Sunday Morning March 10, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: Who Is Jesus Christ? [#4]
A HUMBLE SERVANT
Philippians 2:5-11
Introduction:
1. In our series “Who Is Jesus Christ?” we have seen Jesus as Life Giver, Minister to sinners, The Lion, The Lamb, King of kings, Lord of lords, High Priest, and the greatest gift ever given to mankind, but this morning we will see Jesus in a way that makes us all uncomfortable. We will see Jesus as a Servant.
Mark 10:45
“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.”
2. As always, we are to be imitators of Christ and so as we look at Jesus as a Servant, we must also realize that we are to apply this to our lives. The first verse in our text tells us this.
Philippians 2:5
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:”
3. Turn with me to Philippians 2:5-11.
Love
Left Heaven (vs. 6-7)
John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
1. God sent His only son to earth because He loves us so much.
2. We don’t find Jesus fighting the Father about Him leaving Heaven. Jesus didn’t say, “No Dad, You go!” He didn’t say, “Look Dad, don’t forget We had to destroy them once.” Remember Dad, I was there when Adam and Eve sinned. I was there when the earth was flooded and only Noah and his family survived. I was there when Our Nation Israel disobeyed us over and over again. These people don’t deserve our help and the people to come won’t be any better so they don’t deserve our help either.”
3. Jesus left a perfect Heaven and came to earth. That’s a sacrifice bigger than I would ever make, but it doesn’t end there because Jesus came to this earth in human form. This means that not only did Jesus leave a perfect Heaven, but also He left a perfect form. Jesus’ human body felt pain, He hungered, He thirst, etc… Before Jesus came to this earth He did not hunger or feel physical pain.
4. Jesus arrived on this earth in the form of a baby. He was born to poor parents in a poor environment.
Why?
1. Why did Jesus do all of this? Jesus left all of the glory of Heaven simply because He loves us.
2. Our text says that Jesus “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
3. Jesus did all of that for you and I.
Motive
1. We find that Jesus’ motive for becoming a servant was love.
2. What is your motive for serving God? Are you serving God?
3. Let me remind you that verse 5 says we are to have the same attitude as Christ. That means if Christ became a servant, what should we become?
4. As Christians we should be servants of Christ. Why do you come to church? Why do you witness? Why do you teach a class at church? Why do you serve at the church? I know what the answer should be but that is not always the case.
5. Take some of the 12 disciples for example. Judas Iscariot was in it for the money. James and John wanted position in Christ’s Kingdom.
6. Jesus’ motive was love. What is your motive?
Life
On Earth
1. Jesus served people on earth that most of us would walk by.
2. Yes, I said served. When Jesus ministered to people it was not at His convenience. A servant works on someone else’s schedule, not their own.
3. Jesus tried to teach His disciples the importance of serving.
Teachings
1. The disciples obviously had a difficult time with these teachings of servitude, just as we do today.
Matthew 20:20-28
2. The disciples are furious at James and John. Who do they think they are sending their momma to “get them in good” with Jesus. After all, they had done just as much or more than James and John had done.
Matthew 20:26-28
Motive
1. Again we see that Jesus’ motive was love.
2. Jesus came “to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Labor
God’s Plan
1. In John 13 we find Jesus giving the disciples yet another lesson in being a servant. We find here that Jesus did much more than just talking about being a servant; He modeled it.
2. Jesus knew that He had accomplished everything but the cross.
3. Jesus was with the disciples getting ready to have supper. In verse 4 we find Jesus doing the work of a slave.
Duty Of A Slave
1. In those days, it was customary for a slave to wash the feet of visitors. Apparently, there were no slaves available to do this for Jesus and His disciples, so Jesus got up from the table and did it Himself.
2. Why didn’t one of the disciples do this?
3. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and washed feet.
Humbleness
1. Have you ever though about the fact that Jesus washed all 12 disciples’ feet? So what? Verse 2 tells us that Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, but Jesus still washed his feet.
2. What was Jesus’ motive? Love.
3. Christians, please don’t forget that we are to have the same attitude as Jesus has.
Lord’s Supper
[Have the deacons come up and sit in the chairs that are placed around the Lord’s Supper table.]
[Begin washing their feet.]
[While washing their feet have Kevin read John 13:1-17.]
Philippians 2:8
1. Jesus served on this earth all the way to His death. He never quit.
2. The verse we just read said that Jesus humbled Himself and died for us, even on a cross. That word even tells us that the cross was not the way anyone wanted to die. The cross is a symbol of suffering and shame. It was total humiliation to be hung upon that cross naked for all to see.
3. After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, they observed what we call the Last Supper. Jesus was showing them what was to come the next day.
[Kevin read Luke 22:7-18]
[Deacons pass out bread]
[Prayer]
[Kevin read Luke 22:19.]
[Eat bread.]
[Deacons pass out cup.]
[Prayer]
[Kevin read Luke 22:20.]
[Drink cup.]
Conclusion:
1. We find in Luke 22 that after the cup was drank, that the disciples were told that one of them would betray Jesus and the disciples began to argue amongst themselves about which one of them was guilty. They then began to argue about who was the greatest.
Luke 22:23-27
2. They still didn’t get it did they?
3. I ask you this morning, with all you know about Christ, do you get what Jesus was trying to teach us?
Philippians 2:9-11
4. We will all one-day bow before the King of kings. Unfortunately some will hear, “Depart from me you wicked one, I never knew you”. If Jesus is not your Savior when you die, that’s what Jesus will tell you.
5. You can change that this morning by making the decision to surrender you life to Jesus today.
6. Christians, are you striving to be the greatest or a servant?
7. Is your attitude the same as Jesus Christ?
[Powerpoint and a bulletin insert is available.]
