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CALLED TO BE A FAMILY
“Servants serve”
John 13:5
Joe Burgess
June 3, 2007
I’ve got a question as we start this morning. As you were arriving, and unloading whatever you had and moved it in did anyone offer you a hand? I know this probably isn’t true for all of you. There are many who are assumed quite capable or who appeared to have everything under control. But was there any way in which any of you felt someone came alongside you this morning to help you with something, even if it seems minor or trivial? For those of you who were helped how did it make you feel?
Galatians 5:13 tells us that we are to “through love serve one another.”1 Verse 14 goes on to say stress the importance of how we deal with one another with a powerful assertion that the whole law, and by that I suspect the moral law, is summarized in one statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”2 We’ve mentioned during this series John 13:34 and 35 several times. It is here that we are commanded to love one another even as Christ loved us, that is how we are to love one another. And as we do that the world will know that we are truly different – as they see Christ in us.
It is this same chapter, John 13, that begins with one of the most recognized displays of humble love recorded in Scripture. Just before Jesus gave us the command of verse 34 He also gave a demonstration of what it takes to follow that command. If you brought your Bibles with you to the park today would you turn to John chapter 13, and we will begin reading at verse 1. By the way, what you have in your bulletin is not an outline for today, but a couple of points that I felt important to consider. So, they are just kind of placed up at the top. Sit back and don’t worry about filling in any blanks. Let’s read....
John 13:1-5 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about.3 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”4
Tomorrow would be my parent’s 52nd wedding anniversary, and it has been barely a year since my mom joined my dad in the presence of our awesome Lord. As I reflect on the months, and even years, prior to that I am mindful of and amazed by the numerous people who came around them to care for them, from the hospice workers to the various family members and so many others. This was an incredibly compassionate act on their parts for which I am incredibly thankful. But the one who amazed me the most in all of this was my dad, who until he was totally unable due to his own cancer was an awesome example of care and devotion as he tended to needs of my mom.
I think we all know someone who has been extraordinary in their care, taking on even the most menial of things as if it were a pleasure. Jesus knew that His time in this world was up, and that He was about to return to the Father. But unlike the situation with my parents, no one really grasped what was about to happen. Jesus could have tested their love for Him by waiting to see if He would be tended to in some way. He could have even dropped stronger hints about what was going to happen, hoping that someone would feel for Him and respond. But He did not do that. Here we find that all of the disciples had come into the room, and after some general stuff of which we don’t know they sat down to eat. It was during this time that Jesus got up from his meal, took of his outer garments and picked up a towed which he wrapped around himself. He then poured water into a basin, and began to wash His disciples feet, using the very towel He had wrapped Himself with to dry them.
Aside from what was about to happen this would have been unacceptable. After all, He was their rabbi, their teacher, the one they were given to following. Someone else should be washing His feet – not He theirs. But this was not so with Jesus. He knew why He came, and He knew they had a lot to learn. As He was leaving this world they would be soon called upon to take up the leadership among the growing number of followers, and He knew they needed to know how to lead – a lesson that was lost on the disciples even at that moment. We know this not only from what Jesus had to say right then, but also by what the gospel accounts record also as happening that evening.
Luke 22:24-30 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”
This statement, “But I among you as the one who serves.” I may be wrong, but I suspect that this might have even happened after Jesus had washed their feet and they concluded their meal. The King of kings and Lord of lords was again having to illustrate for them what it meant to be a servant of man and a servant leader. And this was not the first time this issue had come up among the disciples. We see in Matthew 20 that James and John, at the prompting of their mother, came and asked Jesus if one of them could sit on His right and the other on His left, which of course set off the other ten with a “what nerve they have” response. They were looking for power and prominence. Jesus was showing them something else. We read in Matthew 20:25-28,
Matthew 20:25-285 “But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. ‘It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,6 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,7 but to serve,8 and to give His life a ransom for many.”
