Loyal, OK

 
Pastor Leon Seaton

The Heart of a Servant

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not every one was clean. When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them.

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

        “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  John 13:1-17

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”  Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus was a very gentle man. He was kind and compassionate to everyone. He didn’t answer people according to their folly… Proverbs 26:5 “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” However, if we make the effort we can always see the love of God in His voice.

The Lord has been dealing with me lately about my attitude. Sometimes when I consider all of the work that needs to be done I get weary… and just want to sit and contemplate it… or hide in my TV and ignore it. But the work never goes away!

As I prayed about it yesterday I decided that the problem is my attitude. It stinks! It has too much Leon in it and not enough love. What I need more of is the attitude of a servant.

John 13 illustrates that very well. Jesus knew that it was time for Him to wrap up His work on earth. It was just before the Passover Feast and it was time for Him to show the disciples – and all of His followers – the full extent of His love.

That is the long way of saying it was time for Him to die on the cross.

He started with an illustrated sermon. The meal (“The Last Supper”) was being served. The devil had Judas Iscariot primed to go out and betray Jesus. Jesus understood that the Father had put all things under Jesus’ power. (That means that Jesus was in control of the situation.)

Equally, you and I are in charge of our lives. God has a plan, but He does not treat us like puppets on a string. He calls us to prayer, but we have to respond.

He calls us to clean the church building, but we have to respond.

He calls us to witness, but we have to live the life and do the talking.

So Jesus got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and preformed as a slave would do. Remember, these are the fellows that really looked forward to ruling the world with the Lord in a short time and here was their leader acting like a slave!

One by one Jesus washed and dried each disciple’s feet. The closer He got to Peter, the more anxious Peter got. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No”, said Peter. “You shall never wash my feet.”

That is pride.

Jesus responded in humility and as a true leader. “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Drop down to verse 16: “I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

As you look around our community do you see people that you need to serve? Jesus had compassion on the multitudes and He kept busy serving them. He calls us to do the same.

The truth is, your pastor often wants to impress people more than he wants to serve them. I have asked for forgiveness and wisdom. What I am discovering is that serving is less stressful.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”  Matthew 9:35-38

What did Jesus have to offer that we do not?

1.      He saw the big picture. He did not stand in the church yard and look around. He was involved in the community.

2.      He preached the Good News.

a.      Salvation

b.      Healing

c.      Power of the Holy Spirit

d.      Prosperity

3.      He demonstrated God’s power – by healing all manner of disease and sickness.

4.      He had compassion on them. He was not overwhelmed with their need.

Story of the shoe salesmen:  One said, "No one here wears shoes - I'm going back home."  The other said, "Everyone here needs shoes - send me all you have?"

5.      Jesus understood the principle of sowing and reaping; for example:

a.      Wheat crops take a year

b.      Pecan trees take several years to yield a harvest

Story of George Wood’s father: He had successful ministry, but one church he sacrificed for appeared to be a total failure. After they left the community George’s parents never talked about the church.  But there's more to the story:

When they established the church, George was 11-years-old. They stayed there for 4 years. George’s first job was to keep the 5-year-olds quiet so the other classes in the sanctuary, which was divided into classrooms by curtains, could have class.

After 4 years the father’s health failed and they asked the District to send in another pastor. He could not lead the church to self-sufficiency either, so the building was sold.

Years later George, now a successful minister, returned to the area. The building was gone. Apparently nothing left from the years of labor. George began to weep and asked God, “Why did you let it fail?  My parents gave it everything they had!”

George said that the Holy Spirit rebuked him. “What do you mean, ‘the church failed?’ You are the church, not the building! You, as a youth, began your ministry here.”

Later the Holy Spirit allowed George to meet the pastor of the church. Oh, the church started as a white Assemblies of God congregation… now it was a black Baptist church.  The 87-year-old lady that is now the pastor has a world-wide ministry, and the congregation treated George like royalty when he visited them.

          God promised that His Word would not return void, but ladies and gentlemen,  we have to spread that word!