Leaders Who Serve

June 9, 2024

FBC Baxley

pm service

“Leaders Who Serve”

John 13:1-20

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

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

7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

*PRAY

Introduction:

Leadership is so important, yet so misunderstood.

Jesus’ example is the one we should follow and always guides us to the best results, best practices, and the best for everyone involved in the process.

I don’t know why we get so distracted with other means, other examples, and always get poorer results.

It doesn’t take a long look to realize Jesus was a humble servant, always obedient to His father, always leading others for the better, always sacrificing, always leading others closer to the Father!

In his study of the famous Biblical passage on shepherds, (The Good Shepherd: A Thousand Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament), scholar Ken Bailey provides context to the 23rd Psalm:

The good shepherd “leads me”; he does not “drive me.”

There is a marked difference. In Egypt where there is no open pasture land I have often seen shepherds driving their sheep from behind with sticks.

But in the open wilderness of the Holy Land the shepherd walks slowly ahead of his sheep and either plays his own ten-second tune on a pipe or (more often) sings his own unique “call.”

The sheep appear to be attracted primarily by the voice of the shepherd, which they know and are eager to follow.

It is common practice for a number of shepherds to gather at midday around a spring or well, where the sheep mingle, drink and rest.

At any time one of the shepherds can decide to leave, and on giving his call all his sheep will immediately separate themselves from the mixed flocks and follow their shepherd wherever he leads them.”

*Just because you have been put at the front of the line…. Doesn’t mean you are a leader…

*No one deserves a leadership position…

A Leader is Actively Present

Verse 1-3

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

We live in a time where people want to live and lead by titles or position

Notice even though it was near the end for Jesus’ He took time to meet with His disciples.

In all of Jesus’ leadership, He led being present

He never had the attitude “Do as I say” but rather “Do as I do!”

What I notice in churches today…the people wanting to make all the decisions are the ones that are the least active.

I love in verse one where it says He loved them to the end…

In the tone of Jeff Foxworthy…If you are absent, more than you are present, you might not be a leader

II. A Leader is Always an Example!

Verse 4-5

4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

These verses show us Jesus’ leadership style. (Laid aside His deity to serve and save)

The King of Kings took His towel and washed the feet of His followers.

Verses 15-16

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

*What is Jesus’ example?

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

III. A Leader is Aware of His Adversary

Verses 18-19

18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.

Jesus’ already knew who would betray Him.

Jesus was preparing the others…

Notice He said…”He who ate My bread…”

It is true… the enemy is among us.

Sheep and Goats

Wheat and tares

And yet, you notice, Jesus washed Judas’ feet!

Jesus’ compassion for to the end for Judas to be delivered.

Seven ways to lead like Jesus…

Sacrifice yourself

Serve other people

Develop other Leaders

Rest Often

Press On…Stay the Course

Speak Honestly

Choose Integrity

PRAY

INVITATION