The Cruciform Life

The Cruciform Life

Pastor Brandon Berg

Cruciform: To be shaped to the image of the cross

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. 

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him. 

When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, why are you going to wash my feet?" 

Jesus replied, "You don't understand now why I am doing it; someday you will."  

"No," Peter protested, "you will never wash my feet!"

Jesus replied, "But if I don't wash you, you won't belong to me."  

Simon Peter exclaimed, "Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"

John 13:1-9

1. The higher our status, the more profound the service is we’re called to

2. The more secure we are of our authority in Christ, the more sacrificial our leadership becomes

3. The closer we move toward God, the closer we move toward broken humanity

4. When our leadership is cruciform we have the grace to finish well

“The way of the cross is the way of absorbing pain and not passing it on.”

 - Parker Palmer

Discussion Questions 

1. How might God be calling you to change the way you relate to the world around you in terms of your authority, education, affluence, and influence?
2. What would happen if you asked one person this week this question, “How can I serve you?” Are you prepared for the answer?
3. Or, what would happened if you didn’t have to ask because you already knew the answer and you simply went and served someone else?