Opening Remarks and Introduction
A few weeks ago, we started a new Bible study called The Red Letter Challenge and have followed that study with a matching sermon theme. For the past two weeks we’ve looked at the first two chapters of Being and Forgiving. Tonight, we’ll continue the series with the topic of SERVING.
When you think of the idea SERVING, what do you think of ? … Do you think of something that was done for you, or something that you did for others? Serving can come in many forms. Sometimes, serving requires special skills and other times it just requires a heart willing to make a difference.
Our lesson tonight looks at the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. We’re going to take a look at that story and see what we can learn from Our Lord’s example. Tonight, we’ll dig into SERVING by looking at:
- Jesus’ Service
- Jesus’ Words
and
- Following The Example
1. Jesus’ Service
Let’s start our look at SERVING by diving into what Jesus did for the disciples.
Today, even with our nice roads and sidewalks and high quality shoes, touching someone else’s feet is not a job everyone wants to do. If fact, some might consider touching people’s feet a very uncomfortable thing to do.
In Jesus’ day, the problem was even less desirable. People often wore sandals that exposed much of their feet. As they walked out and about, their feet would get filthy from the dust and dirt of the roads.
Foot washing was common, but a job that was only given to the lowest members of a household. Jews didn’t usually do this task themselves, and even Jewish servants weren’t asked to clean people’s feet. Instead, it was common to have Gentile servants perform the duty when you entered a home.
In our lesson tonight, scripture doesn’t mention a servant washing anyone’s feet as they arrive in the Upper Room. In fact, scripture suggests something different. The disciples reclined at the dinner table probably without cleaning their feet.
If their feet had been washed, there would have been little value in Jesus doing it. It appears that there were no servants available to do the task. No disciple washed his own feet or chose to wash anyone else’s feet. Instead, Jesus took a towel and got to work. He humbled Himself to take the form of the lowest of servants, all to show the disciples a lesson. He turned the idea of servants upside-down by taking on this dirty task, even though He was the most honored guest in the Upper Room.
Jesus didn’t do this because He expected some form of payback. He didn’t expect anything in return. His entire Earthly life was nothing but service. He could have stayed in heaven next to The Father and the Holy Spirt. But, He didn’t. He could have controlled every aspect of life on Earth. But, He didn’t do that either. Instead, He established a ministry, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and even raised the dead.
Jesus showed us how to serve and make a difference in the lives of others. Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” (John 13:15, CSB)
Our Lord had nothing to gain by serving men. But, He gave His life for us. He did it because He loves us. Even though He was both true God and true man, and deserved our worship both here and in heaven, He chose to serve us. Mark captured this well in his Gospel. Jesus said:
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, CSB)
Jesus’ actions told us a lot. But He spoke to us too. Through His life on Earth, Jesus was the example for us to follow.
2. Jesus’ Words
But, He didn’t want us just to watch what He did. He told us what he wanted us to do, through His words. He explained to us the right way to serve. In one well known Bible passage, Jesus described the source of serving.
“He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, CSB)
These two commands are the root to all service. If we love God, we will serve Him. If we love our neighbors, we will serve them too.
With all that Jesus has done for us, we should be ready to give back something. We should be able to serve in thanksgiving, and pay forward a small token of what He first gave us. He doesn’t just expect us to believe, but to live our lives with our faith apparent in everything that we do. The world should be able to see that we are Christians by our attitudes, by our actions, and by our love for others. Jesus talked about this in Luke. He said:
“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.” “A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” (Luke 6:43, 45, CSB)
We are that good tree in this story, and others should see the good fruit of our actions. Where our heart is, that’s where are thoughts and our words will be… and where our actions, where our service, will follow. Jesus wants us to bear good fruit by SERVING with the good stored up in our heart.
That fruit can come in many forms, but there are a few that Jesus mentioned specifically for us to pay attention to. Jesus used this example about SERVING. He said:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-36, CSB)
Jesus was speaking about the faithful servants taking care of people. Serving can take on many forms, but taking care of the basic needs of others certainly has to be one of the most direct ways of showing where our heart is.
