John 13 – Serving Others
April 7, 2024
John 13:3-5 NIV
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
Jesus cleaned the feet of those who would run from him.
How many of our relationships are transactional?
Serving confronts our pride.
Matthew 6:1-4 NIV
"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Three ways to serve:
1. We can serve to be seen by others.
2. We can serve in secrecy but be proud about it.
3. We can serve in secrecy as worship to God alone.
Serving is a witness to the world.
John 13:34-35 IV
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Notice in this story that Jesus was serving the people closest to him.
Would the people who know us best call us servants?
Before we can ever reach the world, we must first become a congregation who cares for one another.
The outside world will argue with us about our doctrine but imagine if they were fascinated with the way we live as a family.
It’s the house of calm that attracts those living in chaos.
Philippians 2:5-11 NIV
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
