Jesus Christ

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Jesus The Servant And Our Role As A Servant

The Word Servant
The Status Of Servants
The Ultimate Servant
The First Will Be Last
From Servants To Friends
The Servant Song
The Preparation
Called Of God
The Least, The Last And The Lost

The Holy Spirit And Power
Not A Man Pleaser
Loving But Firm
Suffering Love
Never Give Up
God’s Sustaining Grace
The Servant's Service And Sacrifice
Feet Washing

The Word Servant

In the West many would say that servant hood is out of date, and only the very rich and famous have people serving them constantly.

In Victorian England, a vast population of citizens were employed as servants, maids and butlers; some were treated well and others were treated poorly. Generally speaking servants were looked upon simply as people employed to undertake a task. But each believer is called to be a servant, and God’s view of a Christian servant is very different from that of man’s view.

The late nineteenth century missionary C.T. Studd, who gave up his fame as a cricketer and a huge inheritance once said, “I’d far sooner save one soul than be Queen Victoria.” Bear in mind that she was the most powerful person in the world in her day (as the British Empire was at its peak), yet C.T. left his familiar surroundings and comfortable lifestyle to serve the people of China, India and finally Africa - he gave his life for others in the cause of Christ.

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The Status Of Servants

The role of a servant in the nineteenth century was not necessarily a demeaning one. They could be the chief butler to a member of nobility or even royalty, which would make their position of very high standing in comparison to some.

In the Bible, Nehemiah was the cupbearer of the world ruler of his day and this position helped him to get the job of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem - with much divine and natural favour from those in power.

In late nineteenth century Russia, the fatter a servant was the greater social standing and seemingly apparent wealth his master had. If the master could afford to overfeed his servant, then he himself must have extravagant wealth and lived an opulent life.

Many countries today call their chief political leader ‘First Minister’ (which literally means first servant) or ‘Prime Minister.’ Any true leader will serve the people, whether it is a nation or an organisation. The leader is not to be a dictator or a tyrannical ruler, but one who wants the best for the people and is willing to make hard decisions when the need arises. In God’s eyes those who are ‘first’ in the kingdom are not those who have the greatest number of servants, but those who serve the greatest number.

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The Ultimate Servant

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the ultimate servant. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to reconcile man back to God. Even as a great teacher with many followers, He was still prepared to take off His outer garment and to wash His closest disciples' feet, which was a shock to them all.

Often the disciples wanted to know “Who is the greatest?” or “Can we sit on your left and right hand in heaven?” Humility was not on their lips and so not in their hearts.

Jesus humbled Himself and gave up His power as the Son of God and came to earth in human form; He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary’s womb. He left His familiar surroundings of heaven, to come and identify with fallen man.

A real servant will never ask his master “What can you do for me?” but “What can I do for you?” In the army there is a common saying that when the superior officer says to his subordinate “When I say jump, you jump. And when you are half way up you say, “How high?”” The higher rank calls the shots and not the other way round. Those of us who have enlisted into God’s army need to remember this; God is in charge and we must obey His call even if we have to go over the top and into battle with no guarantee of a safe return.

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The First Will Be Last

Man often looks at power and prestige but in unable to relate to the idea of servant hood. The common perception is; to get to the top is to step on those who are beneath you. It’s a dog eat dog world mentality; but this is not God’s way. ‘The first will be last and the last will be first.’

Often God’s way does not appear logical; but as He is God then He must know the best way- we just have to follow. Jesus trod the path of humility and servant hood and achieved the greatest act the world has ever seen. He lived for God’s ‘will to be done…here on earth as it is in heaven.’ Jesus lived, and then died for sinful mankind upon the cruel agonizing cross of Calvary and after three days rose again, gloriously and triumphantly. Jesus bridged the gap between fallen man and God, so that ‘whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

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From Servants To Friends

Servant hood like many Christian principles such as sacrifice, self-control, commitment to God and full surrender may at first appear unappealing, and perhaps that is only natural at first sight. But if Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all!

If we desire to become real disciples and servants of God, then we have to abide and play by His rules and not our own. Jesus never lost sight of where He came from and where He was heading and neither must we.

Jesus is the only perfect Servant and He was not forced into that role- it was one He freely chose. We too like Abraham, have that choice. Abraham was a servant of God due to his obedience, sacrifice and loyal service to the Master and later he was called a ‘friend of God’ Isaiah 41:8. Likewise the twelve disciples of Jesus, who had been enrolled in Jesus’ college of everyday life, graduated from being servants to friends due to their obedience, John 15:14-15.

If we love Jesus then naturally we will want to obey Him, John 14:15, 24. We know and realise that without Him, we can do nothing of eternal value, and our desire needs to be, to do the will of our heavenly Father, John 5:19, 30.

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The Servant Song

The theme of Isaiah is servant hood as it applies to God’s people. Isaiah troubles to answer this question, ‘How can a sinful people become God’s servants?’ Israel was supposed to be a ‘Light to the gentiles’ Genesis 12:1-3 and Isaiah 41:8-10, but at times seemed worse than those who once possessed the land of Canaan.

In prophesying the coming of Jesus Christ, Isaiah reveals what will happen to Him and His servant life Isaiah 42:1-4, Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 50:4-9 and Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

The promised Messiah did arrive in the person of Jesus. It was the early believers who were responsible to tell the world that we are ‘Justified by faith’ and the early servant disciples went forth in obedience to the great commission. They followed the example of Jesus, the first great servant.

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The Preparation

No one should be born into the life of servant hood - it is something that has to be agreed to, and worked towards - and the preparation is often done in obscurity.

The best leaders are those who have learnt to serve others before they have come to prominence. Jesus had thirty years of training and preparation; Moses spent the best part of forty years on the backside of the desert before he was able to lead Israel into freedom. David the shepherd boy spent years with the flock before becoming King and even when Samuel had anointed him as a young man, he still looked after the sheep before being promoted to serve at the court of King Saul.

Elisha served the prophet Elijah for twelve years before he was released with power and an intense anointing. “Excellence in any department can be attained only by the labour of a lifetime; it is not to be purchased at a lesser price” (Samuel Johnson, lexicographer, 1709-1784).

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Called Of God

A true servant is not self imposing or self promoting, but is called and commended by God and approved of Him to do certain works in arenas which have been pre-planned by Himself, 2 Corinthians 10:18 and Ephesians 2:10.

True servants will want to do the will of His Father and the hidden years will serve to give them a better foothold on the Rock of Christ. When criticism comes, they will be able to stand strong, because they delight to do His will.

Jesus was often criticised by the religious rulers of the day for the methods that he used and even for the day of the week in which he performed-changing miracles. The rulers wanted to know what right he had to do these works. They scoffed at his humble upbringing and deemed him uneducated, but as always, the common people heard Him gladly.

Jesus did not come to those who thought that they were ok, but He came to those who knew that they were not. Jesus said “The healthy do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

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