Chapter Six - Jesus' Last Week in Jerusalem
`We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "anti the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
Mark 10:33-34
Not to Be Served, But to Serve
Jesus called them together and said, "Thu know that the 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 he your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to he served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.,"
Matthew 20:25-28
When you become a God-centered person through giving sacrificial service, you receive glory and service. The Bible even records that Jesus said, "The Son of man came not to be served but to serve." (Matt. 20:28) Is sacrificial service good? Is it easy to do? It is inevitable, almost like a test at school. No one likes tests, but at exam time students work hard, burning the midnight oil in order to prepare for the exam the following day. Even though they dislike it, people go through it because there is no choice. In a similar way, you have to go through sacrificial service. It is not easy.
The Road of God's Will
May 30, 1982
One thing Satan cannot do is become humble, for then he would no longer be Satan. Instead he is boastful and arrogant, trying to put himself up higher. Satan's barriers are those of self-centeredness, but going down low, in the other direction, requires the opposite qualities. Where a person puts himself in the humble position, Satan cannot defeat him. In the world of self-centeredness you cannot find the truth or true things. Truth comes from the other direction, where Satan has no defense, and that is where we go.
The Bible always taught this truth. This is why Jesus said that those who try to make themselves higher will go lower, and why he who loses his life for Jesus' sake will find it. It shows there are two ways of achieving the goal. The powers and principalities of the secular world lie in one direction, and because you cannot penetrate them, you have to go the other way. Once you know the secret, however, going down low is actually the easiest way.
Let Us Set the Record
October 12, 1980
Living A Life of Service
What did Jesus say to his disciples about serving and being served:
Matthew 20:25-28
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
How did Jesus exhibit his life through service:
• Served others with kindness and humility;
• Healed the sick, even those with leprosy;
• Cast out demons of those who were possessed;
• Showed kindness towards women, even the prostitutes and the adulterous;
• Gave hope to the hopeless;
• Washed his beloved disciples feet;
• Died a gruesome death on the cross and in the midst of that great suffering;
• He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive us.
Jesus showed us what real love and a servant's heart truly looks like.
What do the scriptures teach us about living a life of service:
• Isaiah 58:10
“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday,”
• Mark 9:34-35
The disciples had been traveling and came to Capernaum. On their way, they were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus questioned as to why they were arguing and all were quiet.
35) Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
• John 13:14-16
Jesus had just finished washing the disciples’ feet and had asked them if they understood what he had just done for them.
14) Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
15) I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16) I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Jesus goes on to tell them that because they now know these things, they will be blessed if they do them. They will be blessed if they serve one another.
• Galatians 5:13-14 Paul speaking to the church in Galatia
13) You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.
14) The entire law is summed up in a single command. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Philippians 2:4-5,7 Paul again speaking to the church in the city of Philipi
4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
7) But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.
• 1 Peter 4:10–11
10) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
11) …If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
How can we learn from these scriptures and put into practice serving others.
• If a friend or family member is sick, go visit them with some nourishing food or just go by and show some love.
• Someone you know may be discouraged and having a hard time, offer to pray with them; offer to take them to lunch, go for a walk with them.
• In our communities, volunteer to distribute food to those in need, give time to help at a food bank; help at the senior center, participate in a clothing drive.
No comments:
Post a Comment