Servant

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26-28).

James and John, through their mother, Salome, asked Jesus to put them in positions of honor and authority in His Kingdom. The other disciples, who were standing close by, became indignant of the two, but Jesus took the occasion to address and correct the thinking of all the disciples.

When Jesus said (v.25), You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them, He was pointing out to them, and to us, that the attitude and position of the follower of Jesus Christ is not that of the non-Christian. Christians (believers) are not to act like Gentiles (non-believers). Christians are not to be lords of authority over each other or over anyone else. Christians are to be servants.

The word ‘servant’ has negative connotations to us today. The original Greek word was secular, referring to a person who did menial tasks at the bidding of his/her master. It was not necessarily a term of dishonor, but rather described the lowest level of hired help. Quite often this role needed little training or skill, but required constant oversight.

Jesus elevated the term ‘servant’ and gave it a sense of honor and dignity. In the church such a person is called a ‘deacon’. It describes a most faithful and honored disciple. It best reflects a humble and selfless person who seeks to minister to others not out of compulsion, but out of desire to honor the Lord. A true servant of the Lord is willing to sacrifice him/herself for the sake of others in the name of Jesus. 

. . . Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Jesus sets the standard and give the example of what a true servant is in His Kingdom. He came not only to serve His heavenly Father and to do His will, He also came to serve mankind by ministering to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs, and by giving His life a sacrifice for our salvation. He did so willingly and out of a genuine love for others. But I am among you as the one who serves, Jesus said in Luke 22:27. So may out attitude and actions be as followers of Jesus Christ.

“Lord Jesus, may my life reflect the desire to serve You by serving others. And may that desire be borne out of my love for You and for those whom You came to save. To Your praise and glory I pray, Amen.”

Pastor