Oxymorons are phrases that sound self-contradicting. Through the years, people have made lists of them. Maybe you’ve heard some…
1. Act naturally
2. Airline Food
3. Almost exactly
4. Alone together
5. Clearly misunderstood
6. Found missing
7. Government organization
8. New York culture
9. Plastic glasses
10. Pretty ugly
11. Sanitary landfill
12. Small crowd
13. Temporary tax increase
14. Tight slacks
15. Jumbo shrimp
The idea we’re going to look at this morning is regarded by many people to be an oxymoron: the idea of becoming great by being a servant. Greatness by servanthood?
Let’s face it, as a general rule, our world just don’t applaud servants. Not many kids grow up with aspirations of becoming great servants. CEOs with lots of money, sports figures with lots of recognition, or politicians with lots of power maybe, but not servants.
We suffer from a serving deficit in our world. Sure, the “service industry” has grown like crazy, but the point of it is to make money, not just to serve.
Ill - In the movie The Poseidon Adventure, the ocean liner S.S. Poseidon is on the open sea when it hits a huge storm. Lights go out, smoke pours into rooms and, amid all the confusion, the ship capsizes.
Because of the air trapped inside it floats upside down. But in the confusion, the passengers can't figure out what's going on. They scramble, mostly following the steps to the top deck. The problem is, the top deck is now 100 feet under water. In trying to get to the top of the ship, they drown.
The only survivors are the few who do what doesn't make sense. They do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and climb up into the dark belly of the ship until they reach the hull. Rescuers hear them and cut them free.
Servanthood is like that. It doesn’t make sense that the way to the top is through the bottom.
So the average person crashes on ahead.
Until, come mid-life crisis time, some 45 year old man realizes his climb up the ladder has been on a ladder that’s leaning against the wrong wall.
Just like other trends, this servant deficit affects the Church as well. We’re afraid of outright, unreciprocated service just for the sake of serving. It’s reflected by the number of people who hold back from serving in the church. It’s also reflected by our tendency as a congregation to serve within the church but to not direct that service to people outside. It’s easy to serve someone you’ve known for years and who has helped you at the times when you needed it. But what about the guy you don’t know, the family who probably won’t return a favor, the total stranger who needs a hand with something? How close are we to the bulls-eye on this one?
Good news! The fine art of achieving greatness through serving has been mastered before.
It’s easy for me to get up this morning and say, “We all need to do better at this.” It’s another thing to actually show how it’s done. But that’s exactly what God has done.
If I could put together a drama to show us how to do this, I’d present it in 3 scenes that would all teach the same things. Each scene would highlight a different person’s life from Scripture. The first scene would feature John the Baptist…
I. John the Baptist
John had the ears of people. Crowds were coming to hear him speak and to be baptized by him. They were beginning to wonder if he might even be he Messiah. He could have run with that ball. He could have been great. Instead he chose the more authentic path to greatness.
The scene would open with the hairy, unconventional man in the desert. Some of his loyal followers have just brought him a concern. “John! The One you’ve been telling about – the One you baptized – He’s started a following. People are going to Him now instead of to you!” But John would clearly say that to be great you must...
1. Make it your goal to serve *Jn 3:27-30
-John the Baptist had understood the purpose of his life. It wasn’t to gain a following for himself. It wasn’t to become a household name in the first century. It was to just be a servant – to prepare the way for Jesus’ work.
So, when people come to him with the question of where to place their loyalty, John’s pretty clear in his answer:
Luke 3:16 "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John won no awards. His life wasn’t glamorous. He lived in the desert. He wore itchy clothes. His diet left a lot to be desired. And in the end, he was beheaded by an angry, shallow king because John had reproved him for his unlawful marriage.
His life’s work didn’t get John anywhere great in the world’s eyes. He served without the hopes for payment. He simply made it his goal to serve the Lord.
Do you want to achieve real greatness? John would tell you, “make it your goal to serve.” Then he would tell you to…
2. Realize the outcome of service is real greatness
Oh, really? And just who are you to tell us about achieving real greatness, John?
Matthew 11:11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
there has not risen anyone greater -- When Jesus says that about someone, I listen, and my eyes turn to such a man, because I’m interested in being regarded the same way. Are you? And notice, Jesus says that to be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven makes someone even greater!
