CHRIST CAME TO BE A SERVANT
MATTHEW 2:17-28
WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE STORY OF ADVENT, IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK AT THE LIFE OF JESUS AFTER HE WAS BORN. AS WE STUDY HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY WE WILL FIND PURPOSE FOR OUR OWN, BECAUSE AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE CHRIST IN US.
COLOSSIANS 1:24-29
NOW I REJOICE IN WHAT I AM SUFFERING FOR YOU, AND I FILL UP IN MY FLESH WHAT IS STILL LACKING IN REGARD TO CHRIST’S AFFLICTIONS, FOR THE SAKE OF HIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH. 25 I HAVE BECOME ITS SERVANT BY THE COMMISSION GOD GAVE ME TO PRESENT TO YOU THE WORD OF GOD IN ITS FULLNESS—26 THE MYSTERY THAT HAS BEEN KEPT HIDDEN FOR AGES AND GENERATIONS, BUT IS NOW DISCLOSED TO THE LORD’S PEOPLE. 27 TO THEM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO MAKE KNOWN AMONG THE GENTILES THE GLORIOUS RICHES OF THIS MYSTERY, WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.
28 HE IS THE ONE WE PROCLAIM, ADMONISHING AND TEACHING EVERYONE WITH ALL WISDOM, SO THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERYONE FULLY MATURE IN CHRIST. 29 TO THIS END I STRENUOUSLY CONTEND WITH ALL THE ENERGY CHRIST SO POWERFULLY WORKS IN ME.
PAUL IS TELLING THE PEOPLE OF COLOSSE THAT WE ARE TO BE SERVANTS FOR EACH OTHER. HE IS TELLING US THAT WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO THE GLORIOUS RICHES OF THE GOSPEL, AND THAT MYSTERY IS CHRIST IN YOU.
THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL IS NO MYSTERY TO THE CONVERTED. IT IS THOUGH TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST.
WE ARE TO PRESENT CHRIST, BECAUSE CHRIST IS IN US, AS IS THE SURE AND CERTAIN HOPE THAT EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IN IS GOING TO COME TO PASS.
WHEN WE LOVE SOMEONE, WE ALLOW THAT PERSON TO GO BEYOND A CASUAL RECOGNITION. PICTURE THE FRIENDS THAT HAVEN’T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR 25 YEARS. WHEN THEY ARE REUNITED FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE IS GREAT EXCITEMENT. THERE’S HUGGING, LAUGHING, AND DOING THINGS THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT SILLY, BUT YOU DON’T CARE BECAUSE INSIDE YOU ARE BURSTING WITH HAPPINESS.
AS CHRISTIANS THIS IS THE CHRIST WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SHOW TO OTHERS. I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT NOT EVERYDAY WILL BE A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE, AND ON THOSE DAYS WE EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE TO CARRY THE LOAD, BUT THIS SHOULD BE OUR CONSISTENT DESIRE.
THIS PASSAGE DEALS WITH WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE CHRIST IN YOU AND ANSWERS THE QUESTION TO SOME EXTENT AS TO WHY JESUS TOOK ON HUMAN FORM SO LONG AGO.
AS WE SERACH FOR THE MIND AND PURPOSE OF JESUS CHRIST, WE MAY BE IN FOR A REAL SHOCK. CHRIST IN US PROVIDES US WITH A SPIRITUAL NATURE THAT IS TOTALLY CONTRARY TO THE WORLDLY NATURE THAT IS AROUND US.
CHRIST LIVED TO BE A GIVER RATHER THAN A GETTER. HE LIVED FOR OTHERS RATHER THAN SEEKING HIS OWN PERSONAL HAPPINESS. HE LIVED TO SERVE RATHER THAN BE SERVED BY OTHERS. HE LIVED A LIFE OF SELF-DENIAL THAT HE MIGHT CHANNEL GOD’S LOVE TO US.
THE DIFFICULTY FOR US IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OLD NATURE THAT WE WANT TO HOLD ONTO. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS ANGER, TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REPAY HURT WITH HURT, INSULT WITH INSULT. THE THING THAT REALLY IS ANNOYING IS THAT IT IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE, AT ALL TIMES, WHETHER OR NOT TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
EPHESIANS 4:26-27: “IN YOUR ANGER DO NOT SIN”: DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN WHILE YOU ARE STILL ANGRY, 27 AND DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD.
PAUL IS NOT LETTING THE EPHESIANS OR US OFF THE HOOK HERE. HE ADMITS THAT WE CAN GET ANGRY, BUT HE ALSO TEACHES US THAT WE CAN CONTROL OUR RESPONSE TO THAT ANGER. SATAN CAN PACKAGE IT UP IN VERY NICE WAYS, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS STILL OURS TO BEHAVE IN AN APPROPRIATE FASHION.
THE DISCIPLES, IN OUR PASSAGE ARE LOOKING FOR POWERFUL POSITIONS IN JESUS’ KINGDOM. THEY BELIEVE HE IS GOING TO SET IT UP HERE ON EARTH AT THAT TIME, AND THEY ALL WANTED A PROMINENT PLACE.
