Servant Sunday

Jesus our Slave

John 13:1

English Standard Version Chapter 13

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

Jesus is getting ready to be crucified, and he gathers his disciples for one final meal…and here it says, that he loved his disciples, and he loved them to the very end…to this point.. just before he is about to lose his life…and he knew he was about to die…what is significant is that…

The word love here, can mean to take pleasure in, or to love based on its regarded value…

The Lord’s affection for his disciples, for his assembly, and also his church…was to the degree he didn’t just feel affectionate toward them, but Paul says in Eph 5:25, that he so loved the church and gave his life up for her.

Jesus made it a practice to lay his life down for the church…why? Because he regarded the value of his disciples to such a high degree, that it fitting to lower himself to love them…and how does he do it in this moment?

He strips down, wraps a towel around himself…and washes the disciples feet….

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament The Cleansing of the New Messianic Community: The Footwashing and Judas’s Departure (13:1–30)

Customarily, footwashing was performed by slaves. In the present instance, however, Jesus, the Teacher, stoops to perform this role, not in order to institute a permanent rite, but rather to teach his followers the importance of humble, loving service

He was setting an example for them to follow…and then he tells them in verses 12-17,

English Standard Version Chapter 13

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.

Again he wasn’t telling them they had to wash each other’s feet, but he was saying they each need to regard one another to the degree, that they willingly humble themselves and serve each other…for that is how we show love one to another..

he goes so far to say in verse 34-35

English Standard Version Chapter 13

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What Jesus is saying…in a nutshell…is that Christians are not volunteers…Christians are servants…that’s how we show love one to another…is by serving each other…

there was a point in the church where it had grown so large the burden of the ministry had gotten too much for the disciples…and so they had the church elect another group to represent them and to minister in their place to meet the needs…

7 men were chosen who were full of faith and the holy Spirit…and later their roll was given a title…called deacon..

The word deacon…simply means servants…they were the lead servants who helped facilitate the ministry of the church within the church so the apostles could focus on preaching, teaching, and leadership.

Paul told timothy this

1 Timothy 3:13

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Why will those who do well be rewarded with respect? Because of the way they love the church...by honorable and humble service…because they help set the example to those whom they serve…

in our modern context…we don’t call them deacons…we call them ministry leaders…and we have several dedicated servants of the church who have been entrusted with leading ministries…

and today you are going to get to hear from them, as they share with you what their ministry is, and what the needs are for their ministry…especially as we approach going back to two services…these servants…need other servants to step up and serve…so that we can love each other well as we work together to fulfill God’s call on Vertical Life Church in this community…

no we don’t have to wash each other’s feet literally…but we do need to serve each other at some capacity…God hasn’t called us to sit and be served, no he called us to humble ourselves and serve…

serving one another was so important in the early church, that Paul even wrote to the Thessalonians ,

2 thess 3:7-11

English Standard Version Chapter 3

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies

The church lived in community and they shared everything they had with one another…and some took advantage of the goodwill of others…they came, they ate, but they didn’t put anything back in. They weren’t givers, they were takers…and Paul said to the believers, those unwilling to work, shouldn’t eat…they shouldn’t be able to take advantage of the good will of other people…

Now why would he be so harsh like that? The answer is, if serving is how we show love to one another…than its not loving to enjoy the benefits and not sow anything back…

We are commanded to love one another the way Christ loved us…which means we are commanded to serve each other the way he served us…because that is how we reflect Christ…Christians don’t volunteer, they serve…and I know it can be hard and tiring…and life can come at us from directions…and Paul knew that…and here is how he encouraged the church right after this instruction..

2 Thess 3:13

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good

Stay the course, stay faithful, and you will see the blessings of the Lord…and we know first hand, that many of the blessings experienced in the church aren’t seen from the majority…but through the eyes of the servants…

When Jesus turned water into wine…only servants saw the miracle, but everyone was blessed…and you have the opportunity now, to join a team, and not just see the miracles, but be part of the blessing.

After the team shares, we will conclude the service by inviting you into a time of prayer…to ask the Lord where you should serve…and then our leaders will be in the Meeting place with signup sheets where you can talk to them about their ministry, what the needs are, what the vision is for their ministry…and sign up to be part of that team..