Judas, whom he knew would betray him (v.11). Why do you think Jesus did this? Do you think you could?

In vv. 12-17, Jesus explains why he washed their feet. What is his explanation?

Jesus throughout his entire ministry has been setting an example for his disciples (and us) to follow. He had all power and used it to serve! How does it feel knowing that Jesus only asks us to do what he has done himself? Can you give an example of someone who has set that kind of example for you? Maybe someone in this small group?

Insoo used the definition of power as “the God-given gift to make a difference”. Jesus used his power and influence to serve others around him. What is an area where you have power and influence and can use to serve others?

Ministry Time

Take some time at the end of your group to welcome the Holy Spirit and seek Him for direction as you pray for one another. When we make space for Him, God is pleased to come and show Himself to us in our groups, and to genuinely touch and change us, often in powerful ways.

Take some time as a group (in this meeting or another meeting) to discuss ways that your group can serve with the power that you have. Maybe the power you have is free time that others may not, financial resources, connections in a school district, influence in a neighborhood to gather people together, sticking up for a coworker, etc. Commit to serving at least once in that way.
Break up into groups of 2-3 people and share what area that you think you have power to make a difference in other lives. Hold each other accountable in taking steps towards using that power.
As a group discuss what areas of need that you see in your neighborhood or city. Have people volunteer to do research into that area of need and come back and share with the group. Brainstorm about how you can make a difference in that area of need.

[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Jn 13:3–8.