Why? Because of this jumbo shrimp thing; because the result of humble service is real greatness.
While the camera was still in this scene, John would also tell us to …
3. Follow the example of Jesus
Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. John knew that Jesus had nothing from which to repent; no sin that He needed forgiven. John said, “I’m the one that needs to be baptized here!” And Jesus tells him this is the right thing to do “to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, this wasn’t a necessary thing – it was “fitting.” It was “proper.” it was an example thing.
Jesus would walk 50 miles or so, would humble Himself, would even convince John to baptize him when Jesus didn’t need to repent or be forgiven. It wasn’t because Jesus needed something. It was for John, for the people who saw it, and for you and me.
And John participated in it.
How far out of your way would you go for the sake of someone else? How far would you walk? How much would you do that wasn’t necessary for you personally, but a help to others – just for the sake of being an example? That’s servanthood.
Follow the example of Jesus, John would tell us. Look at the Lamb, and follow Him.
II. James, John, and Mom
The 2nd scene of this drama I would write would take place later, during the ministry of Jesus in Matthew 20. It’s an almost humorous scene. James and John are after greatness. They want to really “be somebody” in the Kingdom. What better way to get there than to have Jesus reserve the seats next to Him in the Kingdom? Matthew records how Mom must think that’s a great idea too, and the 3 of them approach Jesus. “Can we have the seats next to you in heaven?”
It was a question of greatness – a desire for first place.
James, John, and their mom are a negative example. They weren’t seeking real greatness by being servants, but the words that Jesus speaks after this tell us the same thing as scene one. This time, Jesus would urge you:
1. Make it your goal to serve
*Mt 20:24-28
-“Lord it over” – means to subdue someone, like when a wrestler overpowers someone. Jesus tells the 12 “this isn’t the way you will treat each other.”
-“exercise authority” – speaks of someone having a position and using it over someone else. This is typical of the way the world works. You work hard, you make the right moves, you pull the right strings, until you finally get into a position where you have people under you to boss around. Jesus says, “it isn’t this way among you.”
This is isn’t the way to greatness. Make it your goal to serve. Don’t jockey for position. Don’t be the person who yells, “I get to ride shotgun!” Don’t drop names and rub elbows so that people will look up to you. Servants who are down serving aren’t expecting anyone to look up to them. Assume the position of a servant.
I know this doesn’t fit the world’s mold. I know this isn’t the goal of most people you’re around. It sure wasn’t the mold of society in Jesus’ day. But Jesus says your life’s priorities need to include the goal of being a servant. Jesus also would have us…
2. Realize the outcome of service is real greatness
whoever wants to become great, whoever wants to be first, must be your servant, your slave.
Mark records another time when the 12 were fighting over who was the greatest. Jesus said the same words then too. And then He took a little child in His arms and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Hey! You want to roll out the red carpet for God? Sign up to help in the nursery or Jr. Church!
There’s something great about serving. In fact, that’s where greatness begins.
3. Follow the example of Jesus
Jesus also points us to His example.
We inaugurated a new president yesterday. There were a lot of looks back to past speeches. One line that stands out was from JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
Jesus pointed this out almost 20 centuries before: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
The very fact that Jesus came to earth is a lesson in this art of greatness through servanthood. Paul wrote it this way:
Philippians 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
(that’s the servant part – now listen to what follows)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
If you ever question that the way to true greatness is through servanthood, restudy the life of Jesus and then ask it again.
In fact, in this drama I would write, the 3rd scene would feature…
III. Jesus
If the words of John the Baptist, and the words of Jesus wouldn’t be enough, then maybe this final scene would. In fact, this lesson that Jesus had been attempting to teach the 12 all the time they followed Him still hadn’t been learned.
The scene is the Last Supper. It’s hours before Jesus is to be crucified – and the 12 who’ve been hearing Jesus’ words about greatness through servanthood all along are arguing - over who’s the greatest.
Sometimes where words don’t sink in, actions do.
Ill- What if I were to tell you this morning that, during Sunday School, some of the staff went out in the parking lot and we washed windshields on a bunch of your cars? Would my words about being a servant be more credible?
Our actions say a lot. Jesus’ did.