3. Following His Example
With all Jesus’ acts of service, caring for others, and above all showing love for everyone he met, He will always be the example for us to follow. He showed us that no task is too difficult, too dirty, or too humble to be done. He showed us how to let our actions speak alongside our words.
Through His ministry to all mankind, He had two commands, love God, and love our neighbor. Both are a form of service. To help us achieve these tasks, I’d like to look at three things that can help us aim ourselves in SERVICE, and copy the attitude and actions that Jesus showed us.
First, SERVING requires LOVE. Think of this for a moment. When a parent sees their child hungry, or cold, or sick, or in some kind of pain… parents will often drop everything they’re doing to ensure that their child is taken care of. They’ll put their child’s needs ahead of their own. Being a parent myself, I can relate with this pretty well. Along with my wife Lina, we’ve raised 2 kids, Tiffany and Tyler, and are helping raise our grandson Brenden. Parents SERVE because they love their children, and their grandchildren.
But, is it the same if we look to serve someone besides our kids? Are there causes where we can make a difference by serving? Do we drop everything we’re doing to take care of those needs, perhaps the needs of strangers? Sometimes, putting the needs of others ahead of ourselves is the right way to serve. Dedicating our time, our talents or perhaps even our money is a way to love others in an act of SERVING. All are God’s children and He wants us to share our love. Peter wrote:
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:8-10, CSB)
Love is THE universal standard. Constant love… that’s love without ceasing. Isn’t that what God does for us? We should try to do the same. That’s a step in the right direction towards following Jesus’ example. He dropped what He was doing to serve us. Perhaps we should do the same for others.
Second, SERVING requires GOOD MOTIVES. Whether we think about it or not, we all have motives. Those who do nothing are motivated to do nothing. Those who are active are motivated to be active. Those who love, are motivated to love. What drives us to do the things we do? What stops us from serving in the way we should?
Motives are what push us to do things, drive us to get things done, and provide our willingness to serve. Motives become priorities. We need to have pure motives in what we do. God knows the purpose behind our actions. He knows why we do the things that we do. He knows if we’re looking for recognition, if we’re looking for wealth… or if we’re doing things out of the joy of our heart. Proverbs says:
“All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs motives. Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:2-3, CSB)
Our plans should not be aimed to serve ourselves. Nor should our priorities. They should be focused to serve God’s will. His will is to take care of others and love our neighbor as ourselves. He knows where our heart is. He knows where are motives lie. He can see what our priorities look like. God is looking for us to follow His purpose. Jesus made it a priority to serve. Perhaps we should make it a priority as well.
Third, SERVING is a way to HONOR GOD. No matter what we do, we should do everything to the glory of God. When we sweep the floor, we should clean it in honor of God. When we cook meals, we should cook to the glory of God. When we find a neighbor in need, we should allow God’s love to show through our sacrifices, in honor of God.
By sharing the gifts that we have, others can see what our faith is. Through serving, we’re able to show the world what it means to be a Christian. We should reflect God’s love for us by loving others. Striving to be like Jesus is no easy task. But, Christians and non-Christians alike are watching what we do to see what our faith really is. Paul wrote:
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33, CSB)
What we do, and how we do it, can point others to God. Are we finding a way to serve and show His glory? Are we showing God’s grace through our actions? Are we finding the means to live our lives showing God’s love? When we love others through our service, it reflects the mighty mercies of Our Heavenly Father.
Conclusion
Love, motives and honor to God. That’s the way we should be copying Jesus. That’s the way we should be serving.
What Jesus did with a towel and a humble service was just a small example of what He did for all of us. It was a way to demonstrate that we too should be willing to serve, no matter what the task is.
Serving one another is what Jesus was trying to show us. Look towards our friends, our family, our neighbors in need, and let’s look for ways to honor God, and show Jesus’ love in our words, in our hearts, and in our service. We have a lot to learn from Jesus… and a lot of good fruit to bear.
Jesus words told us how to serve. His actions showed us an example of love, motives and honoring God in service. We’ve learned a lot from Our Master. It’s time to put what we learned into action.
Amen.
