When I was a child, we pretended my younger sister was the princess, and I was the maid. I helped her get into her princess dress, brushed her hair, put on her crown and prepared her to go out, then waited for her to come back. For some reason, I was content to be her maid!
Being a servant is not usually very glamorous, right? It is also a lot of work to serve others, so I have not been quite so content to play the role of the “maid” since then! Instead, I have to confess that I actually often resent any unfair expectations of others on my time and energy, because the human response is to protect one’s self from being depleted by the needs and demands of others.
Why did Jesus choose to come to serve, and not be served? He definitely set a great example for his disciples of putting others first! But he had an overall purpose, to show the love of God the Father towards mankind, a revolutionary love that would ultimately change the world.
In a culture where servants were despised and mistreated, Jesus asked his disciples not to be like the Gentiles, who liked to lord it over others, using their authority to put others down, but to lay down their rights, and become slaves to everyone. The human spirit resists our doing this, but people can’t help but be influenced when God’s people become servant-hearted.
Father God, your love for the world and its people is beyond our human comprehension. Thank you that Jesus set an example for us to follow that is countercultural but redemptive in its scope. Empower us through your Holy Spirit to do the same. Amen.
For Today: Think about what it would mean to become a “ransom” for others, like Jesus did, to trade yourself for another’s well being. Jesus felt it was worth it to give up all of his rights in order to bring more people into God’s kingdom. How willing are you to do this?
Photo Credit: Cdoncel