Discovering Jesus | 11-03-24 | The Portrait of a Servant
Dr. Chuck Herring | John 13:1-20
In chapters 13 through 17, Jesus turned from a
public ministry to those who rejected Him to a
private ministry to those who received Him.
These chapters cover approximately 24-36
hours of Jesus’ ministry.
John 13:1… 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.
Jesus knew that “His hour was come.” It was
time for the Lord Jesus to be glorified through
His death, resurrection, and ascension. John,
more than any other gospel writer, emphasized
the fact that Jesus lived on a “heavenly
timetable” as He did the Father’s will. Because
Jesus knew who He was, where He came from,
1November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
what He had, and where He was going, He was
complete master of the situation.1
“He loved them to the end”
— This means that
His love for them was perfect and complete.
Paul described the Lord’s love for those who
receive Him by faith…
Ephesians 3:17–19… so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith; and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is
the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled
up to all the fullness of God.
Interview Mike and Allison Amick—Allison,
what would you consider to be your most
selfless act of serving the Lord and others?
Mike, what are two or three blessings you have
received as a result of serving the Lord by
serving others?
1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol.
1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 345.
2November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
I suppose you’ve already guessed the
foundational truth of today’s sermon—SERVE
THE LORD BY SERVING OTHERS! Grab one of
the “serve cards” from the seat back in front of
you. You will notice several opportunities to
serve. If you use the QR Code on the screen,
you will be introduced to even more chances to
actively serve the Lord by serving others.
John 13:2-4… During supper, the devil having
already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 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, 4 got up
from supper, and laid aside His garments; and
taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Verse 2— The attention shifts from Christ’s
love to the satanic darkness of Judas’s heart. In
this surreal scene in the upper room, the devil
had already planted within the heart of Judas
Iscariot a sinister desire to betray the dear Son
of God.
Verses 3-4— Having walked through the dirt
streets of Jerusalem to the upper room, the
3November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
disciples’ feet would have been dirty. One of
the Twelve should have volunteered to wash
the feet of the others. But, according to Luke’s
gospel, they were too busy arguing about who
was greatest among them. They totally ignored
the Lord’s clear teaching…
Matthew 23:11… “But the greatest among you
shall be your servant.”
By stressing Jesus’ exaltation, John is about to
reveal the depth of His humility and love.
1. THE EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOOD
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.
The Gospel of John has been building to this
point, when the Lamb would offer His body and
His blood as the perfect, atoning sacrifice for
the sin of a broken, fallen world. For him to
stop at this tender moment to wash the feet of
his disciples is significant. This task was
4November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
normally assigned to Gentile slaves. Jewish
slaves could not be forced to do this.
The idea of serving the Lord and serving people
should not have caught these guys by surprise.
It’s a common theme throughout the Old
Testament and the New Testament.
Psalm 100:2… Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Joshua 24:15…
“If it is disagreeable in your
sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves
today whom you will serve: whether the gods
which your fathers served which were beyond
the River, or the gods of the Amorites in
whose land you are living; but as for me and
my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Romans 12:10–11… Be devoted to one
another in brotherly love; give preference to
one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in
diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Mark 10:45… “For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.”
5November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
Romans 1:1… Paul, a bond-servant of Christ
Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the
gospel of God.
2 Peter 1:1… Simon Peter, a bond-servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have
received a faith of the same kind as ours, by
the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Jesus is the perfect example of a servant. Now I
want you to notice…
2. THE EXPLANATION OF SERVANTHOOD
John 13:6–11… So He came to Simon Peter. He
said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do
you do not realize now, but you will
understand hereafter.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him,
“Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also
my hands and my head.” 10 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.” 11 For He knew the
6November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
one who was betraying Him; for this reason
He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Peter was appalled and shocked. For a superior
to wash the feet of an inferior was unheard of
in either Jewish or Roman culture. He and the
rest of the disciples could not grasp the full
significance of this moment until Jesus had died
on the cross for their sins and had been
resurrected from the dead.
“Washing (bathing)” is a common biblical
metaphor for spiritual cleansing (Ezek. 36:24–
27; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22). Only those who
repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior receive forgiveness and the gift
of eternal life.
