We started the series last week with the most important question; “who do you say I am?” How you answer that question will determine the ultimate destiny of your life. Mark 10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” James and John were audacious to ask such a thing. They understood the role of the Messiah as primarily to overthrow political enemies by riding in on a white horse with the sword, and the punishment of the nations that opposed the Jews, and the lifting up of the Jewish people above all others. And James and John wanted in on it. They were reserving their seats. The other disciples heard what James and John were doing and it didn’t sit well with them. Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. They were arguing about who was the greatest. These disciples fell into the trap of what the world defines as greatness. - Their definition of greatness was looking after themselves first. - And looking down on others. - And being the boss. - And lording it over others. - And using others to get what you want. - Being entitled to the good stuff. Life is not about amassing power, it’s about using what you have for others. Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. And then Jesus does a very dramatic thing. John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. He was going to hold nothing back. 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Just get the picture; Jesus is crawling around on the floor. Jesus is crawling around on the floor. He is showing the full extent of his love. He showed them the full extent of his love by serving them. John 13:12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Wash one another’s feet. This will be the radical practice of people who follow me. You will learn how to crawl on the ground. Luke 22:25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. What if Jesus means what he says here? What if he really means for us to… Demean yourselves. Humble yourself. Make yourselves little. Put yourselves last. Put other people ahead of yourself. Become a waiter. Become a slave where you don’t even own your own life anymore. Put other people’s needs ahead of your own needs. Be willing to get your hands dirty. Stop ignoring people. Stop turning away. Stop trying to find a way to get out of the conversation. Stop living for your merely your own benefit. Stop trying to align ourselves with power. Stop demeaning the poor, the powerless, the vulnerable, the immigrants, the unemployed, the mentally ill, the uneducated, the excluded and the marginalized.