“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.“
~ Mark 10:45
If we are honest, most of us would rather be served than to serve. Our flesh loves to be served; it makes us feel good. It makes us feel special rather than ordinary, important instead of insignificant, seen rather than overlooked.
If we just look at the character of Jesus, He was always humble and put others before Himself. While He was teaching and healing, He was serving others well. He was patient, loving, and kind. People were always stopping Him along the roadside during His ministry and travel to seek Him for help, personal healing, or for healing loved ones who were dying. He never made them feel like they were bothering Him or taking him off His course. He humbly loved to serve.
The Jews expected their Messiah to come in as a triumphant King and to conquer their enemies and keep them safe. But Jesus came with a different plan. He came as a humble baby who would one day save the world! He came to save them all right, but not in the way they had imagined.
As followers of Christ, we are to have the same characteristics as Jesus. Loving, kind, humble, and a servant to those in need.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord.“ ~ 2 Corinthians 3:18.
“From glory to glory” – Paul sums up our entire Christian life, from redemption and sanctification on earth to our glorious eternal welcome home into heaven.
If the King of the universe stepped down from heaven to come to earth, not to be served but to give His own life for the salvation of others, this is something worth noting. We are not above our Father/Teacher; we are His children/students. We are here to be salt and light, to lead others to Jesus Christ. To humbly serve as He served. We are to look and act differently than the world so that they can see Jesus in us and want to know all about Him!
Jesus warns us about pride and about doing things just to be seen and appreciated by others. We are to work as unto the Lord to glorify Him. We are to give generously but without bragging and without doing it in front of people because it is God who gives us our reward for doing so. He says that if we give just to receive congratulations from others, then He will not reward us.
Jesus lovingly engaged the outcast, fed the hungry, and healed the blind, the lepers, and the lame. He never expected anything in return, only that they would believe in Him and be saved. I think one of the most humble acts, besides the cross, was when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. They walked all day long on dusty roads, and their feet were probably in pretty bad shape. He showed them the true essence of humility by washing their feet. Just like our sins, He washes us clean by the sacrifice of His very own life. We are washed clean because of a humble servant who was not above others, who was not above taking our sins and our dirt upon Himself on that cross.
So, as we draw closer to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, let’s think about our Lord and Savior, who died a terrible death in our place, and how much it means to each of us. Let’s ask the Lord how we can serve others with love the way He did.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.“ ~ Hebrews 12:1-2
💜Beth Nahkala
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#bethnahkalablogs