As I looked at this passage I was struck by some of the words. Here we see that Jesus came as a servant (the person), not to be served (not focused on Himself) but to serve (concerned about others). All three of these service related words have the same root, and they encompass the full scope of the uses of these words in Scripture. They are the ones from which we get our word “deacon” or diakonos, and they simply refer to the one who ministers or serves or the act of ministering or serving itself. If you were to look in your concordances you would find only five times the word “deacons” mentioned, and what you would be missing is that these three words combined are used 100 times in the New Testament.9 And they are not the only words used in the New Testament (or for that matter in Scripture) that refer to serving or ministering to others. As I read these verses and did the rest of my study, I was struck with the simple truth that servants serve.
Scripture tells us that Jesus, who was with God and who was God, came in submission to the will of the Father. He came as a servant to God the Father’s plans for the redemption of man. And we know that this was prominent in His prayers in the Garden and upon the cross which were both still to happen. He knew what it was to serve. He knew even in the Godhead the role He had, and He was fully committed to it.
Scripture also tells us that we, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, have been bought with a price and that we are no longer our own. If you were to follow through Scripture the passages referring to service and those to being servants you would be unable to avoid the fact that while we may no longer be slaves to sin we are slaves to God or doulos.10 We are, as Paul and others have said, bond-slaves and as such we owe our full allegiance to the one who purchased us. Our servant service is not an optional joining in, but an expected participation. As God’s doulos bond-slaves we are expected to be His faithful diakonos servants.
Though Jesus had hope for His disciples eventually learning this valuable lesson, he also knew that they still didn’t have a real clue. We go on to read in John 13:6-17,
John 13:6-11 “And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”11 7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter.” 8Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”12 9Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”13 10Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”14 11For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”15
Before I continue with the passage, knowing that there is so much in these verses that we could look at, I want to take a moment and look at a couple of important truths that are of critical importance to our spiritual condition and our place before God. The first is the statement, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Fellowship with God has always been on His terms, and His terms require that we be cleansed. If we are harboring some “dirt” we cannot have real fellowship with God. We can go to church. We can read our Bibles. We can do all kinds of things. But we cannot grasp at sin and have intimate fellowship with God at the same time. 1 John 1:9 tells us,
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The second issue is that of partial cleansing versus cleansing the whole body. Peter went to an extreme – “Jesus, if you are going to wash my feet go all the way and wash my whole body.” Jesus’ answer was quite to the point. If only your feet are dirty then only your feet need to be washed. Scripture tells us that when we accepted Jesus Christ’s work of forgiveness that all of our sins were washed away. We were totally forgiven past, present, and future. There is simply no need to be rewashed if the washing was fully effective the first time, and God’s salvation is fully effective. God did this fully and completely. Titus 3:5-6 tells us,
Titus 3:5-6 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”
Isaiah 1:18 “...Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”
At the same time, there was one there who would have his feet washed, and yet himself was not clean everywhere else – Judas. And having clean feet did not save Him just as being a good person cannot save any one of us. We all needed to be fully washed once, and then regularly cleaned up from the stuff we step in on a daily basis.
So, back to our servant consideration. After taking this side but important teaching moment Jesus went on to say in verses 12-17,
John 13:12-17 “And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?16 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.17 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.18 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.19 1truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.’”20
Its not about who will sit at Jesus’ right or left hand. It is not about who will be greatest in the kingdom, or even who will get the most praise and recognition right now. It is all about following the example of Christ, and Christ’s example was one of service. Bob has referred to Philippians several times during this series, and he has done so for good reason. In Philippians we clearly see the heart of Christ and His example explained for us. In 2:3-8 we read again,
Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Jesus Christ existed in the beginning and is fully God and equal in the Trinity, yet He had a role and His role necessitated that He empty Himself and become man and in obedience go through death in the most painful way know to man. He did this with a humbleness that was beyond anything we could ever imagine. He, being God, did not draw straws with the Holy Spirit and the Father to see who would have to do the dirty work. He didn’t sit back and wait to see if either of the others would do it. He didn’t write us off, and say that it wasn’t worth it. No. He emptied Himself, not considering who He was as an issue in what needed to be done. This should make us all sit back and say “wow.”
