Message: Lessons from the Upper Room pt.3         Text: John 13
III. John 13:12-17

Introduction
ILL:Robert Speer several years ago was being entertained by the president of a small college in the South. The school had limited guest facilities, so this president of the school offered him his apartment. The next morning he was awakened by a noise of someone tiptoeing into the room, but he laid there with his eyes nearly closed so he could see but not give away being awake. What he saw was the president of the college quietly walking up to Speer’s shoes and sneaking out with them very quietly. He got out of bed and looked out into the hall where he could see this college president polishing Speers shoes. He remarked that the sight of this nearly made him cry. He realized what a great man this president was. (Dennis Marguard)

What does it mean to be a servant? What do you think of when you hear the word servanthood?

In his book ‘The Jesus Style’ Gayle Erwin describes servanthood this way ‘A servant’s job is to do all he can to make life better for others, to free them to be everything they can be. Servanthood is a loving choice we make to minister to others’ (D. Greg Ebie)
When we think about servanthood, we often associate it with ‘doing’ something. But there’s something much more basic to servanthood. Being a servant is all about power, authority and control.

Many shy away from service to others, because ultimately they are concerned with keeping their power, authority and control over others. Here’s the thinking…If I serve you,
•    you have power, authority over me.
•    you can take advantage of me.
•    I become vulnerable.
•    I lose control.

And that’s really the bottom line, isn’t it…control.

In our text, we will see that Jesus, the Son of the One True and Living God, Jesus, the one who holds everything together in his hands, the one with ultimate power and authority chose to relinquish that power and authority, chose to become vulnerable, chose to humble himself, chose to serve the disciples by washing their feet.

As I see it Christians have only two choices in life:
•    either we live our lives in an every increasing attempt to control people, in order to maintain power and authority
•    OR, like Jesus we live our lives in order to serve others.

If God is ever going to use you and I to further the work of building his Kingdom here on earth, it will only happen when we are willing to serve others…to be servants.

To do that we need to trust God. Understand that when you give in to God’s power, submit to God’s authority and surrender to God’s control,
•    no one can take advantage of you,
•    no one can hurt you,
•    no one can control you.
•    you become free to serve others through God power, by God’s grace and for God’s glory.

Transition: Open your Bibles to John 13:12 (pg.823 in the church bibles under the chair in front of you) Let’s begin to learn what the disciples learned about servanthood in the upper room.

John 13:12        Do you understand?
Read: John 13:12

There’s a universal need to feel important, significant, in control. Remember the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest in the Kingdom just as Jesus began to wash their feet.

When Jesus finished serving them he asked,
•    Do you understand what I just did?

I don’t believe they did. There’s something I want you to notice. Something the disciples and perhaps many here this morning have missed from this passage.  The text tells us that Jesus put on his clothes and returned to his place at the table. But there is more that we are not told that is very significant.

Read: Matt. 25:34-45

Think about this for a moment. When Jesus went back to the table his feet were still dirty because his disciples failed to serve one another…and Jesus paid the price for their pride and desire for power, authority and control with his dirty feet.

Putting Matt. 25:34-45 together with John 13:1-17 this is what I believe we get.

When you and I fail to serve one another
•    Because we are unwilling to forgive
•    Because we are unwilling to swallow our pride
•    Because we feel the job is somehow beneath us
•    Because it is easier to let someone else do it
•    Because we feel we will lose control and authority in our relationships with others

Whatever the reason, when we fail to serve one another, Jesus’ feet go unwashed and we fail to serve our Lord.

On the other hand…
•    When we humbly serve one another,
•    when we give and expect nothing in return
•    when we go on a short term missions trip supporting kingdom builders on the field
•    when we help out at a Pioneer Girls sleepover
•    when we cook a meal, shovel a sidewalk, offer a ride, surrender the spotlight, shoulder the blame, share a burden

We are not only blessing that person, but the very heart of Jesus. We are not just serving one another, we are washing Jesus’ feet.
As Jesus asked his disciples, I ask you thins morning…Do you understand?

Transition:  The disciples didn’t get it, although I bet they all would have answers yes…just as most of you probably said said yes too. But Jesus knows there is a great distance between what we know and what we have incorporated into our life by our actions.

John 13:13-15    I have set the example
Read: John 13:13-15

Jesus said that when the disciples called him ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ they were right to acknowledge his authority, his power, his control over their lives. Yet, even when he had the right to demand they serve him, he humbled himself and met a pressing need in their life…washing their dirty, smelly feet.

Then he made his point. ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’

What example is Jesus setting? Is Jesus elevating foot washing in the church to the same level as the Lord Supper (remember speaking of the Lord Supper he said…do this in remembrance of me’ The answer is no.
•    Jesus was speaking of his heart of love for others, as we will read later, that leads to a life of service to others.

So, does that mean we shouldn’t have foot washing services in the church? No. A foot washing service, like we’ll have on Maundy Thursday this year, is a symbolic action done to remind ourselves of our need to serve one another. So I hope you will all attend.

So, what example is Jesus setting? I think Paul understood when he wrote Phil 2:5-8

Read: Phil. 2:5-8

Jesus is teaching God’s answer to our desire for significance. The answer is not found in accomplishment, power or control. But in God’s approval. A servant seeks only the approval of his master. And we will always find approval and significance when Jesus is our Master and we seek to serve rather than be served.

Transition: Simply put, Jesus said live as I live, do as I do, think as I think, and you will be blessed. But, Jesus doesn’t just tell them something they needed to know, he gives them something to do.

John 13:16-17    Now that you know…
Read: John 13:16-17

Understand something…this is very important, in fact write this down.
•    God blesses his children not for what they know but for how they respond to what they know.

Do you want to be blessed by God? Do you want to know that you can receive God’s blessings? Look at vs 17 again.

Read: John 13:17

Now that you know…what are you going to do?

Conclusion
Let me leave you with a few closing statements about servanthood.

Being a servant is not just a good idea, it’s a command of God to those who are his children. And it pleases God when we serve one another.

Listen to what the great preacher Charles Spurgeon said about being a servant.

ILL: If there is a position in he church where the worker will have to toil hard and get no thanks for it, take it and be pleased with it.
If you can perform a service, which few will ever seek to do themselves or appreciate when performed by others, yet occupy it with holy delight. Covet humble work and when you get it be content to continue in it. There is no great rush after the lowest places, you will rob no one by seeking them’

How do we develop a servants heart and lifestyle? Well that is another sermon. But here are a few final thought.

•    Spend time with God. We become more like him when we spend time with him.
•    Be willing to say yes to God. When he asks you to serve, a willing heart will stoke the flames of desire for servanthood.
•    Spend time with those who cheerfully serve others. Avoid those who grumble and complain about serving.
•    Don’t see servanthood as a means to something better…it already is something better.

Let’s pray together: