A Servants Heart

(1) 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.  (2) It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,  son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. (3) Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. (4) So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, (5) and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

(6) When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” (7) Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” (8) “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” (9) Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” (10) Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,  to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” (11) For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

(12) After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? (13) You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. (14) And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. (15) I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. (16) I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. (17) Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
John 13:1-17 – NLT

before we jump right into the object lesson we need to understand what happened before Jesus did this. if you go over to Luke’s account of the last supper, this was the conversation right before Jesus washed their feet.

Luke 22:24-26  Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 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.

How to have a servants heart

1. Be less concerned about what God can do for you and instead ask what you can do for God.–

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2. Understand that Christians are not called to win popularity contests.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)

3. Be concerned about the needs of others and help them however you are able to

Philippians 2:3–8 (NLT)
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

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4. Model grace, love and forgiveness

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5. Be consistent and don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9–10 (NLT)
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

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Luke 17:9–10 (NLT)
9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ ”