A Servant Son
/John 13:4
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
John 13:12-16
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
In John’s version of the night Jesus was betrayed, this scene is included where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. Without doubt, He clothed Himself in servant hood. He removed His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel.
Gird— to bind tightly
Somehow He tied this towel tightly to Himself. Just as He had clothed Himself as a servant in human form (Phil) He
Philippians 2:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
girds Himself in servant hood to teach His disciples truth about their service to the kingdom of God.
There is a lot of talk in the church nowadays about authority and sonship, but there isn’t a lot of talk about servanthood. The reality is that most people don’t even really serve God—they serve self. I’m not saying that you specifically don’t serve God. That’s between you and the Lord and that’s for you to figure out. I’m saying that most people aren’t serving the Lord. Instead, they’re serving themselves and what they do, they do to be seen by men.
We all have it—ego centric. It’s part of the Adamic nature, “Look at my good, look at my goods, look at me, ‘I am good!’”
It is important that we recognize this, so we can let the Lord kill it, because a servant isn’t working for himself, a servant is working for his Lord.
That’s the message today
A Servant Son
Servant—1. Literally, a slave either willingly or unwillingly 2. One who gives himself up to another's will
Jesus, the eternal Son served the Father with absolute devotion. He served not to gain sonship. He served because He is the Son, and the Son serves His Father’s will.
The Father is looking for sons that will serve. It’s not our kingdom. It’s His kingdom, but the problem that humans have is that we are all very aware of self and very consumed with the prospect of serving and preserving self. Self preservation is a very telling symptom that connects our fallen nature to the actions of the serpent.
We are serving Him and His Kingdom and that does not automatically equate to the local house of God, but at the same time, what about the local house of God?
Jesus was able to see these traits in the lives of certain humans. How offensive would it be if someone told you, “You are of your father the devil?”
I think that I would be offended by that. Yet, Jesus told that to the religious leaders. My point to this line of reasoning is that the message is a servant son, that was Jesus, and that’s supposed to be us. And a servant doesn’t live for himself or his own will—he lives for the will of his master. Therefore, if a believer is a servant son, like His Lord, he will desire to live the will of the Father and not his own will.
There is a direct contrast that takes place in the scripture between Jesus and the Pharisees. I keep thinking of the prodigal son and how I want so badly for that brother to get over himself and go seek and save his little brother, but then I’m constantly reminded that the older brother represents the religious leaders and they don’t love. They hate and when the elder brother sees his younger brother all he can think about is how he is about to lose part of his possessions and inheritance as he sees his father clothe his brother in the robe and put the ring on his finger [identity].
The brother
You know it’s really important that we start paying attention to the thoughts in our minds and the feelings in our hearts. It’s really important that we start coming clean with the Lord and stop ignoring those symptoms of envy and jealousy and anger and disgust that are in us, because those are signs that our heart is not like Jesus.
This is the difference about the servanthood of Jesus vs the superiority of the Pharisees. God said Israel was His firstborn too in Exodus 4, but Israel as a son is operating in superiority and Jesus as a Son is a servant. The Pharisees are all about protecting their lives and their position. Jesus is all about laying down His life to please His Father and further His Father’s kingdom.
One of the most profound passages of scripture that I have seen through the years showing this thought of self preservation is a passage out of John, but before we go there, let’s gain an insight into the motives of the religious mind.
Matthew 23:5-7 KJV
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
the place of honor at feasts ESV Preeminence
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
This is them—they/we want people to know what they/we did, and if you try to take this adulation away from them/us, they will want to hurt you. In the real world today, they may not try to nail you to a literal cross, but in their hearts, it’s brewing.
We
The further away you get, the easier it is to recognize when it’s abnormal.
Rehab toilet
John 11:46-53 ESV. KJV miracles
46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
JN 9:22
What amazing audacity! By this time people are recognizing that Jesus is messiah and He is performing miracles and instead of embracing Him as the long awaited Messiah, they plot His death so they can preserve their position.
How often do these symptoms show up in our own lives? On the job, in our businesses, in our friendships and family relationships? The preservation of self instead of trusting God and allowing the dying of self? How often do the thoughts of our heart plot and the words of our mouth speak malice and slander and harm onto people’s lives?
In the real life comparison/ contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees, we see the battle for us between the fallen nature received from Adam in the fall and the Divine nature received from Jesus in the new birth.
The Pharisees Father was the devil—they’re trying to protect their position. They don’t want Jesus to have His place, “what will happen to us?” They say.
The struggle of the Spirit and the flesh. His winnowing fan is in His hand. He will bring the wheat into the storage house and burn away the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Jesus reveals the paternity test is in the word.
John 8:28-47
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Mismo
Continue/Abide
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Commiteth
Present tense active
Factory
to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.to be the authors of, the cause
Abraham: father of faith. Abraham believed God and His word
Man: Jesus… how are you going to build a church like that?
Jesus: My definition of church building and your definition of church building are not the same
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, [IF] ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God
Process
Galatians 4:1-7
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Romans 6:16-18
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
No longer a slave but a son because you’re no longer under law but under grace. In this kingdom, it’s not you trying. In this kingdom, it’s you dying, in other words getting out of the way.