This is an unexpected reply to some Greeks who have requested to see Jesus. For some reason Jesus uses their request as an opportunity to teach His followers about discipleship and to begin preparing them for His impending death. In this passage discipleship is referred to as being a servant of Jesus. We really don't know much about being a servant. It a foreign concept to us. That passage is of special concern because it teaches us about this crucial attitude of heart and life.
We define Christian servanthood in terms of how much we do for Jesus. We list the things we've done and accomplished. We keep tabs on the number of church services we attend, people we have witnessed to, and jobs we done. Jesus defines it completely different. Not that it doesn't include the things mentioned, but the things are not servanthood. Servanthood is following Jesus; "Whoever serves me must follow me." Note the strong imperative -"must follow."
We might quickly respond that this is obvious. Disciple means "follower." But, we need to understand what "follow" means. The word follow carries two basic concepts. These two concepts along with what Jesus tells us in the passage gives us a clear definition of Christian servanthood. Ponder with me a moment...
To follow Jesus means that Jesus leads. Much like the childhood game "follow the leader." Jesus leads. We follow. But where is Jesus going? "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." In other words, He is going to the cross and His servant must also go the way of the cross. We cannot serve as long as self reigns. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve both self and God. Therefore, "I" must be "crucified with Christ." There is no other way. If Jesus is to be the leader, self must submit and fall in line behind. The cross is the only way this happens. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. "Whoever serves me must follow me."
A method of teaching child to write is to lightly write a letter on a piece of paper and have them trace over it. Another is to hold their hand in your's and write the letter together. In each case the child "follows" the instructor. Imitates the way the teacher has done it. So it is with Christian servanthood. We follow Jesus - we imitate Him, follow His example.
We could study Jesus' life for our lifetime and still have more to learn. Yet, Jesus reveals a crucial aspect in this passage when He says - "what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" (see verses 27,28) To follow Jesus' example we must be absolutely surrender to God's will. Absolute submission to the Father's will is the clear pattern Jesus gave us. "The man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Elsewhere Jesus point this same thought a bit different saying, "whoever will lose his life will find it." This is the way of the cross. This is the way of servanthood.
We don't respond well with surrender. To us it's quitting, giving up. We're not taught to do that. We are taught to be strong, self-sufficient, aggressive, winners, -"never give up" rings in our heads. But surrender and quitting are entirely different. Alan Nelson in his book "Broken In The Right Places" states it very well:
"Something inside us despises the thought of surrendering, of quitting. Ah, but surrender and quitting are two different concepts. Quitting says 'I don't care.' Surrender says, 'I care.' Quitting says 'I can't.' Surrender says, 'I can't, but God can.' Quitting is often represses or expresses anger. Surrender is expressed love. --- The quitter says, 'To hell with God. If He won't tell me, I'll do it my way.' The person who surrenders asks, 'Where is the hell in me? What do You want? Here I am Lord, Your servant listens.'"
Jesus the pattern is before us saying, "follow me." Without surrendering to God and His will we will be unable to live Christlike. Are we? Have we surrendered in absolute submission to the Father's will?
We know that Jesus is Omnipresent and that He promised He would never leave or forsake us. So we go on our merry way each day believing that Jesus is following along after us, so that where we are He is. We're busy people and we have a lot to get done. So we let Jesus see our daily calendar so that He will know where we'll be. We even tell Him that everything we do that day will be done to His glory and honor. Granted, we haven't consulted with Him about our calendar, or ask Him what He would have us do, but He understands. And He surely knows that we would talk with Him more often, but we've got to get these things done. Surely He understands that those quick prayers while we're frantically getting to our next appointment are just as sincere as if we were in a quiet place alone with Him. Yes, Jesus is always with us. Right!
How does this fit into what Jesus said? It doesn't. It is the antithesis of what He said. Jesus said, "where I am my servant also will be." This means He sets the day's agenda. He tells us where He's going to be and we go there. Remember who's following whom here. When we make any appointment our question should be; "Jesus, are you going to be there?" We lift our blank calendar to heaven and say, "Jesus, fill in today, so that where You are I will be." This seems radical to us, because we have been so well trained the other way. Nonetheless, this is an undergirding principle of following Jesus. It is seen throughout the Bible. If Jesus seems distant or absent, it is because we have presumed upon His promises and expected Him to follow us around. He didn't forsake us. We forsook Him.
We may not find your schedule changing much... or then again, maybe we will. We may find that some of the things that took up so much of our time will not take up any of our time. We may find that we are going places that we didn't go very often before. We may find that our lives are less cluttered and the presence of Jesus is far more real in the daily routines. We may find there is enough time to do everything that "needs" to get done. When you think about it, our lives will be radically changed - even sanctified -for we will be where Jesus is and that makes all the difference in eternity!
"Jesus, where are You going to be? That's where we want to be."
A couple of days after Jesus had spoken these words, He demonstrated what He them. The twelve, who were still on a high from the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, stood around discussing who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. The discussion was silenced as Jesus quietly removed His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. He then poured a basin of water and taking a second towel He knelt before each man and washed their feet. The one they called Master and Lord willingly deigned Himself to the place of slave. He showed them true greatness. When He finished washing their feet He said to them;
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (13:13-17)
Jesus has set for us an example and He calls us to follow Him. As by His grace we follow we enjoy what those in the world do not have - God's honor and blessing. What could be better than that?!
Lead on Lord Jesus. Your servants follow!
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry