In John’s Gospel, we see some insights into the ministry of Jesus that we do not see in the other three accounts. In particular, when we focus in on the last few chapters before His arrest, we see some principles that should be true of how we all minister to others.

1. We should love individuals (11:3).
2. We should be concerned with glorifying the Lord (11:4, 40-42; 12:28).
3. We should love families (11:5).
4. We should develop friendships (11:11).
5. We should encourage others (11:23).
6. We should sympathize and empathize with others (11:33).
7. We should show our emotions (11:35).
8. We should spend time with people (12:1-2).
9. We should go back and visit again after the fact (12:1-2).
10. We should allow others to minister to us (12:7-8).

• We should be willing to do what the Lord expects of us (12:24-27, 30-33).

12. We should be teaching (12:44-50).
13. We should love other ministers (13:1).
14. We should humble ourselves (13:4-5, 13-14).
15. We should serve (13:5).
16. We should help people try to understand (13:7, 12, 17).
17. We should be real (13:21).
18. We should serve all equally (13:22).
19. We should encourage love (13:34-35).
20. We should encourage (14:1).

Whether you are a preacher, an elder, a minister, a teacher, a deacon, or “just” a follower of Jesus, we all are called to minister to others. May we all do so with the love and purpose shown to us by the Master Teacher!

Corey Sawyers