5.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• If you are a Christian, you are a servant.
• Jesus is the Master who has bought you with his life.
• Jesus is the Master who is worthy to be loved by you.
• Jesus is the Master who shows you how to serve.

5.2 John 13:1-17←⤒🔗

^13:1 Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.

^13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus.

^13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

^13:4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.

^13:5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.

^13:6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?'

^13:7 Jesus replied, 'You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.'

^13:8 Peter said to him, 'You will never wash my feet!' Jesus replied, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.'

^13:9 Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!'

^13:10 Jesus replied, 'The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.'

^13:11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, 'Not every one of you is clean.')

^13:12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, Do you understand what I have done for you?

^13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am.

^13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet.

^13:15 For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you.

^13:16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

^13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

© NET Bible

5.3 Servants and their masters←⤒🔗

A Christian is a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “servant” is used many times in the New Testament. The Greek word for “servant” is doulos. This word also means “slave”. We could also say that a Christian is a slave of Jesus Christ.

Paul sometimes describes himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ.” In some places in his letters he also speaks of other Christians as “servants” of Jesus.

In the time of the New Testament, there were many slaves. Some of them were treated badly. But others were important and even rich. Some slaves had a good education and they worked as teachers. Some slaves were even leaders in government.

But in one way, all slaves were the same. They did not belong to themselves. They belonged to their masters. If you were a slave, your whole life depended on your master. If he was a good man, you could have a good life. If he was a cruel man, you would suffer.

5.4 Jesus is the master who has bought you←⤒🔗

If you are a Christian, then you have been bought by Jesus Christ. At first you were a slave to sin and wickedness (Romans 6:19-20). You had no hope – only eternal death was waiting for you. Satan was ruling over your life (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Imagine that you are slave and that your master keeps you in chains and beats you. One day someone comes and says to your master: “I will pay the price for this man (or woman) to be set free!” This is what Jesus Christ did for you, and for everyone else who believes in him.

Jesus Christ redeemed you. The word “redeem” means to pay a price to set someone else free. Jesus Christ paid with his own life to free you from your slavery to sin. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

5.5 Jesus is the master who is worthy to be loved by you←⤒🔗

In Exodus 21 we read about slaves whose time of freedom comes, but who ask to stay with their master. The master should then make a piercing (a small hole) in the ear of the slave. In this way everyone will know: this slave belongs to his master for life. In the same way, if you have been bought by Jesus Christ, you will want to be his servant forever. Because he is the Master who is worthy of all your love.

If you are a Christian, then you belong to nobody and nothing else. Nothing else controls you or your future: you are completely in the hands of your Master. There is no better place to be!

Because you are now the servant (slave) of Jesus Christ, you should ask in every situation: “What will my Master want me to do?” As you obey him, you will also see that his commands are good for you. You will praise him: “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

5.6 Jesus is the master who is an example for you←⤒🔗

In John 13 we read how Jesus Christ washed his disciples’ feet. The disciples were very surprised. To wash feet was the work of a slave! Then Jesus told them: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.”

Jesus Christ also made himself your servant. He did not only wash your feet: he washed your soul. He did not wash you with water: he washed you with his own life blood. He is always ready to provide for you and to intercede (pray) for you. Jesus does not only tell you to be a servant. He shows you through his example how to be a servant.

Remember that you do not belong to anything or anyone else. You are free. But Jesus wants you to use your freedom to serve other people. Think about these words of Paul. He wrote to the church in Corinth: “we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Jesus Christ wants you to be a servant of your family, your neighbours, your boss, and everyone he sends on your way. He gives you all his love – now you can give this love to others!