Keep on Serving (part 1)

Introduction

Christians are saved to serve! Paul reminded the believers at Thessalonica “how they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). In other words, they were saved to serve! Worship and service is the very purpose of the child of God. We must remember in times of pain, suffering and heart-ache that we were created to serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God did not create you and I to simply enjoy earthly life, God created us for His good pleasure (Revelation 4:10-11). Your life will never make sense until you understand you were created for His purpose and good pleasure. The average believer has the idea that God is a type of heavenly Santa Claus who was created to fulfill all our desires and expectations. We believe that everything is about us. Yet, when things don’t quite work out according to our expectations we become disappointed with God. Things just don’t make sense in our minds when we suffer adversity or setbacks. We forget we were created “for him.” The Apostle Paul said, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him (Colossians 1:16). Life is not about you, life is all about God.

Why does God leave us on planet earth after we are saved? He could just automatically take us on to heaven. Has it ever occurred to you that God has left you here to serve Him? Paul declared that we are co-labors with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). When the believer discovers this truth he discovers his purpose in life. Saved to serve! My life is His life!

What are some reasons why we should serve Jesus Christ? We should serve Jesus because of His example. The truth of the matter, when we serve we are becoming like Christ.

JESUS CAME TO SERVE

I. You and I will never be like Jesus Christ unless we become servants. Jesus said, “the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). The Greek word diakoneo means to serve someone else. The very purpose of the incarnation of Christ was so that God could put on a human body and become a servant to man (Philippians 2).

II. One of the most vivid examples of the servant-hood of Christ is found during the last supper. According to Luke the beloved physician, the disciples had been arguing among themselves concerning who should be the greatest (Luke 22:24). Each disciple began to position himself to be the greatest in the kingdom. However, Jesus taught them an awesome lesson. It was most likely on a Thursday evening, perhaps twenty-four hours prior to the Passover. Jesus and the disciples were meeting secretly in the upper room to celebrate the last supper (John 13:1-17). Sometime during the meal Jesus got up and took off his outer garment. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. He then put water in a vessel that was called a basin and began to wash the disciple’s feet (v.5). Picture in your mind this amazing first-century scene. The unpaved roads in Jerusalem were dusty and dirty. If it rained the roads were muddy and messy. It was the custom for the host to provide a slave who knelt at the door to greet the visitors and wash the feet of each guest as they entered the home. Should the host family not be able to afford a slave one of the guest would assist in this humble service. Notice a few thoughts about this last supper scene.

1. First of all, notice the disciples were fighting over a throne when they should have been fighting for a towel. Luke provided an interesting parallel to John’s last supper event. Luke revealed that during the meal the disciples began to argue among themselves over who should be the greatest. In was during this dispute that Jesus explained true greatness and then provided an example of what true greatness is all about (Luke 22:24-27).

A. Please keep in mind that Jesus was fully aware of the universal sovereignty bestowed upon Him by His heavenly Father (v.3). Everything was placed in His hands by the Father. Yet, like a household servant, He took a towel in His hands and washed the dirty feet of the disciples. The omnipotent hands of our Savior embraced the filthy feet of the twelve.

B. Why didn’t the disciples want to perform this humble task? Chuck Swindoll said, “What is interesting is that none of the disciples had volunteered for that lowly task…so the room was filled with proud hearts and dirty feet. Interestingly, those disciples were willing to fight for a throne, but not a towel. Things haven’t changed a lot since then, by the way.”[1]

C. This act of servant-hood was beneath the dignity of the disciples. The truth of the
matter is they were maneuvering themselves for a position of prominence and prestige. In their minds acting like a slave would not have help their image. While the disciples were playing power games and making an attempt to strengthen their self-image, Jesus told them, He was among them for the purpose of serving (Luke 22:27).

2. Secondly, I notice Jesus not only washed the disciples’ feet, he lovingly washed the feet of Judas too. It was humiliating enough to perform the duty of a household slave, but to wash the feet of someone you knew would betray you is incredible (John 13:2, 11). I must admit if I were Jesus I would be tempted to use scalding water. Or perhaps a metal brillo pad that would skin the feet of Judas. Or a steel S.O.S. pad that would clean to the bone. But to kneel at the feet of this traitor and lovingly wash His feet is inconceivable. Even though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, He did not treat Judas unkindly.

3. Thirdly, I notice that Jesus left His meal to wash the disciples’ feet. There seems to be a minuscule debate as to exactly when Jesus performed this act of servant-hood. Was it during the meal or after the meal? The confusion lies within the interpretation of verses 2 and 4. Verse 2 seems to indicate that the meal was finished; however, verse 4 seems to suggest that it was during the meal when the foot washing occurred. Carl Laney says,

Verse 2 contains a textual difficulty that involves a single Greek letter but makes a significant difference in translation. The King James reads deipnou genomenou (second aorist participle), ‘supper being ended,’ whereas the superior manuscript evidence (Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus) reads deipnou ginomenou (present participle), ‘when supper was beginning.’ The context indicates the supper was in progress (13:4, 26) and supports the latter view.[2]

A. The context makes it fairly clear that the foot washing incident transpired during the meal. Stop and ask yourself, “Would I leave a delicious meal to perform the task of a slave?” Would you rather have a chicken leg in your hand or a dirty foot?

B. Please understand that the disciples were not sitting beside each other in a lovely dining room with ladder-back chairs. The cultural background reveals twelve men lounging around a table that was approximately one foot high. They would recline on one elbow as they lay on their side on a rug that covered the floor. They would eat with their hands. If your feet were not clean the person next to you would be very aware of the filth. Jesus sacrificed His physical appetite to make sure the feet of the disciples were clean.

C. Furthermore, we must take into account that that even though Jesus was totally God, He was also fully man. He too suffered hunger pains just like any other man. Nevertheless, He was willing to leave His meal to serve the disciples just like a household slave. Truly His meat was to do the will of His Father (John 4:34). Within the context of this biblical illustration, Jesus provided a living example of true greatness. Christ vividly drove home the point; if you desire to be chief you must be servant of all. This humble act of love demonstrated what the Christian life is all about, serving others.

Discussion

1. Why was I created? __________________________________________________

2. Why do we fight for a throne and not a towel? ________________________________

3. Why is it so important to worship and serve Jesus?_____________________________

4. Would you rather have a chicken leg in your hand or a dirty foot?___________________

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[1] Charles R. Swindoll, Improving Your Serve, (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1981), 163-164.

[2] J. Carl Laney, Moody Gospel John Commentary, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1992), 238.