JESUS’ RESPONSE BRINGS US BACK TO HIS MISSION AND WHAT OURS SHOULD BE. LETS GO TO OUR PASSAGE NOW.
JESUS IN VERSES 17-19 IS ONCE AGAIN PROCLAIMING THE FACT THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE. HE GOES TO GREAT PAIN TO INDICATE THE TERRIBLE TORTUROUS WAY THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE.
I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IT PUZZLING THAT THE DISCIPLES WOULD WANT A PLACE OF PREDOMINANCE, IN A KINGDOM WHOSE LEADER HAD JUST PROCLAIMED TO ALL THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE A HORRIFYING DEATH. THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT STRANGES TO CRUCIFIXION AND TORTURE OF THE ROMANS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES.
WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO BE PLACED IN A POSITION THAT WOULD NATURALLY DRAW ATTENTION TO THEM FROM THE ROMANS AND THE JEWISH LEADERS? IF THEY WERE GOING TO KILL JESUS, WHY NOT THEM AS WELL AND SEEK TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT OF THE NEW GROUP ALTOGETHER.
THIS HAPPENS TO THE DISCIPLES QUITE FREQUENTLY AT THIS POINT IN THEIR MATURING PROCESS. THEY HEAR THE LORD SPEAKING OF HIS DEATH, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT PRODUCES NO SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE FROM THEM. I CAN’T FIGURE OUT IF ITS THAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS TRYING TO TELL THEM, OR THAT THEY DON’T BELIEVE WHAT HE IS SAYING.
WHAT IS FOR CERTAIN IS THAT THE DISCIPLES HAD A MISTAKEN NOTION AS TO WHAT BEING IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY MEANT IN JESUS’ KINGDOM.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD FIND HAPPINESS AND POWER IN A PRESTIGIOUS POSITION. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL AS THE WORLD DEFINES HAPPINESS IN TERMS OF POSITION, POWER, PROMINENCE, PLEASURE, SUCCESS AND SECURITY.
HAPPINESS THOUGH FOR JESUS WAS DEFINED IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE OF SERVICE TO GOD AND HUMANITY.
NOW LET’S THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT. WE JUST FINISHED OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. SOME OF YOU VOLUNTEERED HERE AT THE CHURCH TO HELP IN PACKING, OTHERS FILLED SHOEBOXES TO PACK. I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYONE SAY HOW MUCH THEY DISLIKED PACKING THE SHOEBOXES.
I REMEMBER PACKING THE SHOEBOXES WITH LESLIE.WE TOOK GREAT CARE IN SHOPPING TO MAKE IT FIT OUR AGEGROUP. THEN WE MADE SURE WE PUT SOMETHING IN IT THAT WAS FUN, SOMETHING THAT WAS EDUCATIONAL, AND SOMETHING THAT WAS HYGENIC. WE DIDN’T SHOP FOR HOURS, BUT I FOUND I WAS FEELING GOOD IN THE PROCESS TO BE HELPING A CHILD GET WHAT COULD BE THE ONLY CHRISTMAS GIFT HE OR SHE WILL EVER RECEIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO WERE HERE TO RECEIVE THE SHOEBOXES AND PACK THEM WERE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THAT ASPECT OF THE OPERATION.
MOST OF THE TIME AT CHRISTMAS I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME IN SAYING THAT WE RECEIVE GREATER SATISFACTION IN GIVING A GIFT AND SEEING THE REACTION ON A LOVED ONE’S FACE, ESPECIALLY IF THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE OR SHE WANTED.
GREATNESS IN THE EYES OF CHRIST IS NOT OBTAINED BY HOW MANY SERVANTS WE HAVE. IT IS OBTAINED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE SERVE. I CONSIDER MYSELF BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE TRUE SERVANTS OF THE LORD IN EACH OF THE CHURCHES I SERVED IN. THEY ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. THEY WOULD DENY THAT THEY WERE GREAT SERVANTS AND STAND OUT IN THEIR HONEST HUMILITY.
JAMES AND JOHN SOUGHT A DIRECT APPROACH TO SATISFY THEIR NEED OF POWER. THEY GOT THEIR MOTHER TO COME TO JESUS AND ASK FOR THE MOST PROMINENT POSITIONS. THIS WAS SO BRAZEN IT WAS DOWNRIGHT CHILDISH. HE WON’T DO IT FOR US, SO WE’LL GET OUR MOTHER TO ASK HIM. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE ASKED MOM TO TALK TO DAD ON OUR BEHALF.
JESUS OF COURSE DENIES THE REQUEST, BUT CONSIDER HIS RESPONSE TO THE MOTHER VERY CAREFULLY.
MATTHEW 20:22-23:
22 “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ASKING,” JESUS SAID TO THEM. “CAN YOU DRINK THE CUP I AM GOING TO DRINK?” “WE CAN,” THEY ANSWERED. 23 JESUS SAID TO THEM, “YOU WILL INDEED DRINK FROM MY CUP, BUT TO SIT AT MY RIGHT OR LEFT IS NOT FOR ME TO GRANT.
