Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Works & Ways (VERBS)

Jesus Serves  

To Study and Ponder

• Jesus cared for his disciples’ practical needs – even to the point of washing their feet (Joh
  13:1-17)! Jesus is intentionally setting a model for us to imitate.

• The ultimate expression of the servant-heartedness of God is evidenced in Jesus’ willingness
  to die on the cross for us. 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 (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45).

• When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:8

• God’s servant-heartedness undercuts any worldly system of comparisons and hierarchies.
  There is no room for thinking of another human being as better or worse when we embrace his perspective of a servant and give value equally to all. His servant-heartedness is linked to his impartial valuing of each person. Because he shows no favoritism (Act 10:34; Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25) we are exhorted to adopt the same perspective (1Ti 5:21; Jam 2:1) which enables us to serve as he did.

• Jesus was an obedient servant, relying on & trusting His Father throughout His life on earth

• Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (also meditate on v.28-30)

• Jesus was a humble servant:- He was born in humble circumstances into a poor Jewish family,(Luke 2:24 "two turtledoves or two young pigeons", was the offering of the poor Lev. 12:8), made a humble entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey, suffered the humiliation of the cross ... (Wycliffe Associates (UK) www.easyenglish.info/bible-study/jesus-life/jesus_is_humble.htm)

• Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. Philippians 2:6-7

• We are to follow Jesus’ example and serve others humbly:- Online Bible definition of the Greek word “humble” helps us understand:- tapeinow to make low, bring low

a) to level, reduce to a plain

b) metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances, to assign a lower rank or place to, to abase, to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded, to humble or abase myself by humble living

c) to lower, depress - of one's soul bring down one's pride, to have a modest opinion of one's self, to behave in an unassuming manner, devoid of all haughtiness

• Jesus performed the menial task of washing his disciples’ feet then told them “I have set you an example that you should do what I have done.” John 13:15

• Jesus told his disciples, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. Mark 10:42-44

• Paul writes, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:3-5

• Peter teaches us to use our gifts to serve others and that we are to serve with God’s strength, to glorify him, 1 Peter 4:8-11.

• Proverbs 16:18-19 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades: Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public.  Matthew 12:18-19  (NLT)

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Mark 9:35 (NLT)

Middle Grades: Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:42-45 (NLT)

Upper Grades:  Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.”   Matthew 12:18-21. (Isaiah 42:1-4)

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11