I Am a Servant

Intro

Last week we started our new series called Who Am I. We spoke about how God made us and that God paid a price for us. We also talked about how we are uniquely gifted for such a time as this, to share the Gospel to our friends and classmates.

This week we are going to be talking about being a servant. If we are to follow Christ’s example then there is no way to hide the fact that we are supposed to serve other people.

Christ’s Example

We can see many different examples of Christ serving many different groups of people, however there is one example that I think sticks out more than any other.

John 13:2–8 (NIV)

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

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

7 Jesus 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.”

To truly understand what is going on here we first have to understand a little more about Jewish Culture. Everywhere they went they generally travelled on foot or by donkey, and the roads were not these wonderful pot hole filled roads that we have today. Many times they were clay or stone with dirt filled in to try to make the roads as smooth as possible.

Image of roads

So we see that the roads are not easy to travel, but not only that they didnt have nice close toed shoes or steel toed boots to wear as they were traveling. They would wear sandals

Chacos at the ranch

The combination of these two things meant peoples feet were absolutely filthy, also since they used animals to travel and animals to carry things there was a pretty good chance that they may have stepped in something that the animals left behind.

All of these lead to the fact that washing the guests feet was typically seen as the job of the lowest person on the totem pole, or done by a servant.

So we can see here that Jesus who was most important person in the room, the one that planned the whole meal actually took the place of the lowest position to wash each persons feet.

Christ’s Command

So we have seen here that Jesus gave the example that we should follow to serve each other, but He didn’t just give us the example, He also gave us a command.

John 13:12–17 (NIV)

12 When 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. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus also commanded them in verse 14 to wash one anothers feet. Now this wasnt necessarily a command that Jesus was saying to literally go through and wash everyone’s feet that they saw, but instead a command to serve others.

The New Bible Commentary (13:1–38 Jesus’ Symbolic Action of Feet-Washing and Its Sequel)

humility was despised in the ancient world as a sign of weakness. Jesus’ command was therefore revolutionary in the sphere of human relationships

So Jesus was literally telling them to be the opposite of what the world and the culture around them was doing.

I feel like we arent so different in todays culture of constantly looking to have the most followers, or the best clothes, or that viral video, and yet one of the most subscribed youtube channels is Mr Beast. Where he finds random ways to give money away.

Our culture is looking for people to not fill the status quo but to be counter cultural, and instead of taking, being willing to give. Give of yourself, give of your time, give of your money (which yall did an amazing job of).

Our world around us expects absolutely nothing of you. The world in fact expects the least out of people than ever before. So I want to challenge you, instead of fulfilling that expectation. Lets Rise Up and serve others.

Mark 9:35 (NIV)

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

How will you become last?