The apostle John wrote how Jesus, “knew who should betray him; therefore said he, You are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you”, and in chapter thirteen and verse sixteen of his book John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “the servant is not greater than his lord” where we read:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;
neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
The verse reads, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;” John began with the words, “Verily, verily” which means “truly, truly and surely, surely”, “I say unto you” or “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to you, disciples of Jesus”, “the servant” which means “the slave, bondman, man of servile condition and attendant” “is not greater than his lord” or “is in no way larger, elder to or stronger than the servant's one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding and master”. John shared how Jesus declared that the “bondman or man of servile condition” is not of more importance than their “master”.
The verse continues, “neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” John added the words, “neither he that is sent” which means “no and not in any way is the one who has been dispatched and assigned” “greater than he that sent him” or “stronger, elder to and larger than the person whether male or female who dispatched and assigned that servant”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples that the person who is “dispatched” is not more important than the person who “assigned” them.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how there is an order to “greatness” according to Jesus. People who are “servants” are not “greater” than their “lords”, nor are people who are dispatched “greater” than the ones who “assigned” them. Jesus “served” His disciples even though He was “greater”, and they were to “serve” others even as they had been “served”. God loves people and He came to the world in Jesus Christ to “save” people from their sins. Sin separates people from God, and without “sin” being removed, no one could have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus died for the “sins” of the whole world and thereby “served” all mankind. Those who are wise will yield their lives to Jesus who is indeed the greatest and “served” as an example to His disciples for how they are to “minister to” others.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “if you know these things, happy are you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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