Our Journey to Bethlehem – Day 15 I Jesus Came to Serve, not to be served

Jesus came to serve not to be served. He came to seek and save the lost, to bring liberty to the captives and the oppressed, to set men free from the bondage of man-made rules and give life and life in its fullness. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus, Son of the Living God obediently began to serve the people right from the shore of the Lake Galilee, when he took up his ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. He served the people with concern, compassion, love, and kindness.

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done. He came to serve, not be served. True leadership is servanthood. Servanthood is an attitude exemplified by Christ “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2: 6-7). The founder of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) said of his own life that he came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). He served mankind to the extent that He emptied Himself out and poured out His life for others.

When he washed the feet of the disciples, we see the humble Lord, God in the flesh, doing something no earthly king would ever think about doing. Yet servant Jesus is also the king of kings (Rev. 17:14; 19:16). He died so we could live. His life was a daily reminder that he surrendered the glories of heaven to come here and serve mankind. When we give Jesus Christ His rightful place as Lord of our lives, His lordship will be expressed in the way we serve others.  He lived out his message through service, therefore, we can follow his actions and learn by his example.