FORERUNNER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

JOHN 13:1-8: THE BEAUTY OF JESUS AS THE SERVANT OF ALL - STUART GREAVES
I. JN 13:1-8: A PROPHETIC PARABLE OF THE GLORY AND HUMILITY OF THE GODHEAD
7
Jesus as!e"e# a# sa$# %& '$() *W'a% I a( #&$+ ,&u #& &% u#e"s%a# &!) -u% ,&u !$..
/&! a0%e" %'$s12 J1 13:7
A. In John 13:1-8 there is more going on than meets the eye. It is a prophetic parable of Jesus
unveiling the extent to which e has gone an! will go for love.
1
111 Ha3$+ .&3e# '$s &! !'& !e"e $ %'e !&".#) 'e &! s'&!e# %'e( %'e 0u.. e4%e% &0 '$s
.&3e1 J1 13:1 5NIV6
1
7 'a3$+ .&3e# H$s &! !'& !e"e $ %'e !&".#) He .&3e# %'e( %& %'e e#1 J1 13:1 5N8JV6
". #he greatest expression of go!liness is to live in love $which is holiness% servanthoo! or
mee&ness'. #he manifestation of humility is first expresse! in our attitu!es% the very see!be! of
our thought lives. $i.e. part of serving is thin&ing rightly about others.'
3
Le% &%'$+ -e #&e %'"&u+' se.0$s' a(-$%$& &" 9&9e$%) -u% $ .&!.$ess &0 ($# .e% ea9'
es%ee( &%'e"s -e%%e" %'a '$(se.01
:
Le% ea9' &0 ,&u .&&/ &u% &% &., 0&" '$s &! $%e"es%s) -u%
a.s& 0&" %'e $%e"es%s &0 &%'e"s1
;
Le% %'$s ($# -e $ ,&u) !'$9' !as a.s& $ C'"$s% Jesus1
P'$.1 <:3-;
(. "ehol!ing )rinciple: whatever we behol! about *o!+s heart is what we become in ours. #he
revelation of Jesus+ mee&ness pro!uces a longing in us to be li&e im.
18
Bu% !e a..7-e'&.#$+ as $ a ($""&" %'e +.&", &0 %'e L&"#) a"e -e$+ %"as0&"(e# $%& %'e
sa(e $(a+e 0"&( +.&", %& +.&",111 < C&"1 3:18
:;
F&" e3e %'e S& &0 =a #$# &% 9&(e 5 1
st
Coming ) %& -e se"3e#) -u% %& se"3e7 =/1 1>::;
37
B.esse# a"e %'&se se"3a%s !'&( %'e (as%e") !'e 'e 9&(es 5 2
nd
Coming )) !$.. 0$#
!a%9'$+1 Assu"e#.,) I sa, %& ,&u %'a% 'e !$.. +$"# '$(se.0 a# 'a3e %'e( s$% #&! %& ea%) a#
!$.. 9&(e a# se"3e %'e(1 L/1 1<:37
II. BEHOLD THE LAMB: THE FORERUNNER PROCLAMATION
3?
A# .&&/$+ a% Jesus as He !a./e#) 'e sa$#) *Be'&.# %'e La(- (Servant) &0 G&# @2 J1 1:3?
A. John the "aptist as the first forerunner calls for the ,behol!ing of the lamb+ $servant'. #he only
character trait Jesus proclaime! about imself was is humility $lowliness of heart'. e calle!
is !isciples to learn humility from im.
<A
*Ta/e =, ,&/e uB& ,&u a# .ea" 0"&( =e) 0&" I a( +e%.e a# .&!., $ 'ea"%) a# ,&u
!$.. 0$# "es% 0&" ,&u" s&u.s12 =%1 11:<A
". #he prophet Isaiah $Isa. -.-//' covers the sub0ect of the servanthoo! of *o! in the most !epth.
