On Mission with God: Serving and Compassion (Matt 20:24, John 13:12)
• Matt 20:26 The context here is that the mother of Zebedee’s sons came asked for her sons to sit at the sides of Jesus. Then the other ten disciples get made about this.
• In the Greek Jesus actually states this very emphatically, it must never be this way with you.
• He states that the path to greatness starts with and ends with being a servant.
• The word servant here is the Greek word deeakonos from which we get our English word deacon.
o The primary meaning behind this is, “one who serves others.”
Verse 27 Then he says we must be a slave. The word slave here is the Greek word doulos.
o Its primary meaning is slave or bondservant
o But it also means, one who gives himself up to another’s will.
o Devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interest.
Verse 28 Then Jesus uses Himself as the example
o Jesus did not come to be served. He is the King of Kings; He deserves to be served.
o But His kingdom is upside down.
• The world had a sin problem and the only way to fix it was for a perfect sacrifice, once and for all.
o Jesus took on that role as servant/slave and came to be that sacrifice.
• This is the Gospel; this passage makes it clear that he God of the universe came to serve.
John 13:12-17 Even though He is their teacher and master, He washes their feet.
• This task of washing feet is usually reserved for the lowest servant or slave in the household.
Verse 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Jesus ends by saying that we will be blessed if we do this.
o Jesus was intending this to be an everyday heart issue.
o Meeting practical humans needs
• Some confusion with the Gospel, the Gospel is both serving and preaching.
• There is also something about this level of serving that has a beautiful humbling effect on us.
This all leaves us with three things to think through.
1. How am I letting Jesus serve me?
2. Is my serving deeply human? (Does it meet practical humans needs?)
3. Does the humility of my serving reflect the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel?
What does it look like to be on mission with God through serving?
1. I think starts with letting Jesus serve us.
2. Then there should be that real human element to it.
3. Trust, Jesus will take care of the church if we serve others
4. Serve as lead and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
On Mission with God: Serving as the Gospel