This is the one who said,
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
And the crazy thing here is that Jesus did not pick some high and lofty task for us to do. He did not give us a gallant example of courageous service to others. He did not race into a fiery building to rescue children. He knelt down and washed dirty feet. Sure, He was about to do something even more dramatic and eternity changing, but his simple lesson was that of washing His disciples’ dirty feet.
Jesus tells us to be ready as dutiful servants for His coming. And then one day, He Himself, will again don the towel.
Luke 12:35-38 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.”
We want to take some time today to recognize a few of the people in our fellowship who have exemplified this for us. There is no way we can adequately cover all of those who have been such models of servanthood, but our hope today is to make a start. And we will come back regularly and continue this recognition.
1.Gal. 5:13 serve one another. Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment, but for serving one others. Cf. Rom. 14:1-15. MacArthur Study Bible
2.Gal. 5:14 all the law. The ethics of the former OT law are the same as those of the NT gospel as indicated in the quote from Lev. 19:18 (see notes on Rom. 7:12; 8:4; cf. James 2:8-10). When a Christian genuinely loves others, he fulfills all the moral requirements of the former Mosaic law concerning them (Matt. 22:36-40; cf. Deut. 6:5; Rom. 13:8-10). This is the ruling principle of Christian freedom (vv. 6, 13). MacArthur Study Bible
3.John 13:4 His garments: Jesus laid aside His outer garment, which would have impeded His movements. towel: By putting on an apron, Christ looked like the slave to whom the task of washing the feet of guests was assigned. Though the disciples realized what Jesus was doing, none of them offered himself to the task. Servanthood was not on their minds. Jesus loved them knowing all about them, including the worst one of them, Judas. Nelson Study Bible
4.John 13:4,5 The dusty and dirty conditions fo the region necessitated the need for footwashing. Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive of washing each other’s feet. This was because in the society of the time footwashing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that they were arguing about who was the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop and wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also a symbolic cleansing (vv. 6-9) and a model of Christian humility (vv. 12-17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross. MacArthur Study Bible
- John 13:5 began to wash his disciples’ feet. A menial task (see note on 1:27), normally performed by a servant. On this occasion there was no servant and no one else volunteered. Jesus’ action was during the mean, not upon arrival, done deliberately to emphasize a point . It was a lesson in humility, but it also set forth the principle of selfless service that was so soon to be exemplified in the cross. John alone tells of this incident, but Luke says that in rebuking his disciples over a quarrel concerning who would be the greatest, Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves” (Lk 22:27). Jesus’ life of service would culminate on the cross (see Php 2:5-8 and notes). NIV Study Bible
5.Matt. 20:25-28 In this rich text, the Lord was teaching the disciples that the style of greatness and leadership for believers is different. The Gentile leaders dominate in dictatorial fashion, using carnal power and authority. Believers are to do the opposite – they lead by being servants and giving themselves away for others, as Jesus did. MacArthur Study Bible
6.1249. diakonos; of uncertain origin; a servant, minister: – deacons(3), minister(7), servant(10), servants(9). NAS Exhaustive Concordance and Greek Dictionary (used 29 times)
7.1247. diakone; from 1249; to serve, minister: – administered(1), administration(1), cared(1), contributing...support(1), do...the serving(1), employ...in serving(1), minister(3), ministered(2), ministering(3), servant(1), serve(4), serve as deacons(1), served(2), served as deacons(1), serves(5), services...rendered(1), serving(4), take care(1), wait(1), waited(3). NAS Exhaustive Concordance and Greek Dictionary (used 37 times)
8.1248. diakonia; from 1249; service, ministry: – ministries(1), ministry(19), mission(1), preparations(1), relief(1), serve(1), service(7), serving(2), support(1). NAS Exhaustive Concordance and Greek Dictionary (used 34 times)
9.30 of those times it was used in the gospels. The book with the most usages of these words is 2 Corinthians (21 times), followed by Acts (10 times). While this is where we get our word deacon, we only find the words translated as “deacons” (never singular in NAS) 5 times in Scripture (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 10, 12, 13). In the King James we find that the word deacons is translated twice as “the office of a deacon” (1 Tim. 3:10, 13). This is not the case in the New King James nor other recent translations (e.g., NIV).
