Portion of this sermon comes from Max Lucado’s book, A Gentle Thunder (Chap. 5)
Transforming Your Attitude
Mark 10:43-44
How many of you would agree that you probably need an attitude adjustment. What is ATTITUDE?
John Maxwell defines it this way:
-- “The Attitude is an inward feeling expressed by behavior.”
This is why an attitude can be seen in people without a word ever being spoken. We have all seen “the pout” of someone who is sulking. We have seen tears in the eyes of someone who is deeply touched by a kind word or gesture. How about the very red face of someone angered. We wear our attitudes on the outside. Our expression is what people see first.
That being said, we know that the expression worn on the outside, is reflecting an inward attitude, that comes from the heart. Sometimes the outward expression is a cover up to what’s going on inside, but in most cases, that outward expression gives us good insight as to what is going on inside.
Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this:
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
These passages bring out the truth that we as people can’t really KNOW what is going on inside someone else. As much as we try not to judge people based on their outward expression,
That outward expression becomes a “window to the soul.”
If a person gives you, “A LOOK THAT KILLS,” they are probably not singing “HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY” on the inside.
Even Jesus had to deal with people and attitudes. He had an advantage, for He knew their hearts. Even among His most committed and closest followers, their were attitudes that needed some adjusting. In fact, Mark records for us an instance where two of the most prominent disciples come to Jesus making a request that gives a glimpse into their attitudes.
It is found in Mark Chapter 10, and it is James & John who approach Jesus. They say, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Do you sense any attitude yet?
He asks them what it is. They respond by saying that they would like to sit at the two highest positions at the table when Jesus receives His kingdom.
Jesus goes on to let them know, that decision is does not belong to Him, and that the positions belong to those they have been prepared for. Then he talks about Gentile rulers and how they LOVE to be in charge. This then prompts Him to make the following statement in verses 43-44:
Mk 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Mk 10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
WOW! Didn’t expect that one did they?
Whoever wants to be great, must be a servant.
Whoever wants to be first, must be slave to all.
Again, WOW! That does not compute.
That’s not the kind of attitude that moves you up in today’s world.
Today, big corporations and businesses, are looking for you to be aggressive, think of yourself first, do your best to outshine the others so you can move your way up the ladder.
How many of you have seen the TV show, “The Apprentice?”
Donald Trump has made millions & millions of $$$ and now has his own TV program. I think he gets some kick back any time somebody quotes his famous line: YOU’RE FIRED!
Why is this show such a success? We get to watch these excited young business people fight their way up the corporate ladder. They learn to work with each other and try to be a team, but the attitudes are revealed by the private interviews and by watching their faces when one of their fellow workers says something that they think is completely absurd. Yet the goal is to beat everyone else out by being deceptive, backstabbing, crafty and strategic. This is a very good picture of what our society today thinks is the way to be great.
Yet Jesus sets a whole different standard for being great, and not only does He say it as we read a little while ago, He demonstrates it for us.
Let’s now jump to the book of John in the 13th chapter.
Here we get the picture that Jesus wants us to see.
Jn 13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
Jn 13:2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jn 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
Jn 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Jn 13:5 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.
Jn 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jn 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Jn 13:8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
Jn 13:9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jn 13:10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
Jn 13:11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
Jn 13:12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
Jn 13:13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Jn 13:14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
Jn 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Jn 13:16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Jn 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
1. It is unsettling to watch Jesus washing these guys feet.
a. He shouldn’t be doing this
b. They should be washing His feet (but they don’t)
c. Dispute arises – who is the greatest(Luke 22:24) (Wash basin sits, towel untouched, servant’s clothes hanging in the corner)
d. Jesus quietly gets up & takes the role of the servant
This is not right. This is not the way it should happen. Doesn’t He realize that the very next day, these very hands of His that are cleaning off the scum and filth of these men’s feet, are going to be pierced by nails and attached to a big cross beam of wood. Do they truly deserve to have their feet washed by You, Jesus? I know they are Your disciples and all, but must you lower yourself to crawl on Your knees, on the floor and wash their stinking feet?
2. The disciples don’t deserve such treatment
a. Nathaniel doubled anything good could come out of Nazareth
b. James & John don’t deserve it, they wanted to be top dogs in the Kingdom
c. And Peter, why wash his feet. The guy who says he’ll go with you to the very end. Even to death. He says he will never turn his back on you…then the rooster crows.
3. You know what they have done & what they will do
a. None of the have taken a stand to help You out (when you were about to be stoned, who stood to take Your place)
b. None will come to You defense later
(fall asleep in the garden, scatter when the guards come for you)
c. You should not wash their feet, make them wash Yours
You know, we would like to say this Jesus. We would like to see the disciples on their knees, bowed before Jesus, washing His feet instead. We don’t enjoy seeing our King & Creator shuffling around on His hands and knees with His hair hanging down in His face, washing the feet of others. It seems wrong…
BUT, when Jesus aims to make a point He makes it strong.
4. Thing is I have a question. What is our objection here?
a. Do we object because we don’t want to see God washing feet?
OR
b. Do we object because we don’t want to do the same?
There are many people in this world who are similar to the disciples. They have many doubts, disbelief and a lack of faith.
Then there are the non-Christians who fit the same description.
Yet we are expected to serve them as well. You know the undesirables that are out there. Even when we feel they don’t deserve it, we are to put what we feel aside, and do what our King did.
Christian author, Max Lucado makes a good point, by making a comparison as to what we may feel & think we should do, with the reality of what really needs to be done. He talks about vows that have been forgotten and contracts that have been abandoned, which naturally leads to angry, bitter feelings toward someone else:
Logic says: “Put up your fists.”
Jesus says: “Fill up the basin.”
Logic says: “Bloody his nose.”
Jesus says: “Wash his feet.”
Logic says: “She don’t deserve it.”
Jesus says: “You’re right, but neither do you.”
It is necessary that we find the significance in the washing of the disciples feet. Jesus desires to cleanse us as well. To cleanse our hearts, our minds and in doing so, the result is a cleansed attitude. A new attitude that takes the time to watch out for others and what they need, rather than just what we want.
It takes us from being:
a. selfish = selfless
b. prideful = humble
c. controlling = serving
What we need to do is admit the filth and crud in our lives to our God who loves us more than we can ever truly grasp, so that He can begin to do a renewing work in us that we again start to make the transformation that God desires in us.
In John 13:12, we find that after Jesus finished washing the disciples feet, He returned to His place and sat down with them again. What is so interesting about that?
That means Jesus left no one out. He washed all of the disciples feet, even the feet of Judas. The feet that would be bringing the guards of the Chief Priest, to where Jesus will be in a few hours. Yet, the very feet of the betrayer have been caressed and washed by the hands of Jesus.
I wonder if it was difficult for Jesus to do it. Treating Judas with equal attention and love as the rest of the disciples, especially when knowing what he was about to do. Now it might not be very easy for you and I to do what Jesus did, but one thing is for sure, God will never call you to do anything what He hasn’t already done.
Remember, it is an attitude adjustment that God wants you to undergo. It is all a part of the transformation that God desires to do with your lives. We must have the right attitude, for it will affect the way we serve, love, worship and pray.
When there is an opportunity for you to serve or be served, remember what Jesus said to His disciples:
Mk 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.”
TRANSFORM YOUR ATTITUDE
