Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. As we gather here today, we are united by a common purpose, a shared faith, and a mutual love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here to learn, to grow, to worship, and to draw closer to the heart of God. We are here to become more like Jesus, to reflect His love, His grace, and His humility in our daily lives.

Today, we are going to focus on a particular aspect of Jesus' character that is not only inspiring but also challenging. It's an aspect that is often overlooked, yet it is at the very core of who Jesus is and what He represents. It's the aspect of humility, as embodied in His role as a servant.

Let's turn our hearts and minds to the book of Philippians, specifically Philippians 2:6-7. As we read these verses, let's allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us, to illuminate the words, and to reveal the depth of Jesus' humility and servanthood.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:6-7 (NIV)

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

These verses paint a vivid picture of Jesus' humility. He, who was in the very nature God, did not cling to His divine status. Instead, He chose to become a servant, to take on human likeness, to live among us, and to serve us. This is the humility of Jesus. This is the servanthood of our Savior.

Before we continue, let's bow our heads and hearts in prayer.

Opening Prayer:

"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather together in Your name, to worship You, and to learn from Your Word. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to the message You have for us today. Help us to understand and appreciate the humility of Jesus, and inspire us to follow His example in our own lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Now, imagine for a moment that you are holding a priceless diamond. This diamond is perfect in every way. It's flawless, it's beautiful, and it's incredibly valuable. But instead of keeping this diamond in a safe or displaying it in a museum, you decide to bury it in the dirt. You take this perfect, priceless diamond and you hide it in the ground, where it's covered in mud and grime.

This is a picture of what Jesus did. He, being in very nature God, was the perfect, priceless diamond. But He chose to bury Himself in the dirt of our world. He chose to cover Himself in the mud and grime of our sin. He chose to become a servant, to live among us, and to serve us. This is the humility of Jesus. This is the servanthood of our Savior.

As we continue with our service today, let's keep this image in mind. Let's remember the humility of Jesus, the priceless diamond who chose to become a servant. And let's strive to follow His example in our own lives.

Jesus, Our Ultimate Example of Servanthood

Jesus, our Savior, our Redeemer, our King, chose to become a servant. He, who is God, did not cling to His divine status. Instead, He willingly took on the nature of a servant. He became human, just like us. This is the heart of our faith, the cornerstone of our belief. It's a truth that's both simple and yet so incredibly profound.

Now, let's look at this idea of Jesus as a servant.

Firstly, Jesus didn't just become a servant; He took on the very nature of a servant. He didn't just play a role or put on a show. He became a servant in the deepest sense of the word. He washed the feet of His disciples, a task reserved for the lowest of servants. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the broken-hearted. He served others with a heart full of love and compassion.

The Greek word used for servant in this passage is "doulos," which means a slave or a bond-servant. It's a term that implies complete submission and obedience. This is the kind of servant Jesus chose to be. He submitted Himself completely to the will of the Father. He obeyed even unto death, death on a cross.

Theologian A.W. Tozer once said, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." Jesus, our great example, was deeply hurt. He suffered and died for us. But through His suffering, He brought great blessing to us. He brought us salvation, redemption, and eternal life.

Secondly, Jesus didn't use His divine status for His own advantage. He didn't use it to gain wealth, power, or prestige. Instead, He used it to serve others. He used it to heal, to teach, to comfort, and to save. He used His divine power not for His own benefit, but for the benefit of others.

Lastly, Jesus became human. He didn't just appear as a human; He became fully human. He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, and pain. He experienced joy, sorrow, anger, and love. He experienced life as we experience it. And yet, He remained without sin. He lived a perfect life so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus, our ultimate example, shows us what it truly means to be a servant. He shows us that true greatness comes not from power or prestige, but from serving others with love and humility. He shows us that to follow Him means to take up our cross daily, to deny ourselves, and to serve others just as He did.

So, let's strive to follow His example. Let's strive to be servants, just as He was a servant. Let's strive to love and serve others with the same humility, compassion, and selflessness that He showed us. For in doing so, we become more like Him, our Savior, our Redeemer, our King, and our ultimate example of servanthood.

Jesus, Our Ultimate Example of Servanthood

Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:6-7 (NIV)

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings, chose to become a servant. He chose to step down from His heavenly throne, to live among us, to serve us. He is our ultimate example of servanthood.

Firstly, let's look at Jesus' choice. He chose to become a servant. He didn't have to. He could have stayed in heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. But He chose to come down to earth, to live among us, to serve us. He chose to put our needs above His own. He chose to give up His rights, His privileges, His status, to become a servant. This is the heart of a servant - to put others before oneself, to choose to serve rather than to be served.

