HE WHO WANTS TO BE THE GREATEST SHOULD BE A SERVANT OF ALL.

 In this world the norm is that the servants those in low position are meant to serve the greatest but Jesus changed this perception when he highlighted that " HE WHO WANTS TO BE THE GREATEST SHOULD BE THE SERVANT OF ALL" . During the end times of his ministry when he had prepared them for service a dispute rose among them on who was to be the greatest among them. He listened to them intently and he gave them time to go through their topic . When they were through he called them to himself and asked them about what they were arguing about. Luke 22:24-27 gives more light about this all sense.

LUKE 22:24-27

 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Jesus gave them a clear picture of how the rulers of this world rule. Most of them exercise lordship over their subjects and their governing ends up in exploiting their subjects for selfish gain. He showed them this kind of leadership is exploitative full of pride and lacks no Justice and mercy since it oppresses the subjects.

He goes on to tell them that this kind of behavior should not be  in the children of God instead for their case he who wants to be the greatest among them should be like a little child and one who governs like one who serves. He was portraying to them like a little child is so they too as leaders should be humble and obedient. Servants are humble and obedient to their masters, they are willing to serve at all times.

Jesus showed his disciples that  the one at the table is considered as one greater and he who serves is considered low in the standards of this world.  But he taught them in the kingdom of God,  the one who serves is greater  than the one at the table and he gave an example of himself that he is among them as one who serves and he came to give his life as a ransom for many. So he wanted them to look at themselves as servants of the kingdom of God willing to serve others in humility of heart. 

When we look at the life of Jesus it portrays a life of a genuine servant. He lived his life serving mankind healing the sick, teaching the truth of God and Sharing the love of God. He expressed a humble heart by reaching out to those who were in low positions with out any form of partiality. He welcomed the lame, the blind, the paralysed , the poor, the widows and the beggars and served them with a pure heart full of God's love and mercy. We see the elements of justice and mercy in him. He spoke out on behalf of the oppressed and he always stood for the truth as  the servant of God.

Jesus preached against exploitative leadership and called for servant leadership that promotes justice and mercy for every one. In Mathew 23:1-12 he  warned them against these injustices by giving them an example of  the Pharisees who misused their positions to exploit others.

Mathew 23:1-12

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long;6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the market places and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

An example of the Pharisees shows how leaders use their positions to mistreat their subjects. The Pharisees were loading too much burden on the people, they didn't care about serving others but their interest was in the benefits they were getting from their great positions in society. Jesus mentioned that what the Pharisees loved was being greeted in the market places, taking important seats at synagogues, being called Rabbi, places of honor at banquets and making the tassels on their garments long. But to him this was not being a servant to those you serve. He portrayed that people doing such thing are considered small in the kingdom of God no matter how great their positions are.

He gave a clear picture of how he wanted his disciples  to be by preaching to them that  they should not act as the Pharisees but treat everyone as a brother, he warned them not to exalt anyone by  calling  them Father because they have only one father and that  is their Father in Heaven. And told them not to call any one teacher because they have only one teacher who is Christ. That in his church the norm would be , he who wants to be the greatest should be a servant of all, one like a little child humble and obedient willing to serve not after power but very low as servants be.

Jesus exhibited this position of being the lowest of servants when he washed his disciple's feet. He was considered great among his disciples but he served them as the lowest of servants by kneeling down before them and washing their feet. During the days of Christ people traveled long distances on foot and in almost every house there was someone who used to wash the feet of visitors and this job was considered the lowest of all. He wanted to show them a vivid picture of a true servant among those he serves and set them a perfect example of service done in humility of heart and he called them to exercise this kind of service among themselves. After washing their feet he  said to them: "you call me Teacher and Lord and that is rightly so, for that is what  I am .Now  that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash  one another's  feet. I have set an example that you should  do as i have done for you. John 13:4-5  shows Jesus serving his disciples with humility of heart.

John 13:  4-5

4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus gave them a perfect example of how a true servant should be, humble, down to earth, obedient practicing what he teaches, treating others as brothers , doing everything not because he is forced but in love and kindness. His heart should be about serving others not exploiting those he serves. He should also live as an example to those he is serving. Jesus takes it to another level teaching that the kingdom of God is interested in servants not bosses, people who boss around and who want to exploit others, considering themselves above others , wanting to be seen in important places, being greeted in the market place, taking important seats in churches and banquets always want to be recognized in public, lording  burdens  over others. Instead of serving they want to be served, looking at  their own  interests , discriminating others,considering other people important  than others. Its always them first and others last. They are after big titles not a heart to serve.

In John 13:12-15 he shows them the meaning of the act of his Kindness he had done to them .

John 13:12-15

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 

In conclusion, Jesus laid a foundation of how service should be by setting a good example for his followers. We learn so much from the way Jesus served when he was here on earth most especially we learn to be humble servants of the kingdom of God. The point is,  he encouraged every one to know that if they are faithful servants of God, then they are great in the kingdom of God. So our struggle everyday is to be faithful in every work God has a signed us to do and do it diligently in humility of heart. We should learn that no servant is above is master so as he served that is the same way we should serve others. We  should always carry with us  a heart of a faithful servant wherever we go.

As brothers and sisters in the Lord we should examine our selves and see if we are faithful servants of Christ since most of us in one way or the other are in any form of serving:

To all Christians,Parents,children,elders,government officials, teachers, workers of any kind,the big question is, are  we serving as Jesus Christ served   or we are serving our ambitions , dreams, exploiting others, enyoying our big titles and big names , misusing the power given to us. because at the end we shall all give an account of how we served others in all the positions God assigned to us whether big or small, whether in our homes, marriages, family, work or in our communities. And remember the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does so serve wholeheartedly. (Ephesians 6:7-8)

PRAYER #

Dear Heavenly Father I come to you in the name of Jesus asking you to give me a heart of a faithful servant  to serve you and your people in the love of Jesus Christ your son. In the name of Jesus i have prayed Amen.

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