“The Servant”

Scripture: John 13:1-9

Maundy Thursday is the time when we celebrate the servant’s heart that Jesus so aptly exhibited. I mean, he is God, after all! He should be honored and served and loved above all other things, and should never be called to serve the sinful likes of you and me!
But within the very nature of Jesus Christ beats a heart of love – a love of both power and grace that would allow nothing to come between the death we deserve and the life that he offers, nothing between our limited existence and his eternity, nothing between our arrogant pride and his servant’s heart.

As we read through the gospel accounts of Jesus and his mission to earth, we catch glimpses of his character. We read of the intimacy that he had in his connection with the Father; we read of the authority that resided in every word he spoke and in every lesson he taught; we read of the vision that allowed him to understand the deepest secrets within the darkest recesses of the human heart. But our passage for this evening may provide the best view of the passion and compassion that defines the very soul of our Almighty God.

Read John 13:1-5

Jesus was, at the same time, the glory of heaven, and the humility of earth. He knew that the Father had placed the full power and authority of heaven at his disposal. He could have destroyed the hatred and conspiracy that was being directed toward him, but that would have interfered with the mission that lay before him. His humanity could have been filled with pride and self-importance, but the humble heart and sense of purpose wouldn’t let anything get in the way.

Satan had tried to interrupt the mission during Jesus’ time in the wilderness. (Mathew 4:1-11) He tempted Jesus with every trick at his disposal, and the Son of God never wavered – his heart was directed toward the salvation of the world, and it was all he could think about. And that is what guided the earthly life of Jesus – his loving and passionate thoughts for you and me.

And as we reflect on the passage we just read, we realize where Jesus’ life was centered. He knew that the time was very near when he would be able to leave this hateful place behind as he returned to the glory and praise of heaven. But his focus never changed – we don’t read that he loved that fact that home was getting nearer, but rather that he loved the people of earth, and would continue to love them until the mission was complete. Even Judas was loved, in spite of the betrayal that he was about to level against the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus broke bread with him, he shared the truth of his Father with him, he would soon die for his betrayer, and this perfectly humble heart would soon kneel in front of Judas, and wash even his feet.

Judas didn’t understand what Jesus was going to do for the likes of him. No greater love has any man than this, that he would love, to the death, the most unlovable person in all the world!

Read John 13:6-9

Peter also constantly struggled with accepting this ultimate and Godly love that Jesus had for him. Peter wanted their relationship to always be that of Master and student, but Jesus was about to show his disciple what it truly means to be the Teacher. Education can, and usually does, consist of using words to impart knowledge. And while the Lord used that approach, his most effective style was in his showing the most definitive example of what heaven was all about.

Peter was about to learn the lesson of his life – how to become the first by striving to be the least and last. “Wash my feet? That’s no job for the Master – that’s a job for the lowest servant!” But class time had come for Peter, and Jesus was going to teach him a lesson that would lead him into one of the truly great Christian ministries of all time, and without it, he would be a miserable failure. Simon Peter was about to learn what it means to be a leader and teacher for Christ.

Jesus, the heaven sent Messiah, was about to teach “The Rock” how to be a heaven sent servant. Jesus, God in the flesh, the salvation of the world, was about to take the lowest of all positions, to wash the feet of his student. Is it any wonder that Peter objected? But to the disciple’s credit, he would learn this lesson, just as he would learn all the lessons that his God and Savior would teach him in the years to come. And every time he submitted to his Master’s call, each and every lesson would grow stronger within him, as he came to grips with the call to minister in the role of a servant-leader.

May each one of us learn our lessons as well as Peter did.