Servant of the Lord

Jesus is the perfect servant of God.

1. Call of the Servant: beginning of our journey into an intimate relationship with Him.

2. Shaping of the Servant: craftsmanship--making something for His use.
- we are to be a sharp sword to the people who will speak with authority and power
-sharpened, polished arrows are wood stripped of flowers, dipped in hot water, and put over coals.

3. Commission of the Servant: ready to be launched into ministry, without any promise of success

4. Confidence of the Servat: God has all of what is due me in His hands
- it is not what people say about us that matter, but what the Lord says about us.

*based on Is.49:1-7
by Rev. David Pickard

True Greatness

The world dictates that we must be first, and this was brought to the church by the disciples.
True greatness is not being in the top position, having tons of money, or being high in society. Instead, True Greatness is all about being a servant, being last than first, in His Kingdom.

There are 3 things we can do...
1. Change our mindset (v33-35)
- Let life not be defined by position, possessions, and power.
- Rather, let life be defined in service and ministry to God and others.

2. Not choose whom we want to serve (v36-37)
- We should not just serve family, friends or relatives.
- We shouldn't just serve the socially esteemed, the rich, or the celebrities.
- Instead, we should serve everyone, whether they can reciprocate or not.

3. Not look down on fellow servants (v38-40)
- Let us not look down on those who do not belong to our group
- Let us not look down on those who do "small" tasks

*based on Mark 9:30-40
by Rev. Alex Uy

Servanthood

Washing of the feet falls under the host's task, often done by the slaves of the household. Among the disciples, none of them took the duty of washing the feet of the others, so Jesus stood up and did it. The disciples showed great insensitivity while Jesus showed great servanthood.

Jesus washed the disciples' feet. This scenario is unusual since teachers normally do not serve his students. Jesus' servanthood has no demarcation line or position. Notaly, Jewish Israelite slaves never have to wash feet being Abraham's descendants.

Jesus served Peter even if the latter didn't understand why. Jesus chooses to serve and love anyway.

Jesus washed 12 pairs of feet, one pair even belonging to the enemy--Judas. Jesus did not seem to have a rational demarcation despite of what He already knew. Jesus kept serving anyway.

Normal death sentence convicts have a last supper and last wish, sort of to show them a final glimpse of enjoyment before they are bound to die. Jesus did the contrary--continually serving even until His death, to the very end. For Jesus, everytime is a time to serve the LORD.

*based on John 13:1-5
bt Rev. Dr. David Cheung