Passion Week: Serving

Good Morning Church Family!

Sunday began the first day of Passion week; or Holy week. We learned from Sunday morning's message that there are five understandings that can increase our life in Christ: Worship, Peace, Honor, Praise, and Serve. As we live our day-to-day lives making and pursuing these five, we can bring ourselves into a closer relationship with God.

During this Passion/Holy week, we are going to take a look at the life lessons Jesus taught the disciples the week before the cross. We will not be able to cover them all since we only have five days before Friday, but we will try to highlight ones that we feel the Holy Spirit is leading us to!

We’re going to begin Monday morning with the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17). After pouring water into a basin, Jesus began washing their feet until He came to Peter, who then refused to let Jesus wash his feet. Then Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part of Me.” This statement changed Peter’s mind, and rightfully so! Then Jesus began to teach:

John 13:12-17

12: So, when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again.  He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”

13: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

14: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

15: “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

16: Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than he who sent him. 

17: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. “

Jesus’s whole life has been given to us as an example of how to live life in a world that, at many times, seems so opposite to the Word of God. The act of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet was to leave the example that we are servants to each other in the love of Christ. This act was not done out of hate, envy, strife, or because He had to; it was completed with love, compassion, humility, and servitude. God served us by giving His son, and His son served us by laying down His life for us. In Jesus’ eyes and in the message He was bringing forth, we are all equal in the sight of God. Because we know this, we should position ourselves to serve God and serve others!

Jack Hayford said, “Until a person is ready to wash feet, he is not qualified to be a kingdom leader.” I encourage you as you go throughout your day, to take time to stop and say, “how can I serve others today?” Jesus said this in verse 17: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them!” In other words, if you look to serve others today, you will be blessed!

Have a blessed day today, as you serve others! 

-Pastor Candace