John 13:3-8; 12-17
The setting was that of the Last Supper. Jesus had been the highly regarded leader to the disciples up till this point. It was a highly charged event for the disciples when Jesus entered Jerusalem. To them, Jesus their Messiah and King has finally come to re-establish His kingship and rule. But then Jesus had also been talking about Him going through terrible suffering death. It was hard to understand. Then the unimaginable thing happened: The King himself became a servant to them. The Teacher, the Master, the Leader, knelt down before his followers and performed the role & task of a slave!
1. Servanthood is our response of obedience & love to Jesus command & model.
a. v15; Mark 10:42-45. this command is so important it is recorded in Matt & Luke too.
b. John 14:15. if you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
c. I often forget that service is an answer of obedience to Jesus command. So when things are not right, my instinct is to bargain with God.
2. Servanthood calls us to willingly humble ourselves to do the dirty job.
a. In those days, the task of feet washing was always left to the servants. Roads are dusty and after a whole day of traveling, the feet would be full of dirt.
b. Jesus chose to wash their feet, when they were supposed to wash His.
c. As position leaders, we must be willing to stoop down and serve.
d. Every night I have to clear the rubbish bin in Joys room. Sometimes it is an easy task. Most times it is difficult. Because the odor is intoxicating. But someone has to do it. Either Jo or me! I have to learn to humble myself to do it.
3. Servanthood demands that we put aside our ranks to minister to our followers, even those we dislike.
a. Jesus also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, knowing he is going to betray Him.
4. Servanthood is simply meeting peoples felt needs and trusting Christ to meet their real needs.
a. All their feet need to be washed and someone has to do it. Jesus was simply meeting a physical need.
b. But more than that, there was a deeper spiritual meaning to Jesus washing the disciples feet, and that is that they may understand their need for constant cleansing from the world.
c. In 2002, when Jo and I were recovering at my sisters place after Samuel passed away, she served our daily need for food, rest and companion. Throughout the whole time, she simply served all our felt needs so that Christs love and message can come through to us again. I saw true servanthood in her.
Picture #2: The Nails, The Thorns & The Cross (NTC)
Phil 2:5-8
The theme of Philippians is Joy. It is repeated countless times throughout the book. But the focus is not Joy. It really is in the word Phroneo. It means attitude, thought, mind, perspective, directing our minds towards a thing. Joy is therefore a result of us directing our attitude and thoughts towards Christ!
1. The key to joyful service is having Christs selfless attitude.
a. Christ disregarded His original self so as to serve. Phil 2:3-4 He considered the salvation of the world more important than Himself. This attitude enabled Him to endure the NTC.
b. The NTC are terrible items of punishment and cruelty in those days. No one ever survives the capital punishment of the cross. It will take huge mental endurance in a person to go through all the scourging and sufferings Jesus went through.
2. Servanthood calls us to empty ourselves so that we might serve without selfish motives.
a. V 7. Jesus emptied Himself.
b. He emptied Himself of His freedom to fight back. He chose not to exercise His authority & power as God so that He might fulfill Gods purpose for Him.
c. He emptied Himself of personal desires & ambitions. He chose to glorify God instead of self-glorification.
3. Servanthood involves a tenacious spirit to suffer for those we love & serve.
a. V 8. Jesus suffered to the most extreme for our sake.
Picture #3: The Crown
Phil 2:9-11
1. Servanthood is unto the Lord and is for His glory.
a. Col 3:23-24 treat whatever you do as serving the Lord and not man, and that the Lord will give us the reward of the inheritance. This reward is not a trophy or a title. But a reward to that of being glorified with Him (Rom 8:17). It is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us (1 Pet 1:4).
2. Servanthood is not a terrible punishment but a terrific privilege.
a. John 14:1-3; 16:20-22 As Jesus sets His eyes resolutely towards the cross, His focus is not on the pain, the shame & the humiliation He has to endure, but on the joy, the victory & the approval of God the Father He will receive.