Peter missed the Lord’s point. Jesus explained
in greater detail,
“He who has bathed needs
only to wash his feet.” Spiritually speaking,
those who have already bathed (been
redeemed and saved) do not need to take
another bath every time their feet get dirty.
This refers to the sin believers commit. They
7November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
simply need to wash their feet—to confess
their sins to the Lord.
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.
To be a true servant of our Lord and to be able
to serve others effectively we need to be
saved, to be clean before the Lord, and to be
filled with love and humility!
3. THE EXPECTATION OF SERVANTHOOD
The primary truth Jesus wanted the disciples to
learn and to implement was that of humble,
loving service.
John 13:12–20… 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? 13 “You call
Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so
I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher,
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example
that you also should do as I did to you. 16
“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater
8November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
than his master, nor is one who is sent greater
than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know
these things, you are blessed if you do them.
18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the
ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture
may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS
LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ 19 “From now on
I am telling you before it comes to pass, so
that when it does occur, you may believe that
I am He. 20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
receives whomever I send receives Me; and he
who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Jesus expects believers to serve Him by serving
others.
No one is too good to serve. No follower of
Jesus ever has the right to refuse to serve the
Lord by serving others. We can never say, “I’m
too good to do that” or “I’m too important to
serve.
” The service Jesus expects flows out of a
heart that is characterized by love and humility.
How many
pairs of feet did Jesus wash? Twelve. Jesus
even washed the feet of Judas, knowing full
well what he was going to do. Jesus still stoops
No one is below being served. 9November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
before him as a humble servant and washes
the dirt and grime off his feet.
Would you have washed the feet of Judas? Are
there people you will flat out refuse to serve?
Are they going to do worse things to you than
Judas did to Jesus? The answer is obvious!
Bottom line—NO ONE IS BELOW BEING
SERVED!
1 Peter 4:10… As each one has received a
special gift, employ it in serving one another
as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God.
Galatians 5:13–14… For you were called to
freedom, brethren; only do not turn your
freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another. 14 For the
whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the
statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
”
YOURSELF.
CONCLUSION
So here’s the truth that can literally change
your life if you are a believer…
10November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
SERVE THE LORD BY SERVING OTHERS.
You can’t serve without being saved. Using the
Lord’s terminology, DO YOU NEED A BATH?
The Lord Jesus died on the cross so that you
could be completely cleansed and forgiven for
all sin. Will you turn from your sin and place
your faith in Jesus?
You can’t serve efficiently as a believer if you
are living with unconfessed sin in your life.
Again, borrowing the Lord’s terminology, DO
YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR DIRTY FEET
WASHED? Come to this altar and ask the Lord
to cleanse you and to empower you to serve
Him by serving others.
John 12:26… “If anyone serves Me, he must
follow Me; and where I am, there My servant
will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father
will honor him.”
11November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
Mark 10:42–45… Calling them to Himself, Jesus
said to them, “You know that those who are
recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them; and their great men exercise authority
over them. 43 “But it is not this way among
you, but whoever wishes to become great
among you shall be your servant; 44 and
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be
slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.”
.”
The conception of service that dishonors God
and will not help people — because it points
them away from God’s all-supplying grace
toward our own supposed self-produced moral
efforts — is serving without relying upon him
to serve us in our serving. All God-pleasing
service is done in the moment-by-moment
reliance upon God’s service-enabling power.
You don’t serve others to earn a relationship
with God, but rather you serve others with care
and compassion because you have a
relationship with God. You serve those in need
12November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
out of a love response to God for sending Jesus
as a sacrifice for you. The more time you spend
with God in Scripture reading and prayer, the
more God shapes your heart to see others as
He sees them – with compassion – which
should lead you to serve others selflessly. God
will glorify Himself through your acts of service
that are motivated by your love for God and
others. You show evidence of a relationship
with God by the way you obey God through
serving others and making disciples.
*This is one of the most shocking scenes in all
of the gospel of John. And it is one of the most
distinctive truths of Christianity. In every other
religion or sect or philosophical movement, the
leader is served by his
followers. They build him or her a huge
mansion. They give him or her all their money.
They wait upon their leader, hand and foot.
They exist to make their leader comfortable.
They exist to supply their leader with whatever
he or she may need. They exist to provide their
leader with wealth and safety and whatever
luxuries are needed. In every other religion, the
13November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
followers serve, wait upon, make provision for,
and give their possessions to their leader.
