Service or Serve Us

I usually don't "need" to blog. I like blogging, it is one way to communicate to different groups of people, but I don't have this self expression need that drives me to blog, usually. This is a post I "needed" to write.

I am in Atlanta, GA. at this







One of the speaker this week is Andy Stanley








He was sharing from John 13 about Jesus and a principle of leadership that he displayed.

Joh 13:1-15 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (2) During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, (3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, (4) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. (5) Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (6) He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" (7) Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." (8) Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." (9) Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" (10) Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." (11) For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." (12) When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? (13) You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Andy pointed out a good principle of leadership, but something else really spoke to me out of this passage and it has to do with verses 3-5 and 14-15. It says that Jesus knew his own exalted position, "that the Father had given all things into his hands." Yet the next verses tell how the exalted Christ who has all things put in subjection to him, laid aside the symbol of his authority, his garment, and humbled himself and washed the disciples feet. The Creator of the universe stripped off his clothing and wore a towel. The very expression of the Glory of God, pure and holy, dipped his hands into increasingly dirty water and scrubbed the filthy feet of twelve men.
Jesus, who had the praise of angels and the worship of heavenly creatures became a servant. the very light and Lord of heaven condescended (in a good way) to service in order to show the full extent of his love.

I just have to say, that blows my mind. Wow! What a mighty, loving, and unsearchable God!!
Then in verses 14-15 Jesus makes it clear that he is calling his followers to a life of service following his example of service. I am afraid I all to often have an attitude of serve us instead of service. Jesus said no servant is greater than his master. When I want to be served instead of serve others am I saying I am greater than my master, he who said, "the son of man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

God forgive me