? Who Jesus is 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 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)

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS? Servanthood is a pure expression of love 1

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 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)

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS? Servanthood is in step with God’s will 2

“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

WHY IS SERVING IMPORTANT TO JESUS? Servanthood models true greatness 3

“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 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 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 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 King From heaven You came helpless babe, by 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 offering Of worship to the Servant King.

? Who Jesus is Part 5: The Servant King