THE MARKS OF A SERVANT

TEXT- JOHN 13:1-17

INTRODUCTION

IN THE MID 1800'S A MAN BY THE NAME OF JOHN MERRICK WAS BORN WITH A DISFIGURING DISEASE THAT CAUSED HIM TO BECOME PHYSICALLY GROTESQUE.

AT AN EARLY AGE OF 27 HE ACCIDENTALLY SUFFOCATED FROM THE MASSIVE FOLDS OF SKIN THAT SURROUNDED HIS FACE.

BEFORE HIS DEATH HOWEVER HE HAD SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN A CIRCUS SIDE SHOW WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME AND GAWK AT HIM AS IF HE WERE SOME KIND OF FREAK,

HIS FEATURES WERE THE MARKINGS THAT IDENTIFIED HIM AS THE ELEPHANT MAN,

IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY A GOOD ATHLETE IS KNOWN BY HIS OR HER PHYSICAL CONDITION.

A CRAFTSMAN IS KNOWN BY THE QUALITY OF HIS PRODUCT.

AN ARTIST IS KNOWN BY HIS PAINTINGS.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN JOHN 13:1-17 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE I5, "THE MARKS OF A SERVANT".

ALBERT SCHWEITZER A MAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN 50 YEARS CARING FOR THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN AFRICA ONCE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR DESTINY WILL BE, BUT ONE THING I KNOW; THE ONLY ONES AMONG YOU WHO WILL BE REALLY HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE SOUGHT AND FOUND HOW TO SERVE."

WITHIN THE BIBLE WE FIND MANY DIFFERENT QUALITIES THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF A SERVANT.

HERE IN OUR TEXT WE FIND FOUR QUALITIES OR IDENTIFICATION MARKS OF A SERVANT.

LET'S LOOK AT THEM TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE.