Send us Fan Mail This whole scene speaks of servanthood, of serving others, of Christ serving others, and we being told to follow Christ’s example in serving others. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (v.14-15) Christ came to this earth to serve others. We know He came to Save others by being a sacrifice for our sins, but He also came to Serve us by washing our feet. He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mk.10:45) Many won’t even go out of their way to greet others, much less wash their feet. We can’t ever do the sacrifice that Christ did. He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. That is His glory and no one can take that away from Him. “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev.5:9-10). What kind of God humbles Himself to become human with a flesh and bones body, take a lifetime of abuse from people who didn’t understand Him or believe in Him, walk the dusty roads of a little conquered province; did nothing but speak the truth and help others who were in need, and then kneel down to wash people’s feet like a lowly slave? Then humble Himself to be stripped naked, beaten and hung on a cross as a punishment for other people’s sins? His name is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who loved His people so much through all that so they could be saved and be transformed into His likeness and reign with Him forever? Here Christ expressly commands us to serve others. “You ought also to wash one anothers” feet.” This was not the kind of servant who stood at the lord’s table wearing the clean white glistening uniform who served others their wine at the dinners. This was the lowest servant in the house who had the job of washing the dirty feet of others when they came into the house. If you took a bath in those days, like BATHsheba, then put on sandals, it only took a few steps out of your house to have dusty feet. You needed your feet washed whenever you went into someone else’s house. The responsibility for doing that fell to the lowest servant. That is what Jesus did on that fateful night. Remember, He knew He was only hours away from being arrested, falsely accused, beaten, and suffering the worst humiliation a human could ever suffer. And He knew it! Surely He had this on His mind, for He increasingly had mentioned it before He had come to this memorial night. And He knew something else. He knew who He was. The people might be confused about who He was, but He was not. “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” (v.13) What humility! First the serving, then the suffering and the sacrifice – all for others! He had spent His entire life serving others (Acts 10:38). Everything He did was for others. He came into this world for others. “Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, others.” He lived for others, then He died for others. Even now He ever lives to intercede before His Father’s throne for others. All He ever thought about was others. What about you? You claim to be a follower of Jesus. Do you spend your days and nights thinking of others and serving them? What you might do for them? Our profession of faith is hypocrisy if we do not. Let’s enter into that Upper Room that night and watch what happens. READ THE STORY 1. Do you have a servant’s heart and hands? 2. Whose feet can you wash tonight and tomorrow? In your home, in this church, in your community? 3. In serving others you are serving Christ. What we do for others we do for Christ. That’s what He said. You take care of others and He will take care of you. If God would transport you to any place in Christ’s ministry, where would you choose to be? Would you like to have been there when He fed the multitudes? What an amazing time! They wanted to take Him and make Him king. Perhaps when He raised Lazarus from the dead? The whole of Israel came to see Lazarus after he was raised. Years ago I said to myself, “I think I would like to have been with Him in Gethsemane because there I could have served Him. The one time He needed someone to serve Him and nobody did. They were either asleep or betraying Him. I wish I could have been there then. It says angels came to serve Him.” But then I thought, I don’t have to go back to that Garden to serve Him, I have His body with me now. I have the Body of Christ here right now.” But serving them I am serving Him. 4. Christ is not calling us to die for others, He is calling us to live for others, and to serve them. Stay Connected with Grace Church! Dive deeper into sermon notes and see how Christ is moving in our community by visiting our website: https://sites.google.com/view/gracehouseclinton/sermons If you feel led to support our ministry, you can give securely here: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=674824c2-5d42-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11 Thank you for being part of our ministry! #GraceChurch #FaithInAction #terrysimpson #terry #simpson #clintonar #sermons #pastor #ministry #discipleship
