The Greatness of Servanthood

​Mark 10:43-45 ~ “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
 
There is an unmistakable hunger in the mind and heart of man to hold oneself as a person of great importance. Few want to be the last one picked, many want to rise to the captaincy, and so it has been since the fall of man. The disciples of Christ Jesus were no different, with James and John asking the LORD if they could occupy seats of great prominence in His kingdom. Yet God’s word declares in Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” It was pride that became the downfall of the enemy of God. And it is through our own hubris that we are tempted away from the humble and faithful life before God that is of great worth in His sight.
 
Jesus addresses His disciples in the face of their longing for exalted positions. And the first thing he reminds them is that to crave such lofty stations puts them in the same condition as the world. In Mark 10:42-43 Jesus says, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so with you.” In our LORD’s instruction, He gives us some things to consider when we are looking upon ourselves and the greatness of our own lives.
 
First, the LORD confronts our desire for exaltation. He tells us, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” There are those in this world who seem to proverbially “fill up a room.” They walk through life with a sense of exaltation. Some are considered stars or influencers of our day. The parade of self-glory permeates much of our world and these are the ones who gain notoriety in the public eye. But greatness here on earth is not the same as greatness in the kingdom. Dear Christian, the LORD will not look to you to see how popular you’ve become in this world or how great everyone else thinks of you. God looks to see if you are a servant. You might be in this world a person who remains unnoticed by the masses, yet your faithfulness to Christ and servanthood to His people are highly regarded in the kingdom. James 4:10 declares, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
 
Second, the LORD confronts our desire for elevation. Again, Jesus proclaims from our text today, “and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Beyond personal exaltation is the desire for situational elevation. We want to be recognized, elevated and receive the accolades we believe that we so richly deserve. That particular promotion or that advancement in life awaits and we look upon ourselves as if we deserve it. It may be the case, but it is the wrong attitude for the faithful of Christ. In the sight of God Almighty, the prominent ones are not those who have advanced in their careers or have risen up the ladders of personal success, but those who have laid themselves down for the service of others. If you are to be “first” in the kingdom, it will only be measured by your willingness to set yourself aside and be a servant of Christ. Jesus illustrates it in Luke 19:17, “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’”
 
Finally, our LORD presents Himself as our Example. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If there was ever a person who walked this earth that deserved to be served by all who dwell on the planet it is the LORD Jesus Christ. The Creator and King of kings is the most exalted, the most elevated, and the greatest example of what it means to set aside self for the sake of others. He showed us what true servanthood is when He gave His life as a ransom for many. Philippians 2:8 proclaims, “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” The reason we are commanded to live the servant’s life is to emulate Jesus while we walk in this world.
 
When we start looking for prominence in the eyes of men, we are no longer serving the LORD. Many long for glory and riches, fame and power. If those cravings rise up in your own heart, remember again the example set by our LORD Jesus. Beloved, we have been called by the LORD to be His servant. Let that be enough for you.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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