Isaiah saw the 1ing of glory $Isa 2:1-3'% but un!oubte!ly ha! no gri! for what the oly 3pirit
was about to !eclare to im concerning the 3econ! )erson of the #rinity 4 He $s %'e Se"3a%1
IHOP-8C =$ss$& Base
!!!1IHOP1&"+
FORERUNNER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
JOHN 13:1-8: THE BEAUTY OF JESUS AS THE SERVANT OF ALL - STUART GREAVES
)A*5 2
(. #he 3ervant 3ongs of Isaiah help form for us a para!igm to see the revelation of the 3ervant in
other parts of the 3cripture. #he 3ervant 3ongs are about how the humility of *o! confronts the
i!ols of the nations of the earth.
6. #his theme of the humility of *o! confronting the !ar&ness of the earth is more fully seen in the
7amb $the 3ervant 4 Isa. /3' as e a!ministrates *o!+s 0u!gments an! ta&es away the sins of the
worl!. In the boo& of 8evelation the 7amb $3ervant' ta&es center-stage as e% through a
,lambli&e+ bri!e% confronts the !ar&ness of the nations by releasing is glory in an! through the
church.
5. "ehol!ing )rinciple: whatever we behol! about *o!+s heart is what we become in ours.
<A
T'e e4% #a, J&' sa! Jesus 9&($+ %&!a"# '$() a# sa$#) *Be'&.#@ T'e La(- 5 Servant)
&0 G&# !'& %a/es a!a, %'e s$ &0 %'e !&".#@ J1 1:<A
9. #he boo& of 8evelation shows 18 aspects of the 3ervant that we are to behol! as e releases the
glory of *o! in the earth: the slain 7amb $/:2'% the 7amb who ta&es the scroll $/::'% the worthy
7amb $/:.'% the 7amb who looses the seals $2:1% 3% /% :% .% 1;% 8:1'% the 7amb who !ispenses the
wrath of *o! $2:12'% the saving 7amb $::1<'% the 7amb who washe! our robes $::1-'% #he 7amb
slain before time $13:8'% the 7amb who lea!s the 1--%<<< $1-:1'% the 7amb who presi!es over the
7a&e of 9ire $1-:1<'% the 7amb who is a warrior $1::1-'% the 7amb who is the 1ing of &ings an!
the 7or! of lor!s $1::1-'% the "ri!egroom 7amb $1.::'% the 7amb who has a wife $;1:.'% the
7amb who has messengers yo&e! to is humility $;1:1-'% the 7amb who is the temple $;1:;;'%
the 7amb who is 7ight $;1:;3'% an! the 7amb who possesse! the boo& of life $;1:;:'.
III. THE BEAUTY OF JESUS AS THE SERVANT OF ALL
A. In Jn. 13:3-- Jesus is !isplaying that which e !i! from eternity as e unfol!s the plan of
re!emption by showing us the mystery of the incarnation as the unveiling of his humility.
3
Jesus) /&!$+ (His role in the plan of redemption) %'a% %'e Fa%'e" 'a# +$3e a.. %'$+s 5 The
fullness of His power and authority) $%& H$s 'a#s) a# %'a% He 'a# 9&(e 0"&( G&# (His
nature as God) a# !as +&$+ %& G&# 5His return as the God-Man))
:
"&se 0"&( suBBe"
(ommunion in the Godhead) a# .a$# as$#e H$s +a"(e%s 5 !s 1"#$2) ) %&&/ a %&!e. (Garments
of humanity) a# +$"#e# H$(se.0 1 J1 13:3-:
". #he nation of Israel ha! no gri! $Isa. 8:13-1-' for this revelation of the heart of *o!. =hen the
3econ! )erson of the #rinity% (hrist Jesus% reveale! the face of the *o!hea! as the 3ervant% the
nation of Israel greatly stumble!. *o!+s glory is is humility.
<<
*F&" Je!s "eCues% a s$+) a# G"ee/s see/ a0%e" !$s#&(D
<3
-u% !e B"ea9' C'"$s% 9"u9$0$e#)
%& %'e Je!s a s%u(-.$+ -.&9/ a# %& %'e G"ee/s

0&&.$s'ess 72 1 C&"1 1:<<-<3
(. #he prophet Isaiah !eclares to us that at the very core an! essence of the *o!hea! lays
mee&ness. All the nations will tremble 4 God ! "#$ !$%&'(" o) '**.