In chapters 13 through 17, Jesus turned from a
public ministry to those who rejected Him to a
private ministry to those who received Him.
These chapters cover approximately 24-36
hours of Jesus’ ministry.
John 13:1… 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.
Jesus knew that “His hour was come.” It was
time for the Lord Jesus to be glorified through
His death, resurrection, and ascension. John,
more than any other gospel writer, emphasized
the fact that Jesus lived on a “heavenly
timetable” as He did the Father’s will. Because
Jesus knew who He was, where He came from,
1November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
what He had, and where He was going, He was
complete master of the situation.1
“He loved them to the end”
— This means that
His love for them was perfect and complete.
Paul described the Lord’s love for those who
receive Him by faith…
Ephesians 3:17–19… so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith; and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is
the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled
up to all the fullness of God.
Interview Mike and Allison Amick—Allison,
what would you consider to be your most
selfless act of serving the Lord and others?
Mike, what are two or three blessings you have
received as a result of serving the Lord by
serving others?
1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol.
1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 345.
2November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
I suppose you’ve already guessed the
foundational truth of today’s sermon—SERVE
THE LORD BY SERVING OTHERS! Grab one of
the “serve cards” from the seat back in front of
you. You will notice several opportunities to
serve. If you use the QR Code on the screen,
you will be introduced to even more chances to
actively serve the Lord by serving others.
John 13:2-4… During supper, the devil having
already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 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, 4 got up
from supper, and laid aside His garments; and
taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Verse 2— The attention shifts from Christ’s
love to the satanic darkness of Judas’s heart. In
this surreal scene in the upper room, the devil
had already planted within the heart of Judas
Iscariot a sinister desire to betray the dear Son
of God.
Verses 3-4— Having walked through the dirt
streets of Jerusalem to the upper room, the
3November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
disciples’ feet would have been dirty. One of
the Twelve should have volunteered to wash
the feet of the others. But, according to Luke’s
gospel, they were too busy arguing about who
was greatest among them. They totally ignored
the Lord’s clear teaching…
Matthew 23:11… “But the greatest among you
shall be your servant.”
By stressing Jesus’ exaltation, John is about to
reveal the depth of His humility and love.
1. THE EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOOD
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.
The Gospel of John has been building to this
point, when the Lamb would offer His body and
His blood as the perfect, atoning sacrifice for
the sin of a broken, fallen world. For him to
stop at this tender moment to wash the feet of
his disciples is significant. This task was
4November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
normally assigned to Gentile slaves. Jewish
slaves could not be forced to do this.
The idea of serving the Lord and serving people
should not have caught these guys by surprise.
It’s a common theme throughout the Old
Testament and the New Testament.
Psalm 100:2… Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Joshua 24:15…
“If it is disagreeable in your
sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves
today whom you will serve: whether the gods
which your fathers served which were beyond
the River, or the gods of the Amorites in
whose land you are living; but as for me and
my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Romans 12:10–11… Be devoted to one
another in brotherly love; give preference to
one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in
diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Mark 10:45… “For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.”
5November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
Romans 1:1… Paul, a bond-servant of Christ
Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the
gospel of God.
2 Peter 1:1… Simon Peter, a bond-servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have
received a faith of the same kind as ours, by
the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Jesus is the perfect example of a servant. Now I
want you to notice…
2. THE EXPLANATION OF SERVANTHOOD
John 13:6–11… So He came to Simon Peter. He
said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do
you do not realize now, but you will
understand hereafter.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him,
“Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also
my hands and my head.” 10 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.” 11 For He knew the
6November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
one who was betraying Him; for this reason
He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Peter was appalled and shocked. For a superior
to wash the feet of an inferior was unheard of
in either Jewish or Roman culture. He and the
rest of the disciples could not grasp the full
significance of this moment until Jesus had died
on the cross for their sins and had been
resurrected from the dead.
“Washing (bathing)” is a common biblical
metaphor for spiritual cleansing (Ezek. 36:24–
27; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22). Only those who
repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior receive forgiveness and the gift
of eternal life.
Peter missed the Lord’s point. Jesus explained
in greater detail,
“He who has bathed needs
only to wash his feet.” Spiritually speaking,
those who have already bathed (been
redeemed and saved) do not need to take
another bath every time their feet get dirty.