10.1401. doulos; of uncertain derivation; a slave: – bond-servant(11), bond-servants(12), bondslave(3), bondslaves(8), both men and women(8), servants(1), slave(58), slave’s(1), slaves(39). NAS Exhaustive Concordance and Greek Dictionary (used 141 times, and there are other words which are derivatives of this one)
11.John 13:6-10 These proceedings embarrassed all of the disciples. While others remained silent, Peter, perhaps on behalf of others (see Matt. 16:13-23), spoke up in indignation that Jesus would stoop so low as to wash his feet. He failed to see beyond the humble service itself to the symbolism of spiritual cleansing involved (v. 7; v. 1 John 1:7-9). Jesus’ response made the real point of His actions clear: Unless the Lamb of God cleanses a person’s sin (i.e., as portrayed int eh symbolism of washing), one can have no part with Him. MacArthur Study Bible
12.John 13:8 no part with Me: The washing was a symbol of spiritual cleansing (vv. 10, 11). If Peter did not participate in the cleansing, he would not enjoy fellowship with Christ (see 1 John 1:9). Nelson Study Bible
- 13:8 No. Characteristically, Peter objected, though apparently of humility (he did not want Jesus to perform this lowly service for him) and pride (he tried to dictate to Jesus; see also Mt. 16:21-23). Unless I wash you. Jesus’ reply looks beyond the incident to what it symbolizes: Peter needed a spiritual cleansing. The external washing was a picture of cleansing from sin. NIV Study Bible
13.John 13:9, 10 but also my hands and my head: Given Jesus’ dramatic statement, Peter had no choice but to submit. Only this time he went too far in the other direction. At first he wanted to tell the Lord what to do (v. 8). Now he wanted to dictate the manner in which Jesus did it. But Jesus told him he did not need a bath; he only needed Jesus to wash his feet that were dusty from the road. This is symbolic. A believer has already been “cleansed.” He or she only needs the cleansing of daily sins that comes through confession (see 1 John 1:9). Thus Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet not only is a model of service, but it represents the ultimate in service–forgiveness of sins. Nelson Study Bible
14.John 13:10 needs only to wash his feet. The cleansing the Christ does at salvation never needs to be repeated–atonement is complete at that point. But all who have been cleansed by God’s gracious justification need constant washing in the experiential sense as they battle sin in the flesh. Believers are justified and granted imputed righteousness (Phil. 3:8,9), but still need sanctification and personal righteousness (Phil. 3:12-14). MacArthur Study Bible
15.John 13:11 You are not all clean: This is the second indication fo the presence of a traitor among the apostles (6:70). Apparently this commend did not attract much attention. Nelson Study Bible
16.13:11, 12 not all clean. This verse refers to Judas (6:70), who was soon to lead the mob to capture Jesus (18:3). MacArthur Study Bible
17.John 13:13 Teacher and Lord were the ordinary titles of respect given to a rabbi. Nelson Study Bible
18.John 13:14 wash one another’s feet. Christians should be willing to perform the most menial services for one another. NIV Study Bible
19.John 13:15 an example. The word used here suggests both “example” and “pattern” (Heb. 4:11; 8:5; 9:25; James 5:10; 2 Pet. 2:6). Jesus’ purpose in this action was to establish the model of loving humility. MacArthur Study Bible
- John 13:14, 15 you also ought to wash one another’s feet: The Lord was using His practical action to give an example of love to His disciples (v. 1). Nelson Study Bible
- John 13:14-15 Some Christians believe that Christ intended to institute a foot-washing ordinance to be practiced regularly. Most Christians, however, interpret Christ’s action here as providing an example of humble service. NIV Study Bible
20.John 13:17 blessed are you if you do them. Joy is always tied to obedience to God’s revealed Word (see 15:14). MacArthur Study Bible
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