Good Friday - THE GREATEST SERVANT

April 3rd, 2026
by Reverend Douglas Spencer, Sr.

The Greatest - Sermon Series

Good Friday - The Greatest Servant

I. INTRODUCTION — THE NIGHT LOVE KNELT
  • Jesus is hours from the cross. 
  • Betrayal, arrest, and suffering are imminent. 
  • Yet He kneels to wash feet. 
  • The King becomes a servant — and the Servant becomes the sacrifice. 
II. JESUS CHOOSES THE LOW PLACE
John 13:1–17

A. Jesus knows who He is (v. 1–3)
  • He knows His hour has come. 
  • He knows His authority. 
  • He knows His identity and destiny. 
  • Because He knows these things, He serves. 

B. The shocking act of foot washing (v. 4–5)
  • Lowest servant’s job. 
  • Jesus kneels, takes the towel, washes feet. 
  • The Creator washes the created. 

C. Peter’s protest (v. 6–10)
  • “You will never wash my feet.” 
  • Jesus: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” 
  • Symbol of salvation and cleansing. 
 
D. The example (v. 12–17)
  • “I have given you an example.” 
  • Greatness in the kingdom = taking the low place. 
  • Servanthood is not optional for disciples. 
 
III. JESUS EMBODIES THE SERVANT
Philippians 2:5–11

A. The downward movement of Christ
Paul describes Christ’s humility:
  1. Existed in the form of God. 
  1. Did not cling to His rights. 
  1. Emptied Himself. 
  1. Took the form of a servant. 
  1. Became human. 
  1. Humbled Himself to death. 
  1. Even death on a cross. 

B. The upward exaltation
  • Because He went to the lowest place, God raised Him to the highest place. 
  • Every knee will bow; every tongue confess. 
  • The path to glory is humility. 
IV. JESUS BECOMES THE SACRIFICE
Isaiah 53

A. The Suffering Servant
  • Despised and rejected. 
  • Man of sorrows. 
  • Pierced for our transgressions. 
  • Crushed for our iniquities. 
  • By His wounds we are healed. 

B. The ultimate act of service
  • The One who washed feet now carries sin. 
  • The Servant becomes the sacrifice. 
  • The cross is the greatest act of service in history. 
V. OUR RESPONSE — HUMILITY, WORSHIP, GRATITUDE

A. Humility
  • We cannot cling to pride when our Savior kneels. 
  • We follow His example by choosing the low place. 

B. Worship
  • Awe and reverence flow from seeing Christ’s humility. 
  • Worship becomes our natural response. 

C. Gratitude
  • He washed us. 
  • He carried us. 
  • He saved us. 
  • Gratitude becomes our posture. 
VI. COMMUNION — THE SERVANT WHO GAVE HIS BODY

Communion reminders: 
  • The hands that washed feet were pierced for us. 
  • The body that knelt was broken for us. 
  • The blood poured out becomes our salvation. 
VII. CONCLUSION — THE KING WHO KNEELS
 
  • Jesus kneels before He dies. 
  • The King becomes a servant. 
  • The Servant becomes the sacrifice. 
  • The sacrifice becomes our salvation. 
Posted in Sermon Notes