The Way of the Servant

Overview of the 40-Day Discovery

Purposes:

to recharge our spiritual batteries

to focus on Jesus and his week leading up to his death and resurrection

Parts of the Discovery

to

Sundays - worship

Weekdays - Reading and Journaling

Sundays - worship

Weekdays - Reading and Journaling

Saturdays - Memorization

Groups - during the week

Prayer and Invitation - pray for five people you will invite to Easter

Maundy Thursday - supper and share

Message Introduction:

Open in prayer

Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to guard your mind while you read, converse, and journal.

Scripture

John 13:1–17 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 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. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

How to choose a verse

Is there a verse (or two) that stands out to you?

a repeated word?

a prominent theme?

a striking phrase?

A vivid image?

Are there others passages with the same theme?

Write it out in the space provided.

John 13:14 NIV

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

John 13:14

Observation

Five W’s and an H.

Who, what, when, where, why, and how

You are looking to establish the facts of the passage.

Who is involved?

What action is done? What words were spoken?

Where did this happen?

When did this happen?

Why do you think this passage is in the Bible?

How did these things occur?

Who? Jesus and the disciples. Judas, Peter, (John as narrator)

Jesus?

the Son of God

the one who loved his disciples to the end

teacher and Lord

The Father had put all things under his power

He was from God

He was returning to God

Judas - the betrayer

Peter - talks before he knows what he’s saying

John - narrator, disciple, eyewitness, one whom Jesus loved

What?

He took off his outer clothes (4) and put them on and returned to his place (12)

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.

Jesus talked about (and affirmed) his titles as teacher and Lord.

Jesus explained the symbolism of the act.

footwashing was so demeaning that only non-Jewish slaves or servants would do it. Caligula once had Roman Senators dress as Jesus did and had them wash his feet as a symbol of his domination over them.

When? At passover, just prior to his arrest, trials, and crucifixion.

Interestingly, after the meal had started.

probably Thursday evening when the passover lambs were sacrificed between 3 and 5 in the afternoon. (Or potentially on Wednesday evening and Christ’s crucifixion was the next day when paschal lambs were sacrificed.)

Where?

At the table

The upper room

In Jerusalem

this world

the presence of the Father

Interestingly, after the meal had started.

probably Thursday evening when the passover lambs were sacrificed between 3 and 5 in the afternoon. (Or potentially on Wednesday evening and Christ’s crucifixion was the next day when paschal lambs were sacrificed.)

Why? (interpretive)

to point out that not all were clean

to illustrate the need for cleanliness

to upset the tradition of servant and Lord

to set an example (15)

How? He took off part of his clothes (symbolic and actual)

He washed his disciples feet with a cloth and a basin

Repeated or Significant Words

return (4, 12)

betray (2,11)

wash (5, 6,8, 9 [impl], 10, 12, 14)

clothing (4, 5, 12)

Teacher and Lord / Master and Sender

return (4, 12)

Conversations

Narrator (1-5)

Jesus Dialog with Peter (6-9)

Jesus monlogue on cleanliness and betrayal (10-11)

Narrator (12a)

Jesus monologue on the meaning of the example

Cross References and Similar Scriptures

Philippians 2:1–8 NIV

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 1:5 NIV

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Write out your Observation

Jesus strips off his outer clothes (symbolic of his deity) and puts on a towel (symbolic of his humanity) and washes the feet of the disciples, whom he loves.

Application

example

command

attitude

action

Five W’s and an H

My real identity is found in Christ alone. As a much-loved follower of Jesus, I need to adopt his attitude and actions. I am too much about titles and education. Let them go this week. Try to see the needs of people this week and follow up with actions of love and service.

Prayer

be brief

be honest

be genuine

be yourself

Teacher and Master, thank you for leaving heaven behind and for taking on human form. Thanks for the way you serve all others with an attitude of humility. Help me to see the needs of all others this week and to follow up with love and service as if I were you. Amen.