September 17, 2017 Dr. Jim Cecy “The Act of Servant-Leadership” (John 13:1-17) Series: Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room (John 13-17) Introduction: Regarding the need for servant-leadership in our world... John 13:1-17 is a 2,000 year old message—“A thing is not too often repeated which isn’t sufficiently learned.” (Seneca) John 13:1-17 is the very first part of Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse: His Farewell Address to His Disciples. Background Ancient roads were very mucky. At the entry to most houses were pots filled with water to enable you to wash your feet before entering. In wealthy homes there would be a “honey pot” slave stationed at the door. His was one of the most menial jobs even a slave could do. John 1:27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” We are often willing to fight for the THRONE but not reach for the TOWEL

I. Observing the Ultimate Servant-Leader: “Jesus: The Lord of the Towel” John 13:1-5 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 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, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 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. Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was serving as a “honey pot” slave—washing their smelly FEET and their smelly HEARTS. Matthew 20:26-28 “…whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Servant-Leader Principles From Jesus’ Parable Without Words Servant-Leader Principle #1: The more menial the task; the more love is demonstrated Servant-Leader Principle #2: The path to glory begins on our knees with a towel John 13:6-8 So He came to Simon Peter. He (Peter) said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:9 “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” i.e. “Lord, give me a bath.” John 13:10-17 Jesus 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.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” 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? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

II. Becoming Servant-Leaders: “The People of the Towel” We desperately need servant-leader mothers...fathers...wives ...husbands ...church people...etc. who are “people of the towel”

1. People of the Towel know who they really are John 13:16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” We are called to be slaves of God and servants of men — the essence of servant-leadership

2. People of the Towel must get up from the table Notice that Jesus saw the need…i.e. their filthy feet…and in v. 4 it tells us He “…got up from supper…” (John 13:4) and took care of that which no one else wanted to do. I asked, “Why doesn’t somebody do something?” Then I remembered. I’m a somebody.

3. People of the Towel lay aside their self-oriented pride Just as Jesus “…laid aside His garments…” (John 13:4) we need to lay aside the garments of our self-centered pride that covers us (i.e. dying to self)

4. People of the Towel clothe themselves with humility The ancient world consider humility was a shameful trait. How unlike Jesus. In v. 4 Jesus “…girded Himself.” (John 13:4) “The first step to heaven is humility. The second step - humility. The third step - humility.” (Augustine)

5. People of the Towel are willing to do the menial jobs John 13:5 “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.” “It is a great thing to do a little thing well.”

6. People of the Towel don’t play favorites Jesus was willing to wash the feet of people like Judas, who betrayed him, Peter, who denied Him…Judas, who betrayed Him and the others (except John) who deserted Him.

7. People of the Towel admit they need cleansing John 13:8 “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:10 “…you are clean, but not all of you…” People of the Towel admit they need the full cleansing of salvation. They also need the daily cleansing of sin (i.e. sanctification). I John 1:9 “If we confess (lit. continue confessing) our sin , He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

8. People of the Towel seek to serve the way the Lord of the Towel served “My way or the highway” vs. “His way or it’s the wrong way!” John 13:12 “Do you know what I have done to you? John 13:14-15 “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.”

9. People of the Towel are blessed John 13:17 “If you know these things (and you do), you are blessed (fulfilled) if you do them.” e.g. Servant-Leader rewards in heaven. (e.g. “People of the Towel Awards”)

Concluding Challenge: The Steps to Becoming a Servant-Leader — “People of the Towel” Step #1. Find a need and fill it. Step #2. Wash your hands with the towel Step #3. Throw it away Step #4. Get another towel and do it again “Lord, help us become People of the Towel.”

Discussion Questions: 1. React to the statements: “The more menial the task; the more love is demonstrated.” and “ The path to glory begins on our knees with a towel.” 2. What does it mean for all of us to be servant-leaders — to be slaves of God and servants of men? 3. From what do you need to “get up” in order to spend more time serving others (i.e. What is hindering your service to others?) 4. How would “dying to self” (i.e. humility) affect your servant-leadership? 5. What menial task would you have the hardest time doing for others? 6. Name some of the “foot-washing, servant-leaders” who you believe will receive “People of the Towel” rewards in heaven.

© 2017 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com