Post by Micheal on Jul 24, 2007 6:06:55 GMT -6
Mark 10:44, "...And whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all."
Today I am going to talk about being a servant. If there is one thing that christians are supposed to do, it is serve others. In Mark 10: 35-45, Christ goes over this with his disciples. James and John come up to him and ask him a question. "In your kingdom can we sit at the places of honor beside you, one at your right and the other at your left?" Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking? Can you possibly handle what must happen to me?" They answered that they could. "Indeed you shall", replied Christ, "Still, it is not for me to say who sits next to me, that is up to the Father."
So right away Christ establishes that even he is a servant of God. He acknowledges that God makes the ultimate decisions. Then the other ten disciples found out what James and John had asked and got ticked off. How dare those two think that they can be elevated above the rest of them, right? But then Jesus busts in and sets them all straight.
"Listen up," he says, "In this world, leaders are cruel and hold their leadership over their servants. But among you it should be different. Leaders must serve others and whoever wants to be greatest must serve everyone."* "For even I, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many."
And when Jesus and his disciples were getting ready to eat the Last Supper, Christ took the time out to set an example and wash their feet. John 13:14 says, "An since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet." Since Christ has set an example for us, we ought to follow that example. We need to serve others. The Word says in another place, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted", "The Lord sets himself against the proud, but he watches over the humble", "So humble yourself before the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee."
The Bible is full of verses that tell us to humble ourselves and serve. So now, go forth and do it.
*I was paraphrasing here. I don't know if that's actually how Jesus talks.
Today I am going to talk about being a servant. If there is one thing that christians are supposed to do, it is serve others. In Mark 10: 35-45, Christ goes over this with his disciples. James and John come up to him and ask him a question. "In your kingdom can we sit at the places of honor beside you, one at your right and the other at your left?" Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking? Can you possibly handle what must happen to me?" They answered that they could. "Indeed you shall", replied Christ, "Still, it is not for me to say who sits next to me, that is up to the Father."
So right away Christ establishes that even he is a servant of God. He acknowledges that God makes the ultimate decisions. Then the other ten disciples found out what James and John had asked and got ticked off. How dare those two think that they can be elevated above the rest of them, right? But then Jesus busts in and sets them all straight.
"Listen up," he says, "In this world, leaders are cruel and hold their leadership over their servants. But among you it should be different. Leaders must serve others and whoever wants to be greatest must serve everyone."* "For even I, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many."
And when Jesus and his disciples were getting ready to eat the Last Supper, Christ took the time out to set an example and wash their feet. John 13:14 says, "An since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet." Since Christ has set an example for us, we ought to follow that example. We need to serve others. The Word says in another place, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted", "The Lord sets himself against the proud, but he watches over the humble", "So humble yourself before the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee."
The Bible is full of verses that tell us to humble ourselves and serve. So now, go forth and do it.
*I was paraphrasing here. I don't know if that's actually how Jesus talks.