JESUS IS TELLING THEM IN THIS ANSWER THAT THE DEATH HE IS GOING TO SUFFER IS GOING TO BE QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT FROM THE DEATHS THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY FACE.
JESUS ASKED THEM IF THEY CAN “DRINK THE CUP” THAT HE WAS GOING TO DRINK FROM? HE WASN’T ASKING IF THEY COULD DRINK SOME OF IT, BUT ALL OF IT. THE DEATH JESUS WAS TO DIE ON THE CROSS WAS FOR ALL OF US. ALL OF OUR SIN, ALL OF THE ANGER OF GOD, THE MOCKING OF THE CROWDS, ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE WAS LAVISHED ON HIM AND HE HAD TO ABSORB ALL OF IT.
HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD “DRINK FROM THE CUP”, MEANING THEY WOULD FACE SACRIFICE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS FOR THEIR FAITH, BUT THEY STILL COULD NOT FACE THE CUP AS JESUS DID. HAD THEY BEEN SMART, THEY WOULD HAVE THANKED GOD THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO DRINK THE CUP THAT JESUS DID.
THEIR ACTIONS THOUGH WERE ENOUGH TO GET THE REST OF THE DISCIPLES TO SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS. WE ARE TOLD THAT THEY WERE INDIGNANT WITH JAMES AND JOHN FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
THE REASON FOR THEIR ANGER IS NOT GIVEN, BUT FROM THE TONE OF JESUS’ RESPONSE, WE CAN SEE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY TOO WANTED THE POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY. THEY ALL FELT THAT WHEN JESUS SET UP HIS KINGDOM, THAT IT WOULD BE DONE PHYSICALLY, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE REWARDED FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS WITH POSITIONS OF POWER.
THEY MAY HAVE CONSIDRED THIS TO BE A WAY TO FIND OUT WHICH OF THE DISCIPLES JESUS FAVORED MORE. WE OFTEN BESTOW SPECIAL FAVOR AND RESPONSIBILITY ON THOSE WHO SHOW GREAT LOYALTY AND COMMITMENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE HERE.
JESUS TEACHES THAT THEY AND WE NEED THE OPPOSITE ATTITUDE IF WE TRULY WANT TO BE GREAT IN HIS KINGDOM.
MATTHEW 20:26-28:
NOT SO WITH YOU. INSTEAD, WHOEVER WANTS TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT, 27 AND WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST MUST BE YOUR SLAVE—28 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.”
IT IS IN THESE WORDS THAT WE FIND THE MEANING OF ADVENT. WHY DID GOD TAKE ON HUMAN FORM? HE CAME TO SERVE. HE CAME WITH A MISSION. HE CAME TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE COULDN’T DO FOR OURSELVES.
JESUS CAME INTO THIS WORLD TO BE THE SERVANT OF GOD. HE CAME ABOUT HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS AND THAT WAS SALVATION. HE CAME TO SATISFY HIS FATHER’S DEMANDS AND TO RESPOND RIGHTEOUSLY TO HIS FATHER’S ANGER OVER SIN.
HE CAME TO DRINK THE CUP OF WRATH OVER SIN, THAT WE COULD NOT DRINK AS HE STATES IN VV. 22-23.
HE CAME INTO THIS WORLD AS AN EXAMPLE, AND TO ENCOURAGE US TO DEFINE OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING, AND WHAT CHRISTIANITY MEANS IN TERMS OF BEING SERVANTS FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS.
BY HIS TEACHINGS CHRIST WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO BE GOD’S SERVANTS AND THE SERVANTS OF OTHERS.
BY HIS CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP, CHRIST INVITES US TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF A SERVANT. OUR QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IS NOT, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO, AS CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY WILL REVEAL THAT CLEARLY. OUT QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK IS “HOW CAN I SERVE GOD AND OTHERS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY?”
A LIFE SPENT IN THE SERVICE OF GOD AND THE SERVICE OF OTHERS IS A LIFE WELL SPENT. IT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD AND BUILDS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS A LIFE OF PROMISED BLESSINGS FOR AS CHRIST SAID IN ORDER TO BE GREAT YOU MUST FIRST BE A SERVANT.
AN EPITAPH ON A GRAVE READS “WHO AT ALL TIMES AND EVERYWHERE GAVE HIS STRENGTH TO THE WEAK, HIS SUBSTANCE TO THE POOR, HIS SYMPATHY TO THE SUFFERING, AND HIS HEART TO GOD.” THIS IS TRULY GREATNESS IN THE EYES OF CHRIST.
JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO REVEAL THAT GOD WANTS TO BLESS PEOPLE WITH GREATNESS. HE DID THIS BY ASSUMING THE ROLE OF A SERVANT AND MINISTERING TO PEOPLE. AT ADVENT HE IS TELLING US THAT HE IS IN NEED OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE WILLING TO BE HIS SERVANTS, THAT OTHERS MIGHT KNOW GOD’S LOVE AND POWER.
