Yesterday I preached on God's righteous Servant, Jesus Christ. Unless God explicitly revealed the truth to us in His Word, it is unfathomable how the God who created all things would humble Himself and become a servant (Philippians 2:5-8), even facing the cross for the sake of sinners. Jesus Christ has given us an example so we might follow in His footsteps, but has also provided the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to walk in righteousness.
In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus appealed to the good sense of His disciples concerning a typical relationship between a master and his servants. Jesus said, "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" It was customary for servants to prepare for their master, and after serving the master the servants would eat. It was no badge of honour for a servant to serve his master, for it was his duty to do so! Servants of God ought not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought because we are responsible to obey God, to love and serve others. It is what we have been saved by grace to do! If God is our King, as His loyal subject we should serve Him.
God is in the business of blowing minds, and I love it when God shocks me with a verse I didn't notice before. The verse which shocked me was one that reversed this natural order of things. Jesus told His disciples to be free of worldly entanglements and to be ready for Him and in Luke 12:35-37 said, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them." Isn't verse 37 astounding? For the servants who are faithful and ready, the master will gird himself, have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them! The servants will be served by the master! This reminded me of the amazing thing Jesus did after the Last Supper before going to the cross. He directed His disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, and after the meal was over stripped down, put a towel around his waist, and washed all the disciples' feet. It made me think at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Jesus will not remain seated on His rightful throne, but will serve His servants, and such grace is impossible for me to grasp fully.
God is a glorious King, and He gives us grace upon grace. The Saviour who insisted John baptise Him to "fulfill all righteousness" and washes feet is the God we are to worship and emulate. He delights to humble Himself and serve, and what a joy it is to follow in His footsteps as led by the Spirit. Greatness in God's kingdom is not earned but marked by humility, submission, and obedience to God and others. When the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest Jesus set them straight in Matthew 20:25-28: "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus appealed to the good sense of His disciples concerning a typical relationship between a master and his servants. Jesus said, "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" It was customary for servants to prepare for their master, and after serving the master the servants would eat. It was no badge of honour for a servant to serve his master, for it was his duty to do so! Servants of God ought not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought because we are responsible to obey God, to love and serve others. It is what we have been saved by grace to do! If God is our King, as His loyal subject we should serve Him.
God is in the business of blowing minds, and I love it when God shocks me with a verse I didn't notice before. The verse which shocked me was one that reversed this natural order of things. Jesus told His disciples to be free of worldly entanglements and to be ready for Him and in Luke 12:35-37 said, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them." Isn't verse 37 astounding? For the servants who are faithful and ready, the master will gird himself, have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them! The servants will be served by the master! This reminded me of the amazing thing Jesus did after the Last Supper before going to the cross. He directed His disciples to prepare for the Passover meal, and after the meal was over stripped down, put a towel around his waist, and washed all the disciples' feet. It made me think at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Jesus will not remain seated on His rightful throne, but will serve His servants, and such grace is impossible for me to grasp fully.
God is a glorious King, and He gives us grace upon grace. The Saviour who insisted John baptise Him to "fulfill all righteousness" and washes feet is the God we are to worship and emulate. He delights to humble Himself and serve, and what a joy it is to follow in His footsteps as led by the Spirit. Greatness in God's kingdom is not earned but marked by humility, submission, and obedience to God and others. When the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest Jesus set them straight in Matthew 20:25-28: "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
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