Lent: From Death to Status - Week 4
Opening Prayer:
Lord God,
Help us die to status, to ambition, to acclaim, to anything that seduces us into thinking that we do not need You and Your saving grace.
Teach us to be humble as You are humble.
Teach us to serve others as You served us.
May the only glory we seek be Yours.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Key Scripture:
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:35-45
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:1-17
Sermon Summary
This week’s sermon continues our Lent series “From Death to Life”, entitled "Death to Status – A Life of Service". It is part of a series exploring how Jesus "died to Himself" so that others might live. Drawing from John 13:1-15, Sam examines how the Creator of the universe surrendered His status to perform the most menial task of His time — washing His disciples' feet.
The Example of Jesus
Jesus’ act of foot washing was a radical subversion of status. In first century Jewish society, even Jewish slaves were not expected to wash feet; it was a task reserved for Gentile slaves. By choosing the lowest possible role, Jesus "died to status," placing Himself beneath those whom society overlooked. Sam highlighted three distinct marks of this servant-hearted life:
1. Service is Unglamorous
Service often goes without recognition. Well-known examples include Mother Teresa’s unglamorous daily routine in Kolkata. But in a more personal example, Sam shared of his own mother caring for aging relatives "day in and day out". Whether it is a parent sacrificing sleep, or a volunteer setting up chairs, these acts are hard and often messy, yet they emulate Christ.
2. Service is Ordinary
Jesus did not just serve strangers; He served His everyday relationships at a regular dinner table. This challenges the idea that service only happens in specialized environments or "projects". We are called to meet practical needs, such as babysitting, providing meals, or offering friendship, within our normal lives. Crucially, this means inviting people into our lives and expanding our "tables" to include those on the margins, rather than treating them as projects to be "fixed". Though it is ordinary, it may mean expanding our ordinary routines and relationships so that we have the opportunity to come into contact with those we might not otherwise.
3. Service Doesn’t Always "Work"
The sermon warns against "self-righteous service", which is preoccupied with results or reciprocation. Jesus washed the feet of Judas while knowing He would be betrayed, showing that service should not be contingent on the recipient’s response. The goal is not to dictate a result, but to demonstrate the "Good News" through loving action.
The Call to Respond
The Gospel is the story of a God who surrendered His status to wash us clean from sin. In response, followers of Jesus are invited to rehearse this story through their own lives. Ultimately, we serve not for reward, but because Jesus first loved and served us. He is, as always, the paramount example we are called to emulate.
Discussion Guide:
The Way of Service
In the lead-up to Easter, we are exploring how Jesus "died to Himself" so that others might live. This week, we look at John 13:1-15, where Jesus — the Creator of the universe — takes on the most menial task of His time; washing dirty feet.
Group Discussion
Redefining Status: Jesus "died to status" by placing Himself beneath those others overlooked. In our current culture, what are the "ladders" we often try to climb, and how does Jesus’ example upend those ambitions?
The Example of Others: The sermon mentions a mother caring for her aging relatives and Mother Teresa serving in Kolkata. Who has modelled a "life of service" to you in the unglamorous, everyday moments?
Three Marks of a Servant’s Life
1. Service is Unglamorous
Jesus chose the lowest possible task—one so degrading that even Jewish slaves weren't expected to do it.
True service often involves "humiliating labour" and tasks that offer no recognition.
Reflection: Why do we often prefer "projects of love" that make us look good over the messy, hidden work of serving others?
2. Service is Ordinary
Jesus didn't just serve strangers; He served his "everyday relationships" at a regular dinner table.
Service happens in the "monotony" of daily life — the kitchen, the classroom, or the shared living room.
Discussion: How can we move from treating people as "projects" to inviting them into our lives and expanding our "dinner tables" to include those on the margins?
3. Service "Doesn't Always Work"
Jesus washed the feet of Judas, knowing Judas would still betray him.
"Self-righteous service" is highly concerned with results and reciprocation.
Reflection: Can we serve even when it doesn’t "fix" the person or result in them following Christ? Our goal is simply to demonstrate the Good News through loving action.
Discussions: What motivates our service?
Practices:
For Individuals: "The Menial Task"
Identify the "Low" Task: This week, look for a task in your home, workplace, or church that is unglamorous or "beneath" you (e.g., cleaning a shared space, doing a chore no one else wants).
For Communities: "Expanding the Table"
The Dinner Table Challenge: Jesus’ table included people who were often excluded. As a group, discuss how you can collectively serve someone in your neighbourhood or "on the margins" by inviting them into relationship, not just providing a service.
Serving One Another: Practice the "invisible grace" of service within your group. Is there a practical need (meals, childcare, or visitation) that a group member is currently facing?
Additional Resources:
Further Study Resources:
If you want to go deeper with these ideas, Practicing the Way does a 4 week course on the subject. You can find that here - https://www.practicingtheway.org/service
For a printable version of this guide click here