IHOP-8C =$ss$& Base
!!!1IHOP1&"+
FORERUNNER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
JOHN 13:1-8: THE BEAUTY OF JESUS AS THE SERVANT OF ALL - STUART GREAVES
)A*5 3
IV. THE SERVANT: A DIVINE ATTRIBUTE
;
A0%e" %'a%) He B&u"e# !a%e" $%& a -as$ a# -e+a %& !as' %'e #$s9$B.esE 0ee%) a# %& !$Be
%'e( !$%' %'e %&!e. !$%' !'$9' He !as +$"#e#1
?
T'e He 9a(e %& S$(& Pe%e"1 A# Pe%e"
sa$# %& H$() *L&"#) a"e Y&u !as'$+ (, 0ee%F2

J1 13:;-?
A. A !ivine attribute is what *o! reveals or !iscloses concerning imself. *o!+s attributes ma&e
&nown to us that which is true an! that which lies within the character an! nature of the
*o!hea!. #hey show us what *o! loo&s li&e an! feels li&e.
". =hen Jesus came on the scene e came as a servant% but e also came revealing the very nature
of the glory of *o!. At the very core of who *o! is% one of is attributes is 3ervant.
;
Le% %'$s ($# -e $ ,&u !'$9' !as a.s& $ C'"$s% Jesus)
?
!'&) -e$+ $ %'e 0&"( &0 G&#) #$#
&% 9&s$#e" $% "&--e", %& -e eCua. !$%' G&#)
7
-u% (a#e H$(se.0 &0 & "eBu%a%$&) %a/$+ %'e
0&"( &0 a -&#se"3a%) a# 9&($+ $ %'e .$/eess &0 (e1
8
A# -e$+ 0&u# $ aBBea"a9e as
a (a) He 'u(-.e# H$(se.0 a# -e9a(e &-e#$e% %& %'e B&$% &0 #ea%') e3e %'e #ea%' &0 %'e
9"&ss1 P'$.1 <:;-8
3
!'& -e$+ %'e -"$+'%ess &0 H$s +.&", a# %'e e4B"ess $(a+e &0 H$s Be"s&72 He-1 1:3
(. *o!+s humility as a !ivine attribute is intricately woven in an! through is other attributes.
Jesus+ attributes% li&e "ri!egroom% 1ing an! Ju!ge% !o not get suspen!e! in or!er for is
servanthoo! to be ma!e manifest.
6. #he weight of *o!+s glory is is humility% an! it is the weight of is humility% glory an! ma0esty
that will confront the pride of the earth. T#$ #+,*"- o) God ! .%o/'/*- "#$ ,o!" )o%$0(
'(d .$%.*$1(0 %$'*"- o) God "o "#$ #+,'( #$'%" . Jesus comes to Israel as the 3ervant of the
7or! to exemplify an! lea! her into her servant-lea!ership role before the nations of the earth.
#he revelation of the humility of the 7or! is not rea!ily receive! because the implications of it to
our lives are significant an! intensely personal. $Jn. 13::'
:
T'e LORG $s '$+' a-&3e a.. a%$&s) H$s +.&", a-&3e %'e 'ea3es1
;
!'& $s .$/e %'e LORG &u"
G&#) !'& #!e..s & '$+')
?
!'& 'u(-.es H$(se.0 %& -e'&.# %'e %'$+s %'a% a"e $ %'e 'ea3es
a# $ %'e ea"%'F Ps1 113::-?
