What does it mean to be a servant?
Luke 22:24-30
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
What does it mean to be a servant in God’s kingdom? Jesus exemplifies this perfectly. It is not false humility or shying away from leading and speaking with authority. Jesus knows exactly who He is – the Son of the living God, God in human form. And it is from this position of strength that He serves. He acts, never with anything to prove, but always with the person He is serving in mind.
In fact, this passage occurs right before Jesus serves humanity by dying a humiliating death on a cross. He knew the power at his fingertips, the angels He could have called to save him, to prove to the mockers who He was. But He didn’t. He remained silent before the mockers and stayed on that cross dying, because He knew we needed salvation, and only He could do it.
Lord thank you that you are the ultimate servant King. Please help us to serve the way you did on earth, Jesus – not thinking of ourselves, not seeking greatness/accolades, but instead always thinking of the person/people we are serving.
Written by Rhiannon Mellor