Jesus being a servant - Vence Gordon
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this class, teacher Vence Gordon examined Jesus's act of washing the disciples' feet during the Last Supper as recorded in John 13:5-17, unpacking what it truly means for Jesus to exemplify servanthood. The teacher emphasized that a servant is fundamentally an obedient worker, and that Jesus—the Creator, sustainer of all things, and Son of God—deliberately chose to wash His disciples' feet, a task typically performed by the lowest household servants before meals. This act didn't fit the cultural expectations of a master, yet it carried profound spiritual significance. Gordon stressed that many Christians take God's life-changing grace for granted, resting comfortably in salvation without allowing that grace to touch and serve others. He challenged the congregation's understanding of "service," noting that attending Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night services is what believers *should* do, not what constitutes actual service to God. True service means seeing genuine needs in the world and meeting them, motivated by love and gratitude rather than obligation. The teacher also highlighted that Jesus washed the feet of all twelve disciples, including Judas, whom He knew would betray Him. This demonstrates that Christian service should be unconditional and sacrificial, reflecting the grace we ourselves have received.
Key Scriptures
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which he was girded with. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, 'Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand afterwards.' Peter said to him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.' Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.' Jesus said to him, 'He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.' For he knew him who was going to betray him; therefore he said, 'You are not all clean.' When he had finished washing their feet, and had put on his robe, he came back to the place where he had been sitting, and said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'