Sermons

The last area of God’s radical generosity we are going to look at is Servanthood. Jesus is the supreme example of servant leadership – and we are called to have the same attitude.

Let’s look at John 13v1-17 to see 7 things Jesus has to teach us about servanthood.

Jesus is motivated by unending, unconditional and unselfish love.

“The hour had come”for him to be crucified and even then he is thinking how can he show love. It’s an inconvenient time, if he was us he’d be preoccupied. But Jesus’ preoccupation is loving servanthood. Even to someone who will betray him.

In the Father Heart of God -Floyd McClung writes of getting on a plan exhausted and irritated by someone wanting to talk. He writes “all my plans for a quiet morning were destroyed by his insensitivity.”… And then “As the conversation unfolded it dawned on me that perhaps I was the one who was being insensitive.”

Servanthood Jesus style is motivated by love – even to the end!

Jesus knows that

i) all things are under his power – his authority

ii) where he had come from – his identity as the son of God

iii) where he was returning – his destination.

That’s pretty secure – even though he is about to be rejected more than anyone else ever, beaten, crucified, Jesus knew his authority, identity and destination. You know those three, right?

Authority to make disciples, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead.

Identity – you are a precious child of God if you have received Jesus as your lord and saviour

Destination – eternal security in Christ in a new heaven on a new earth!

He got up, took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist.

He was ready for action and ready to initiate serving.

Look for opportunities and be ready for them in other words!

Jesus will serve he 12 in the most humble way, doing the job of the lowest slave. Washing the dirty feet of the household guests.

Serving others exposes pride and orphan thinking. Peter didn’t want to be served initially.

It may be that he still had the worldly mindset that leaders lord over not serve. So don’t serve me because you are the boss.

Some don’t want to be served because they feel they don’t deserve it. They don’t deserve someone else stooping low to help – a sort of victim mentality.

It can be uncomfortable being served by someone else. God is showing us to be the kind of people who serve others and are happy to be served by others.

I love watching how people are when they are being served in a restaurant. I feel uncomfortable when they are ignored or not thanked. They are serving us, but we can serve by engaging politely! I remember speaking at Bishop Stortford a few years ago and the leaders took me out to their favourite steakhouse – a real treat. The leaders wife Angela was lovely to the waitress and ended up prophecying over her accurately! Jesus example in John 13 – serve and be served!!!

As soon as Peter is corrected by Jesus, he goes to the opposite extreme. Not just my feet, my whole body Lord. I want it all!

Jesus is probably chuckling as he tells him you have already had a bath, you only need a footwash.

The whole foot washing thing is symbolic of what is just about to happen. Jesus is about to be the ultimate suffering servant, dying on the cross and rising again.

When we turn and put our faith in that and get baptised – we have had our bath. We are forgiven, washed clean. Brand new creations, slate wiped clean. the foot washing is symbolic of our ongoing turning from sin as we pick up mess along the journey of life. We don’t lose salvation and need a complete bath. We just need a foot wash.

Servants want nothing to hinder our relationship with Jesus – short accounts with him and others. Course corrections!

Servant leaders like Jesus use moments like these as teaching moments. Have washed their feet he teaches them what it means. He tells them I have served you no you must serve one another too. It was an example! I am the Lord and Teacher and I’m happy to stoop low and do menial tasks.

I’ll never forgot Barney Coombs telling me about an intern whose job was to clean the toilets – by showing servanthood attitude he eventually became the senior pastor.

I look for a servant attitude in leaders – don’t bother telling me at the start how wonderful you or that you are a pastor, planter or apostle – serve! The leaders here serve – here first and leave last and help clear up! And I know there’s a balance of honouring leaders and serving them – so it’s an attitudinal thing as much as anything else.

I’ll also never forget visiting the Brazilian church in Peterborough. As soon as we entered and they heard I was a pastor, my bag was carried, we were put at the front and a man served us – little table, glasses and water. Every time I took a sip, it was refilled. I was served and honoured!!!

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” if you want the blessed life, be a servant like Jesus!

Pretty simple really!

Servants are

Motivated by love

Serve from their security in God

Initiate acts of service

Receive service

Want nothing to hinder their walk with God

Use teaching moments

So what do we need to do?

Aim to serve others as much as you can, even when it is inconvenient.

Grow your confidence in God – meditate on verses that tell you who you are in Christ

Look for opportunities to serve!

Try and do a perhaps anonymous kindness mission this week – cookies! an encouraging card!*