April 23-25, 2010
John 13
Pastor Michelle Hoverson
When the night before Jesus’ death is described in the Gospel of John, it is interesting that there are no details about the Passover Meal and Holy Communion, as in other Gospels. Perhaps it’s because for John, THE event that night was the amazing demonstration of Christ serving out of love, as He washed their feet.
Notice how John introduced the scene in John 13:1 -“Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” Jesus was about to serve His disciples in an incredibly mundane way – by washing their feet - but this simple act of serving was rooted in deep love for them.
Have you ever noticed the difference between someone serving out of duty and another serving out of love? When a person serves out of love, life comes to the one being served and joy marks the servant. Serving in love has transforming power.
In the scene described in John 13, Christ showed us that serving is an expression of love. Loving one another can be as simple as serving in ordinary ways like folding the laundry…giving up the better parking space…letting someone with less items go ahead of you in line…or even washing someone’s feet.
When done out of love and not duty, who knows how a simple act of serving might transform a relationship, household, community or workplace?
Is there someone who needs to see your expression of love? Think of a way to serve.
Did you know that both of Pastor Michelle’s grandfathers were Foursquare pastors? One served for 65 years and is now 103 years old, still evangelizing in the nursing home.
