The Great Lesson

Mothers

Happy mothers day to all the moms out there! You all are absolutely incredible.

I don’t know how you do what you do, but you have such an impact on the lives of your kids.

Sister story and Ellie

Talk of sister, and babysitting Ellie!

Thank Mom!

The relationship between a mom and her kids is such a picture of the heart of God, because it is marked by sacrifice and unconditional love

The sacrifice of a mom for her children is such a picture of the heart of God.

Introduction

Speaking of unconditional love, and sacrifice, and servanthood…this morning I want to talk to you about servanthood.

and the lesson Jesus gives us when he washed the disciples feet

In a way it does tie in with our celebration of mothers because I think a mom’s life in many ways in marked by sacrifice and selfless service!

Thank Mom!

I’ve been really captivated by this thought servanthood the past few weeks and I really believe God opened up something in the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet that I want to share with you this morning.

I have this thought that has really captivated me the past few weeks

I really believe God opened up something in the story that I want to share with you

I’m really trying to get into the habit of putting myself into the shoes of the characters I am reading about in the Bible, and it really opens your eyes up to different perspectives. This morning I have two goals in mind…firstly to open our eyes maybe a little bit more to the incredible character and heart of God. And secondly to encourage is more to think like servants!

Got more of a glimpse of the character of God

I’m really trying to get into the habit of putting myself into the shoes of the characters I am reading about in the Bible

I felt challenged in the way that I serve others

different perspectives

Two goals this morning

firstly to open our eyes maybe a little bit more to the incredible character and heart of God

And secondly to challenge us to be the servant that Christ exemplified!

So turn with me to and while you’re turning there I’m going to open up in prayer.

Turn to , the title of my message is The Great Lesson (pray and then read)

Who is the Greatest?

Last Supper (right before crucifixion)

What would you say if you knew you were sitting down with your family or friends for the last time?

You would narrow down your conversation to what you thought was the most important!

Of all things, Jesus created a lasting impression and moment and gave a lesson on servanthood.

We have this incredible moment where Jesus does something that leaves a lasting impression on the disciples

We usually focus on the institution of communion, but the greatest impression was probably the footwashing

This is the message: he who is least among you is the greatest. It’s one of servanthood

Here is why this message is so important: this is taking place during the last supper that Jesus has with his disciples before he is arrested and crucified! If you were having a conversation with your family and you knew it was your last, you would probably be pretty selective on the things you talked about....you would choose the most important subjects only. So of all the things that Jesus could have talked about, during his last supper with them, he created a lasting moment and he talked to them about servanthood.

Here’s what is interesting to me:

What would you say if you knew you were sitting down with your family or friends for the last time?

You would narrow down your conversation to what you thought was the most important!

Of all things, Jesus created a lasting impression and moment and gave a lesson on servanthood.

Disciples discussion

Disciples Dispute

In Lukes description of the Last Supper he mentions that the disciples got into a dispute at the dinner table.

Lukes description

- A dispute rose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

- A dispute rose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Their last supper conversation was on who was the greatest

History of this topic:

- Disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven

They had a history of this:

He took a child and said whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven

- Disciples as Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He took a child and said whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

- Argument arose as to which one of them was the greatest! Jesus responded by taking a child a putting him by his side and told the disciples “he who is least among you all is the greatest!”

- Argument arose as to which one of them was the greatest

- Disciples as Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He took a child and said whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus responded by taking a child “he who is least among you all is the greatest!”

- James and John sitting by Jesus

- James and John approach Jesus and say “we have something we want you to do for us!’ They asked that he would grant them each to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in his glory

I would never do something like that!

I look at this and think that it’s so crazy that this is their mentality. I would never do something like that!

Matthew 18:1 - Disciples as Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He took a child and said whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Have you ever read a story in the Bible and thought, “I would never do something like that?”

Have you ever read an account in the Bible and thought, “I would never do something like that!”

But I think in different ways we do it all the time!

But we do that exact same thing!

Basketball testimony

Basketball testimony!

I was so consumed with being perceived as the greatest that it drove me to do something stupid, to say hurtful things, to disregard the feelings of those around me

I was so consumed with being perceived as the greatest that it drove me to do something stupid.

Insignificant consequences

At the end of the day this was very insignificant moment and consequence…I just walked away looking like a fool. But what happens when we carry this selfish desire to be the greatest, or to be served in our families, relationships, marriages, workplace, ministries, and interactions with people? The effects can be devastating!

But what happens when we carry this selfish desire to be the greatest, or to be served in our families, relationships, marriages, workplace, ministries, and interactions with people? The effects can be devastating!

So Jesus is making this super important point, to show servanthood to his disciple

So Jesus is trying to hammer it into the disciples heads that if they want to be great they have to serve, they have to become the least

We got a picture of the heart of the disciples, lets contrast that with the heart of God

Washing Feet

(Getting back to our text)

Get this - This is God

Thursday night statement of faith (one true God, eternally existent)

Creator washing the feet of his creation

But what blows my mind is not the fact that he did this, but also the timing in which he did it

Jesus was on the verge of 4 important things:

Betrayal

Poured 3 years into Judas

He ate, slept, and ministered with Jesus

Denial

Promised he would never forsake Jesus

The man who had had the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God

Abandonment

Literally left alone

Jesus is washing the feet that are going to run and scatter in his greatest time of need

Crucifixion

Opens up to Peter, John, and James greatly distressed and sorrowful unto death

Father take this cup from me

Such agony in prayer that his sweat becomes like drops of blood

Getting ready to carry the weight of the sin and shame of the world

He is about the be subject to the most painful spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental trauma imaginable

You can’t convince me that God doesn’t love you, that he doesn’t care about the things you go through, that God has forgotten you and your situation.

There are 2 lessons for the disciples here:

Its about serving in the everyday things

Washing feet was an everyday thing but it was just usually done by servants

Doing dishes for your wife

Those who receive footwashing are almost always the social superiors of those who render the service.

Skipping watching the football game to help a friend pack and move

Choosing to daily forgive those who have hurt us

Make a meal for a family in need

visiting the sick

Picking up that piece of trash everyone is walking by

Recognition is irrelevant

Large upper room (outside of the public eye)

We don’t serve to be recognized

Peter’s Response

I used to read this and think that Peter was just uncomfortable and humbled by Jesus’ actions

But Peter is rejecting the idea that if you want to be the greatest you have to become the least

He knew the implications of Jesus’ actions:

If he washes my feet, I’m going to have to wash the others feet

Jesus’ Lesson

The Great Lesson (closing)

But the lesson Jesus left wasn’t just one of servanthood…it was a call to forgiveness, unconditional love, selflessness, mercy, and grace, a call to deny self.

This is how we are to live our lives as Christians

Here’s the thing...catch this…living this type of lifestyle is impossible unless we are continuing daily to be filled with the Holy Spirt

In other words, you aren’t capable of properly washing the feet of others until you allow God to wash your feet

We forgive out of being forgiven

We serve others because we have been served

We love out of being loved

We give grace because we have received grace

Altar Call

This is the call this morning:

Holy Spirit fill me again…wash me!

Maybe God has been calling you into a deeper walk with Him, but like Peter, instead of letting him wash over you, you put an umbrella over your head and block out what he is wanting to do in your life, because you are afraid of how your life might change, or what will be required of you.