“The Full Extent”
Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1 NIV
What one act would you say demonstrates how much Jesus loves us? You’ve probably seen the bulletin board that says, “I asked Jesus how much he loved me. ‘This much,’ he answered as he stretched out his hands and he died.” Paul tells us, “God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Truly, this is an awesome demonstration of love. But notice that this is God’s demonstration of love. What is Jesus’ demonstration of love?
John writes, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (also rendered “he continued to love them right to the end”). The crucifixion in John’s Gospel is six chapters away and, in fact, if you do not understand the one act that demonstrates Jesus’ love, you cannot fully comprehend the crucifixion. Jesus once said of himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus’ act demonstrating the full extent of love is found in the most menial task, delegated to the lowest servant. “He got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin … and began to wash his disciples’ feet” (John 13:4-5).
After he finished Jesus said to his disciples, “Since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others’ feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). The fullest, greatest demonstration of love is service: the shedding of power, position, and prestige, the giving up of self, even to the giving of one’s life. Paul directs us to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself” (Philippians 2:3). And why does Jesus tell us that we should do as he has done? We are the body of Jesus. Unless we show love as servants, the world will not know how much God loves them. You and I are called to be Jesus to the world.
It has been my privileged to observe many servants in the Central Bay District, clergy and laity. I’ve noticed these imitators of Christ share six qualities that make them particularly effective:
1. Is Kind and Caring. We all enjoy going out to eat on occasion. If your waitress comes to your table with a scowl on her face and greets you by saying, “Yea, what do you want?” are you inclined to return to the restaurant again, even if the food tastes great? Probably not. I’ve known my dad to reply, “Nothing” and get up and leave. But if we get a friendly waitress, we are inclined to return, even if the food isn’t all that great, just because the waitress/waiter was friendly, went out of her/his way to serve us, and left us feeling like she/he cared.
As servants, we show by our smile, our pleasant attitude, and our willingness that we care. Paul reminds us to “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:4-5). We serve by being friends, showing interest in others and what is going on in their lives, and going out of our way to serve.
2. Is Prepared. The scout motto is “Be Prepared.” Someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of scouting, “Be prepared for what?” “Why for any old thing,” he replied. Baden-Powell wasn’t just thinking of being ready for emergencies; his idea was that all scouts should prepare themselves to become productive citizens and to give happiness to other people, whatever and whenever opportunity arose. I remember my mother-in-law would make big pots of soup, even though there were only three or four at the table for supper. She would fill quart jars and plastic containers with soup and deliver a container of soup to a shut-in or an older couple down the street or else freeze it, so she always had some available if ever there was a need. She was prepared. Paul instructs us to “be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).
3. Is Humble. While Jesus has called some to serve in highly visible positions, he expects all to serve in simple, ordinary, and often hidden ways doing thankless and tedious jobs that come with this world. Notice that Jesus’ act that demonstrates the full extent of his love was one of the lowest of duties of that day, washing feet.
A wealthy woman visited Mother Teresa in Calcutta and offered to write a check to support the work of the Sisters of Charity. “I won’t take your money,” Mother Teresa replied. The woman insisted, but Mother Teresa still said no. Exasperated, the woman stammered, “Well, what can I do?” “Come and see.” She led the woman by the hand into a dreadful barrio, found a desperately dirty, hungry child, and asked the woman to take care of him. Her money of no use, the woman took a cloth and water basin and bathed the child. Then she spooned cereal into the child’s mouth. The woman reported that her life was changed; she became part of something money and high position could not buy, fix, or replace.
4. Is Alert. “Each of you should lookout not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). The alert servant keeps eyes open and mind engaged. In a crisis people often say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do.” This is not an empty statement. They sincerely want to help. But they must wait for the person in crisis to share a need. We can be more helpful if we look at the situation ourselves, perhaps research the problem, and meet needs that will soften the hardship that has been created.
5. Is Talented. We all have many talents and abilities for service. Peter encourages, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you… Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11). A lady in a previous parish had lived a long and hard life and was no longer able to do as she thought she should. She shared, “I really don’t know how I can be a servant anymore.” I reminded her she was serving in ways that touched people’s lives more than she realized. You see, Ruth always sent everyone who attended church a birthday or anniversary card. Mother Teresa is purported to have said, “We cannot all do great things. But we can all do small things with great love.” What are your talents and abilities?
6. Is Teachable. A servant always looks for better ways to serve better, to be more effective, to love better. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness, and to godliness kindness, and to kindness love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive” (2 Peter. 1:5-8). The best way to learn is to ask questions. Ask God for ideas to serve better. Ask others, “What would you like me to do? How can I serve better?”
Lewis Carroll understood what Jesus meant, he wrote, “One of the deep secrets of life [is] that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” Jesus showed the full extent of his love by washing feet; soon he would “lay done his life for his friends” (John 15:13). When Jesus had finished washing his disciple’s feet, he told them, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” That command applies to us as well. Go, show the fullness of your love so that others will know the fullness of God’s love. Serve. You will be blessed if you do them.
On the Journey with you,
DS John