“I am among you as the one who serves.”
LUKE 22:27
The disciples watched him serve. They had a front row seat. But the example he showed them did not slow “trickle down.” Jesus, of course, was fully aware of how much they had to learn about serving, and one day he called them on it.
“What were you arguing about on the road?” Jesus asked.
They kept quiet because on the way they had argued
about who was the greatest.
Busted! Can’t you just feel that awkward silence, their eyes staring straight at the floor, while no one dares to answer?
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last,
and the servant of all.”
MARK 9:33-35
Then there was the time James and John pulled Jesus aside to vie for privileged positions.
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
MARK 10:41-45
This coming Sunday Rob Price will help us to think about the grace of serving. What is serving, and how does it honor the Lord? Is it even possible to be Christ-like without serving? What are hindrances to serving? And what can we expect will flow into our lives as we embrace this this habit of grace?
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5
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