V. 2YOU 3ILL 4NO3 AFTER THIS5: CHRIST THE SERVANT OF RULERS 6ISA. 78:9-:;
7
*T'us sa,s %'e LORG) %'e Re#ee(e" &0 Is"ae.) %'e$" H&., Oe) %& H$( !'&( (a
#esB$ses) %& H$( !'&( %'e a%$& a-'&"s) %& %'e Se"3a% &0 "u.e"s: * 8$+s s'a.. see a#
a"$se) P"$9es a.s& s'a.. !&"s'$B) -e9ause &0 %'e LORG !'& $s 0a$%'0u.) %'e H&., Oe &0
Is"ae.D a# He 'as 9'&se Y&u12 Isa1 :A:7
3;
*Le% ,&u" !a$s% -e +$"#e# a# ,&u" .a(Bs -u"$+D
3?
a# ,&u ,&u"se.3es -e .$/e (e !'&
!a$% 0&" %'e$" (as%e") !'e 'e !$.. "e%u" 0"&( %'e !e##$+) %'a% !'e 'e 9&(es a# /&9/s
%'e, (a, &Be %& '$( $((e#$a%e.,1
37
B.esse# a"e %'&se se"3a%s !'&( %'e (as%e") !'e 'e
9&(es) !$.. 0$# !a%9'$+1 Assu"e#.,) I sa, %& ,&u %'a% 'e !$.. +$"# '$(se.0 (&ohn 1'(#) a#
'a3e %'e( s$% #&! %& ea%) a# !$.. 9&(e a# se"3e %'e( (&ohn 1'()-*) 1 L/1 1<:3;-37
IHOP-8C =$ss$& Base
!!!1IHOP1&"+
FORERUNNER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
JOHN 13:1-8: THE BEAUTY OF JESUS AS THE SERVANT OF ALL - STUART GREAVES
)A*5 7
A. #he revelation of he 1ing of *lory as the 3ervant of rulers she!s more light on what Jesus tol!
)eter in John 13::. >?ou !on@t un!erstan! what I@m !oing now but you will un!erstan! later.A
#his reference is reveale! in a three-fol! reality: 1' on the cross% ;' throughout our pre-
resurrection lives% 3' but thir!ly% Jesus is also referring to is reign in the millennium an!
throughout eternity. e is the same yester!ay% to!ay an! forever $eb 13:8'. #he 3on of *o!
came to serve forever.
". If the nations !on@t allow Jesus to be their 3ervant they cannot be a part of im. #he only way
e will be our 1ing is if we let im be our 3ervant. Isaiah -.:/-: highlights the purpose an! the
man!ate of the Ban (hrist Jesus $-.:/' as the 3ervant of the 7or! who% at is secon! coming%
receives those who re0ecte! im% Israel an! the nations% as they come to worship an! glorify
im.
(. #he truth of )hilippians ;:--/ an! the 7or!@s humility will still be true even !uring is reign an!
eternal government on the earth. In )hilippians ;:--/% an! .-11 we see that the glory of *o! is
the humility of *o!. #he i!ea that the 1ing of *lory woul! !o nothing out of selfish ambition
an! that is attitu!e will be that e consi!ers others better than imself in the millennium is
most stunning an! terrifying.
6. #he prophet Isaiah clearly portrays the 1ing high an! lifte! up of Isaiah 2:1-3 as the 3ervant of
rulers in Isaiah -.::. $Isaiah -.-//'
5. #he face of (hrist as the 3ervant of rulers is going to be stunning as we see im lea! with the
!"%$(0"# o) ,$$<($!!% "#$ ,0#" o) #+,*"-% "#$ %$*$("*$!! .o=$% o) H! "$(d$%($!!% '(d
0$("*$($!! o) ,$$<($!! "#'" ! +(='&$%(0 $Isaiah -;:3--'.
9. #he 8uler of the &ings of the earth is the 3ervant of rulers. #his truly is a picture of how in the
&ing!om authority is given an! increase! $Isa. .::' for servanthoo!. In the worl! we serve an!
get promote! to no longer serve. In the &ing!om we serve an! get more authority so that the
reality of servanthoo! an! humility woul! permeate the &ing!om of *o!.
*. =e have an invitation an! an opportunity in this lifetime to imitate im in this. Cur greatest
glory% free!om an! pleasure are foun! in being *o!-li&e in our character.
1
T'e"e0&"e -e $($%a%&"s &0 G&# as #ea" 9'$.#"e1 EB'1 ;:1
<A
He B"e#es%$e# (us) %& -e 9&0&"(e# %& %'e $(a+e &0 H$s S&1 R&(1 8:<A
IHOP-8C =$ss$& Base
!!!1IHOP1&"+