The Spirit Of A Servant

John 13 (1)

The spirit of a Servant

Yesterday was a full day. We spent a good portion of the day, fixing things for Christmas in the Country.

After slipping home for a late lunch, we retuned to the church and started working getting ready for last night. After we got back down here, Gladys told me, “We haven’t fixed the maze yet.” I said “fixed the maze? What’s the matter with the maze?” Well, we discovered when we went in there, that someone, or multiple someones had gone through the maze and torn holes in the walls so they could slip through, or they had torn down the tops of a number of the walls so they could see what was ahead.

I must admit, by the time we had finished repairing what other, ungrateful folks had torn up, I had lost my cherub like demeanor.

How does one keep serving, ministering, and working, when those you are serving often do not care, or even fight against you?

In the 13th chapter of John’s Gospel, we find the account of Jesus washing the disciples feet, washing the feet even, of the one who would betray Him that night. What did Jesus know that allowed Him to serve that way?

Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me please to the 13th chapter of the book of John. John chapter 13, as this morning we see together the spirit of a servant. John chapter 13 and beginning in verse 1.

- Read John 13:1-20

In 1904 the heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, William Borden, graduated from Chicago High School a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. During that trip he became burdened for all the hurting people he saw in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He made a decision to prepare for the mission field. When he made that decision he wrote in his Bible the words, “No Reserve.”

When William Borden arrived at Yale University the next year as a freshman his passion for Christ was already kindled. He was disappointed to find the school morally bankrupt and the teaching filled with empty philosophy. So during his first semester, he asked a friend to begin praying with him before breakfast. As a result of his leadership other prayer groups began to spring up. And by his senior year, 1,000 of the 1,300 students were meeting in prayer groups. Many of those young leaders came to the Lord through that movement.

Upon graduation he was offered high paying jobs. But he turned those offers down and continued to pursue God’s call on his life. While making those decisions he wrote two more words in his Bible, the words “No Retreat”.

When he completed his studies at Princeton Seminary he sailed to China to work with the Muslims. On the way he stopped in Egypt to study Arabic. But there in Egypt he was stricken with spinal meningitis and within a month, at the age of 25 he died. What his friends and family found written in his Bible was a great source of comfort. Added to the words previously written, “No Reserve, No Retreat” were two more words, “No Regrets”.[2]

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing for you and me to arrive at the end of our earthly journey with those words written in our hearts, “No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regrets”?

William Borden is an example of a person who entered into his ministry and fulfilled God’s plan for his life and could come to the end with “No Regrets”.

This morning as we come to our text in John 13, we want to draw from Jesus’ example, insight on how we too can finish our course with no regrets. In this passage Jesus washes the disciples feet and in doing so teaches us a powerful lesson on servanthood.

The Apostle John has provided something for us in this text that is extremely helpful. By the revelation of the Holy Spirit he has shared with us what Jesus was thinking during those last hours in the upper room. Here is a precious treasure. Here is a key that unlocks the door of fruitful ministry and a fulfilling life.

What kind of thinking empowers you and me to serve with joy and not lose our passion for ministry? What do you need to know in order to take the place of a servant and follow the example Jesus gives us here?

First, I believe you need to know who you are in God.

I. Know who you are in God.

If we don’t know who we are in God we will spend most of our energy doing things to define our identity. And tragically nothing we can do—no attainment, no honor, no accomplishment, no amount of human recognition can adequately define our identity.