Secondly, let's look at Jesus' attitude. He didn't grumble or complain about becoming a servant. He didn't feel sorry for Himself. He didn't think it was beneath Him. Instead, He embraced it. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was humble, obedient, and willing to serve. This is the attitude of a servant - to be humble, to be obedient, to be willing to serve.

Thirdly, let's look at Jesus' actions. He didn't just talk about being a servant, He showed it. He washed His disciples' feet. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He taught with compassion. He loved unconditionally. He gave His life for us. This is the action of a servant - to serve, to love, to give.

Now, let's turn our attention to another New Testament scripture that echoes this theme. In Mark 10:45 (NIV), it says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Here, Jesus Himself is speaking, reiterating His mission to serve and to give His life for us. This scripture further underscores Jesus' role as our ultimate example of servanthood.

Fourthly, let's consider Jesus' sacrifice. He didn't just serve in small ways. He gave His very life for us. He paid the ultimate price. He became the ransom for our sins. He died so that we could live. This is the sacrifice of a servant - to give, even to the point of death.

Lastly, let's consider Jesus' legacy. He didn't just serve and then disappear. He left a lasting impact. He changed lives. He transformed hearts. He set an example for us to follow. He showed us what it means to be a servant. This is the legacy of a servant - to leave a lasting impact, to set an example, to inspire others to serve.

In conclusion, Jesus is our ultimate example of servanthood. He chose to become a servant. He had the right attitude. He served with actions, not just words. He made the ultimate sacrifice. And He left a lasting legacy. Let us strive to follow His example, to become servants in our own lives, to put others before ourselves, to serve with humility and love, and to leave a lasting impact.

Jesus' Humility in His Sacrifice

When we think about the life of Jesus, we often marvel at His miracles, His teachings, and His resurrection. But there's another aspect of His life that we should not overlook, and that is His humility. Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, chose to humble Himself and become a servant. He didn't just talk about humility; He lived it. He didn't just preach about servanthood; He embodied it.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, gives us a vivid picture of Jesus' humility. He writes, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-7).

Now, let's unpack this a bit.

Firstly, Jesus, though He was God, did not cling to His divine rights and privileges. He did not use His divine status for His own advantage. Instead, He willingly laid aside His divine prerogatives and chose to become a servant. This is a remarkable demonstration of humility. It's like a king choosing to become a commoner, a master choosing to become a servant. This is not something we often see in our world today, where people strive for power, prestige, and position. But Jesus turned the world's values upside down. He showed us that true greatness is found in servanthood, not in lordship.

Secondly, Jesus took on human nature. He became one of us. He experienced our joys and sorrows, our temptations and trials, our hopes and fears. He knows what it's like to be human. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because He has been there. He is not a distant God who is detached from our experiences. He is a God who is intimately acquainted with our struggles.

In the words of A.W. Tozer, "Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you most." Jesus' humility led Him to identify with us in our humanity. His love for us compelled Him to become one of us.

Lastly, Jesus, in His humility, became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. He didn't just become a servant; He became a suffering servant. He didn't just become human; He became a crucified human. He didn't just identify with us in our humanity; He identified with us in our suffering and death.

This is the ultimate demonstration of humility. It's one thing to become a servant; it's another thing to become a suffering servant. It's one thing to become human; it's another thing to become a crucified human. Jesus' humility led Him to the cross. His love for us led Him to give His life for us.

So, as we reflect on Jesus' humility, let's not just admire it; let's imitate it. Let's not just talk about it; let's live it. Let's not just preach about servanthood; let's practice it. Because in the end, the way of Jesus is the way of humility, the way of servanthood, the way of love.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close on our time together, let's reflect on the beautiful, humble example of Jesus Christ as depicted in Philippians 2:6-7. Jesus, who was in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant.

This is the Jesus we follow. This is the Jesus we love. This is the Jesus we strive to emulate in our daily lives.

In the coming week, let's remember the humility of Jesus. Let's remember His servant's heart. When we're tempted to put ourselves first, let's remember Jesus. When we're tempted to seek our own advantage, let's remember Jesus. When we're tempted to hold onto our rights and privileges, let's remember Jesus.

Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, became a servant for our sake. He put aside His divine rights and privileges to serve us. He put us first. He put our needs before His own. He put our salvation before His comfort.

So, in the coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to put others first. Let's strive to serve rather than be served. Let's strive to love as Jesus loved. Let's strive to live as Jesus lived.

And as we strive to be more like Jesus, let's remember that we're not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have the Word of God to instruct us. We have the community of believers to support us.

So, let's encourage one another in this journey. Let's spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let's remind one another of the humble, servant-hearted example of Jesus.

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