Serve

Introduction:

Stories about task avoidance.

Task Avoidance

[Difference between knowing mission and following it.]

RECAP

Eyes to See/Bless Card

Begin with Prayer

Listen

Eat: I heard and saw evidence of people taking out others for lunch, a couple even drove through the church parking lot when I just so happened to be outside. They ate their lunch in their truck with me standing outside…we laughed, talked about parenting, and it was encouraging.

Serve

Paradigm Shifts: A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN APPROACH OR UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS.

Agricultural Revolution-shifting from hunger-gather societies. Indicative of a change from nomadic lifestyles to established settled and farming communities. Population growth, domestication of animals, boost food production.

Industrial Revolution-a shift from manual labor to machine-based production led to factories and mass production. People moved from country to cities in search of employment

Information Revolution- The rise of computers, the internet. Immediate information at all times.

Today, we are going to see Jesus model a huge paradigm shift. A paradigm shift that people still don’t get! They don’t get it. Good people. Godly people. They just have missed this paradigm shift that JESUS was ALL ABOUT…

The higher you rise, the more power you have, the more wealth you accumulate…means the more leverage you have to get others to serve you…play on your team, build your wealth, advance your agenda, etc.

Examples: Build a Brand, Followers, Employees, CEO, Profit, Boss, Power, Wealth

SCRIPTURE:

John 13:1–5 ESV

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.

Jesus washes feet.

The son of God. God incarnate. Perfect. Maker and sustainer of everything. There is no one higher. No one has more power. Jesus knows His own position. HE knows his limitless authority. What does he do.

He sets aside his crown for an apron.

He assumes the role of the absolute lowest rung on the ladder. Washing feet was a must before sharing a common meal in the ancient world, but it was only a job for the lowest ranking person of the house. This was a gross job. I don’t know if you’ve noticed before, but I’m glad to point it out…feet are feet. And 1st century feet were even more feetlike. No nail clippers, no peducures, no socks, no shoes, you get the point. Right. Do I need to show a picture. [Pretend to show a picture]

Social meal expectation is not being met. Because people recline and feet are near one anothers social space, the expectation was that the feet would be cleaned before reclining at the table. Everybody there knows it wasn’t done all avoiding the inevitable task

Things get even more awkward as Jesus…their Leader, Teacher, Lord takes off his shirt, ties an apron around his waist, and starts washing their feet.

Shame, Dignity, Honor, all on a collision course.

Like a lot of cultures throughout history people have a reputation, people have dignity, people have honor. The higher you go, the more privilege and prestige you enjoyed. If you have high score, other people were expected to serve you.

Jesus, the man to them had a high score, was washing their feet. Many didn’t think highly of this carpenter from Nazareth. But they did. And how could someone they love, respect, admire, and follow be doing something below HIS status.

IT is why Peter says…in the next few verses…

John 13:6–8 ESV

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.”

John 13:8–10 ESV

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.”

John 13:12–15 ESV

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.

Am I wearing a crown or an apron?

Story:

If I am honest, this is one of the hardest things I struggle with as I gave gotten older. Age of 40.

Experience and Successes. Wanting to be asked. When someone with far less experience and successes being asked.

Are you wearing a crown or an apron?

APPLICATION:

The world believes the higher you rise, the more power you have, the more wealth you accumulate, the more you leverage you have to get others to serve you and your purposes/agenda.

Jesus says…

Matthew 20:26–28 ESV

26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:3–8 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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.

CONCLUSION:

Pull out the BLESS card. What are the places God is calling you to bless? Who are the people God is calling you to Bless.

Remember there is a difference between knowing the mission of God and doing the mission of God.

IF the person is your spouse, your roommate, a close friend…are you wearing a crown or an apron?

If the person is an eighbor or a teacher or a co-worker…are you wearing a crown or an apron?

If the place is your office, your school, or your local gym…are you wearing a crown or an apron?

We are to be like Jesus. We are to be people of the apron. Ready to serve.