GodReflection: God Enters the World as Servant

In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word Was God. – John 1:1

The God-man Jesus opened his ministry with an act of servitude turning water into wine at a marriage feast. One of the last acts of his ministry was with a serving towel as he washed the feet of his disciple.

During the last supper—of all times and places—the twelve started to argue among themselves as who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom. These guys constantly provided Jesus with teachable moments.

In a teachable rebuke, Jesus declares his value on servant hood, “I am among you as one who serves.”   The apostles’ value system was out of line with their Master.

In the final chapter of the Gospel of John, the risen Son of God prepares breakfast for seven of his disciples.

The Servant was consistent from the manger to the ascension.

I too need to hear the words of Jesus, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Here is what I think.

There isn’t greater identity with Jesus than to be a servant. The servant role is all demanding.  It encompasses every role in life.

In all walks of life–father, mother, child, teacher, clerk, executive–it is the servant that most reflects Jesus.

Sometimes I find the servant hard to identify as the world moves toward greater complexity, increased expectations, and intense time demands. Worst yet, I see these same forces at work against the servant who is suppose to reside in my heart.

Servant acts are seldom spotlight events. Like yeast, that works its unseen way through dough the servant often serves unseen. However, there are those times I witness servants at work.  What a joy.

I peer through my window and see servants as they serve my neighbor in hospice care. I delight when a merchant says, “The coffee is on me.”  I witnessed in a recent ice storm a neighbor going from house to house to clear walkways and driveways of those who no longer can handle a shovel.

God stepped upon the face of the globe as a servant. He became millions of hands that now serve the world waiting for His return. I want my hands to be two of the millions.

Until the return, servants are the face of Jesus.

As servants, we go about living while we remain open to the Spirit for ways we can render service to those we encounter.

We serve while God waits.

God—in His time and wisdom—will give the order. He will send Christ into the world a second time to gather the servants.

Until then, May Christ church serve as He would serve.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – Reflecting on God’s final advent upon earth.

Gary@GodReflection.org