When Jesus came into this world, he could have done
things much differently. Think about it, God coming to earth...
However, Jesus came in a way nobody would have ever imagined. Born
into a normal family, born in a lowly manger. As Jesus walked the
earth, He did not command that all people everywhere bow down and
worship Him. Instead, he touched the leper, healed the blind and
maimed. He chose disciples that were uneducated fishermen and even a
tax collector. Through all of this, he taught his disciples to love
others and to care for the hurting. He said unto them...
“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise
dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority over
them.” (verse 25)
Look all across the earth. The rulers of the earth
(Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, etc.) have dominion over
the people and exercise authority over them. That is the way of the
world. Jesus came to show us another way.
“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will
be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (verse 26-27)
This is not teaching
that the great people ought to be priests or preachers. This is
teaching that if you wish to be great, you should learn to serve or
minister to others. When I first went to the B.I.M.I. (Baptist
International Missions Incorporated) headquarters for the first
candidate school, I was impressed by the servant leadership I saw.
The directors of the board, even the President of the board were all
so humble. At meal time, they were often the last people to get
their meals, and after eating while everybody was sitting around
talking, the directors would often be the first one to pick up the
dishes of everyone else to return them to the dish room. I kinda
felt bad, like I should have picked up their dishes. They are all
great and respectable people in my eyes, especially because they
demonstrated the servant leadership exemplified in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
(verse 28)
Look at Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God, The Most High,
The Alpha and the Omega- He came into this world not to be served,
but to serve us. I can hardly comprehend how awesome He is! If that
doesn't get you going, I don't know what will! God, in the flesh,
came into this world to live amongst us. To live a humble life, to
care for the hurting, and to save us from our sin. He came to give
his life a ransom for many. He taught us that, “Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
And what did he do? He did it for us.
“Looking unto Jesus the Auther and Finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne
of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Have you ever thought about what this is saying?
According to this verse, why did Jesus endure the cross? For the joy
that was set before Him. While Jesus despised the shame, he died on
the cross for the joy that was set before him. I believe that joy
was Him seeing us having everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Jesus
deserves your love, but we don't deserve his. If God, Himself,
lowered himself far enough to suffer the shame of dying on the cross,
then what does that mean for us? If Jesus loved those who do not
deserve his love, then shouldn't we? Jesus came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister.
What is your attitude towards others? Do you expect
others to serve you, or do you joyfully serve them?
Jesus humbled himself to serve others and love others
that didn't deserve His love. Do we live as if we are above our Master?
How can we be a better servant? How can we be more like
Christ?
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