GLR - Our Master's Call

by Pastor Meng Cham

John 13:1-17
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.


Words only instruct the mind which soon will be forgotten, But an object lesson will pierce the heart

Big idea:
Our Servant-king calls us to servant- leadership

1. To serve the need, we must be willing to bend our knees

John 13:4b
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.


- This is the feet that had been dirtied by animal waste and pollution
- Disciple making begins where people are, not where we want them to be
- The best gift we can offer is ourselves, our real self not falsehood
- We must be stripoed off our entitlement and not worry about image, title or social media friendly
- Is not just humility but is about whatever it takes to fulfil that need

2. To lead with love we must come up close and personal

John 13:6-11
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.


- Foot washing is close up and personal, you cannot wash feet from afar with a hose
- you cannot line everyone up and hose everyone's feet for convenience
- you need 2 hands to wash
- Jesus did not avoid Judas Iscariot feet
- Washing feet including those who have hurt you, Deny you or betray you, backstab you, slandered you
- God loves us not because we are lovable
- We see the value of the person because they are the imager of God

Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.


- Love keeps caring when the change is slow
- Love refuses to ignore the needy
- Love moves towards people
- Only lord's love can sustain this
- To love is to offer our time

John 13:13-14
“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.


- Servant-leadershp is not optional, it is the command
- Attend to simple and basic needs (I'm committed to you)
- Bend to serve others (I'm coming to where you are)
- Come close enough to journey along (I'm here for you)
- Love must be demonstrated it cannot remain as a lesson