*Jn 13:1-11
This 3rd scene, Jesus is saying the same thing again:
1. Make it your goal to serve – Jesus did
All those times before Jesus had told the disciples that He was here to serve, but it never quite sank in. Finally, they’re about to realize His whole purpose in coming to earth was for the sake of others. He came to provide the ultimate service – to give Himself up as a ransom for the sake of others.
By stooping to wash the feet of 11 faithful followers and Judas who was betraying Him, Jesus was saying once more: Make it your goal to serve.
Ill - Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated orchestra conductor, was once asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?"
Without a moment's hesitation he said, "Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that's a problem! And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."
There’s a need in the Kingdom for some 2nd fiddles. Will you make it your goal to serve? Jesus did.
Jesus was also saying we should
2. Realize the outcome of service is real greatness – Jesus is
-Peter had never realized that service was the way to greatness. It was Peter who thought it was out of line for Jesus to talk about getting arrested and put to death. It was Peter who said, “I’ll never deny You, Lord, even if I have to die for You!” It was Peter who drew a sword and started swinging in the Garden of Gethsemane.
No, the idea of his leader being pushed around just didn’t fit his way of thinking. So, it doesn’t surprise me when it’s Peter who resists having his Master take the role of a humbled servant who washes feet. Later he’d understand. Later, the light would come on: the non-resistance; the cross; the whole idea of coming to earth in the first place – Jesus was here to serve, not to be served!
Wouldn’t you resist it? How hard it would be today to let Jesus stoop down at your feet to wash them! It’s expressed in a picture by Ron DiCianni called “The Servant” where some man in a position of power is reminded that greatness isn’t achieved by how many wheels you spin or how many people are under you, but rather by how well you serve.
The greatness of Jesus isn’t diminished by His position at the feet of His disciples. It just demonstrates what real greatness is about. But that scares us because to have a Master like that means we’ll have to be servants like that.
*13:12-17
Just like the other 2 scenes, Jesus is saying here to
3. Follow this perfect example
Do you hear the message of Jesus here? “Until you’re willing to accept that servanthood is part of the deal, you’ll have no part of me. My way is the way of serving. It’s what I came to do. It’s what I want you to do. Servanthood will be no stranger to My people. I have set the example for you. Follow it.”
There are 2 very practical arenas where this can be done:
One is right here in this church family. Typically, 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people. We’re fairly typical that way. What that means is people need to jump in with sleeves rolled up and serve. We’ll be having a ministry fair in April to help that happen. In the meantime, determine that you’re going to pursue greatness by serving here in the Body.
The other area is “out there.” If you’re listening carefully, you know that the non-Christian world doesn’t have a very positive concept of what it means to be a Christian. In their eyes, we’re bigoted and self-serving. I know we’ve had a lot of unwanted help getting that image, but we’ve also allowed it to happen. We need to pursue greatness by serving, not just other Christians, but by serving people who aren’t Christians and who we don’t even know – service that will open their eyes and ears and hearts to Jesus.
If Jesus could get the point across to His disciples by washing their feet, imagine the point we could make in our community if we were to go out and wash – say, windshields -on peoples’ cars with no strings attached, just in the name of demonstrating God’s love in a practical way. Imagine the way peoples’ negative ideas about Christians would be completely disarmed if someone from “that church on 7th street” just gave them a hot coffee outside the grocery store and told them it was “just a way of showing God’s love with no strings attached. Have a nice day.” Those are just a couple of examples. You can think of more on your own.
Conclusion:
Toward the end of his life, Albert Einstein removed the portraits of two scientists--Newton and Maxwell--from his wall and replaced them with portraits of Gandhi and Schweitzer. He explained it was time to replace the image of success with the image of service.
How fitting it would be if the churches across the world would set up as the signs of their achievement the symbols of servanthood – the pitcher and the towel rather than the lights and the building.
The world isn’t looking into the church to see how successful it is. In fact, we’re not being successful by the world’s standards. But if the world can see in us the image of real service, then in the Kingdom we really will have succeeded, and in the world’s ears we’ll really have a hearing.
That’s the fine art – the fine art of becoming great by being small; of being more, by becoming less. Make it your goal to serve. Realize that the outcome is greatness, and follow the example of Jesus.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Ready to be blessed?…