This refers to the sin believers commit. They
7November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
simply need to wash their feet—to confess
their sins to the Lord.
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.
To be a true servant of our Lord and to be able
to serve others effectively we need to be
saved, to be clean before the Lord, and to be
filled with love and humility!
3. THE EXPECTATION OF SERVANTHOOD
The primary truth Jesus wanted the disciples to
learn and to implement was that of humble,
loving service.
John 13:12–20… 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? 13 “You call
Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so
I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher,
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example
that you also should do as I did to you. 16
“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater
8November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
than his master, nor is one who is sent greater
than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know
these things, you are blessed if you do them.
18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the
ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture
may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS
LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ 19 “From now on
I am telling you before it comes to pass, so
that when it does occur, you may believe that
I am He. 20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
receives whomever I send receives Me; and he
who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Jesus expects believers to serve Him by serving
others.
No one is too good to serve. No follower of
Jesus ever has the right to refuse to serve the
Lord by serving others. We can never say, “I’m
too good to do that” or “I’m too important to
serve.
” The service Jesus expects flows out of a
heart that is characterized by love and humility.
How many
pairs of feet did Jesus wash? Twelve. Jesus
even washed the feet of Judas, knowing full
well what he was going to do. Jesus still stoops
No one is below being served. 9November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
before him as a humble servant and washes
the dirt and grime off his feet.
Would you have washed the feet of Judas? Are
there people you will flat out refuse to serve?
Are they going to do worse things to you than
Judas did to Jesus? The answer is obvious!
Bottom line—NO ONE IS BELOW BEING
SERVED!
1 Peter 4:10… As each one has received a
special gift, employ it in serving one another
as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God.
Galatians 5:13–14… For you were called to
freedom, brethren; only do not turn your
freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another. 14 For the
whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the
statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
”
YOURSELF.
CONCLUSION
So here’s the truth that can literally change
your life if you are a believer…
10November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
SERVE THE LORD BY SERVING OTHERS.
You can’t serve without being saved. Using the
Lord’s terminology, DO YOU NEED A BATH?
The Lord Jesus died on the cross so that you
could be completely cleansed and forgiven for
all sin. Will you turn from your sin and place
your faith in Jesus?
You can’t serve efficiently as a believer if you
are living with unconfessed sin in your life.
Again, borrowing the Lord’s terminology, DO
YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR DIRTY FEET
WASHED? Come to this altar and ask the Lord
to cleanse you and to empower you to serve
Him by serving others.
John 12:26… “If anyone serves Me, he must
follow Me; and where I am, there My servant
will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father
will honor him.”
11November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
Mark 10:42–45… Calling them to Himself, Jesus
said to them, “You know that those who are
recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them; and their great men exercise authority
over them. 43 “But it is not this way among
you, but whoever wishes to become great
among you shall be your servant; 44 and
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be
slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.”
.”
The conception of service that dishonors God
and will not help people — because it points
them away from God’s all-supplying grace
toward our own supposed self-produced moral
efforts — is serving without relying upon him
to serve us in our serving. All God-pleasing
service is done in the moment-by-moment
reliance upon God’s service-enabling power.
You don’t serve others to earn a relationship
with God, but rather you serve others with care
and compassion because you have a
relationship with God. You serve those in need
12November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
out of a love response to God for sending Jesus
as a sacrifice for you. The more time you spend
with God in Scripture reading and prayer, the
more God shapes your heart to see others as
He sees them – with compassion – which
should lead you to serve others selflessly. God
will glorify Himself through your acts of service
that are motivated by your love for God and
others. You show evidence of a relationship
with God by the way you obey God through
serving others and making disciples.
*This is one of the most shocking scenes in all
of the gospel of John. And it is one of the most
distinctive truths of Christianity. In every other
religion or sect or philosophical movement, the
leader is served by his
followers. They build him or her a huge
mansion. They give him or her all their money.
They wait upon their leader, hand and foot.
They exist to make their leader comfortable.
They exist to supply their leader with whatever
he or she may need. They exist to provide their
leader with wealth and safety and whatever
luxuries are needed. In every other religion, the
13November 3, 2024
CFBC…
“Discovering Jesus” (John’s Gospel)
followers serve, wait upon, make provision for,
and give their possessions to their leader.
