What comes to mind when you think of the word "servant?" Do you think of the word positively or negatively? Regardless of what the word "servant" makes you think of, you likely do not think of the word "king" when you think of the word servant. Yet that is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus, the king of Kings, came to Earth and took on the role of a servant. Why did He do this? He did this because He loved others and wanted to set an example for us of how to serve.
In our Bible study yesterday, we read about the moment when Jesus took on the role of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet as He shared a final meal with them shortly before His death in John 13. Scripture tells us that when He finished washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus said to His disciples, "Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have bashed your feet, you also ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (verses 14-15). Why did Jesus wash their feet? He washed their feet to serve as an example. By washing their feet, He was showing His disciples (and future followers) how to live. Like Jesus, they, too, were meant to serve and be in the foot-washing business. After all, their teacher and Lord served, then they, too, were meant to serve. That is why Jesus said to them, "Slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message” (verse 16).
Like His disciples, we are called to follow His example because we serve Jesus. Specifically, we are called to serve those around us. That means we must stop living with the mindset that we must be served. Instead, we must constantly be looking for people to serve. We must see needs and meet them, putting aside our own agendas and our own needs to help those in need. Service is the way of Jesus. Will you follow His example?
Commit to following Jesus’ example and serving others today. What is one way you can specifically serve someone today? Maybe you can take someone a meal who is facing a difficult time. Maybe you can sign up to serve at Sagebrush at sagebrush.church/serve. Whatever you decide, commit today to take a step of following Jesus’ example and serve.
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
