Part 5: The Servant King

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give

his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 (NLT)

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come

to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his

disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to

the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already

prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus

knew that the Father had given him authority over everything

and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got

up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his

waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the

disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

John 13:1-5 (NLT)

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and

asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’

and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher,

have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.

Do as I have done to you.”John 13:12-15 (NLT)

Servanthood is a pure expression of love

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS?

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now

showed them the full extent of his love.

John 13:1 (NIV)

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and

sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful

nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in

love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one

command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even

sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I

didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.1 Corinthians 13:3 (NLT)

Servanthood is in step with God’s will

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS?

“For I have come down from heaven to do the will

of God who sent me, not to do my own will.”

John 6:38 (NLT)

“For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be

served but to serve others, and to give my life as a

ransom for many.”Matthew 20:28 (NLT)

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your

feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet… Now

that you know these things, God will bless you

for doing them.”John 13:14, 17 (NLT)

“What do we need to do… to begin to cultivate ‘disciples’ rather than ‘consumers’? We've mastered the ‘consumer’ thing.”

~ Karl Ingersoll

Servanthood models true greatness

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS?

“Whoever wants to be first must take last place and

be the servant of everyone else.”

Mark 9:35 (NLT)

In the same way, the good deeds of some people are

obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will

someday come to light.1 Timothy 5:25 (NLT)

“Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees

everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:4 (NLT)

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys

them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store

your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot

destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT)

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among

them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men

lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will

be different. Those who are the greatest among you should

take the lowest rank, and the

leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one

who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not

here! For I am among you as one who serves.”

Luke 22:24-27 (NLT)

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He

was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to

cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the

humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he

appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to

God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)

The Servant Kingby Graham Kendrick

From heaven You came helpless babe,

Entered our world, Your glory veiled;

Not to be served, But to serve,And give Your life that we might

live.

So let us learn how to serve,And in our lives enthrone Him;Each other's needs to prefer,For it is Christ we're serving.

This is our God, the Servant King.He calls us now to follow Him;To bring our lives as a daily

offeringOf worship to the Servant King.

Part 5: The Servant King