the high place of serving

The disciples of Jesus were ordinary Jewish men who were called to follow an extraordinary man.  One day a fisherman the next day a fisher of men.  These men followed Jesus in the most intensive three-year training plan for changing the world that has ever been.  Their training consisted of observation, listening, and doing hands-on assignments that dealt with people.  There were the Jewish religious leaders, there was the woman at the well, and the one caught in adultery, there were tax collectors, lepers, blind men, demon possessed people, crowds of people wanting to see Jesus do a miraculous work, all of which these ordinary men experienced God and His work through the One called Jesus.  The amazing thing about these men is they had to learn and grow to become the chosen instruments Jesus would use to carry the Gospel to the lost world.  They struggled with issues in life as they walked with Jesus.  What they truly believed about God was challenged and tested. We are blessed to see their journey with Jesus, and we are wise if we learn with them as we read and study the Gospels.

One day the mother of two of the disciples along with the disciples approached Jesus with a request.  A request that seemed out of place for these men in training as world changers.  Interestingly, their mother made the request for the two disciples to sit at Jesus right and his left in His Kingdom.  Jesus response queried whether they would endure and drink the cup Jesus was going to drink.  Jesus was speaking of the suffering and death He was about to experience.  The disciples said they were able to do so.  Jesus affirmed that indeed they would drink the cup, but it was not His place to give such a request, because His Father would determine those things.  The other disciples were put out by the request and resented the prideful request of the two.  Jesus called them together for another training session.  Here is the lesson:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.  It must not be like that among you.  On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 It was not long after this that Jesus taught them the same truth and practice with the towel and the basin.  Believers, when in the church and when outside of the church, are not to seek to be served by others, they are not to let pride drive them to do so, rather they are in humility to serve others.  They are to be like Jesus.  Titles, positions, authority never outrank humble servitude, especially when servitude brings glory to Jesus.  I am not looking to have some eternal position of honor in heaven, you probably are not either, it will be more than enough to join all those who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord around the throne to worship the One, who gave His life as a ransom for many.  So, I’ll join you in serving, just like Jesus served!  


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