The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 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. 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.
When I think about the humility of Jesus, I can’t help but wonder where we would be if we received exactly what we deserved, right now. I would be very surprised if any of us would meet the standard of holiness that is required to stand before the Holy God. The Scriptures have already concluded (in more places than one), that there is not a just person on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
And yet, without doubt, there would be those among us who would wonder why they didn’t receive better. Often pride and arrogance stand in our way, even without us recognizing it. Its a powerful force – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life! We can’t just shake them off like we would dust. We have to get out of the dirt first! We (in our earthly state) are given to vanity and possessions like flies to the dung heap! Where is the power to overcome these things when we have awaken to the true nature of the carnal mind? And yet they remain a force we must fight being now heavenly minded by the nature of God. It’s in our Saviors humility that we find the answer!
He learned obedience by the things He suffered, not because He gave into temptation, but because He resisted it, and overcame what no imperfect man or women could ever do. His suffering was inflicted by the great weight of all the sins that mankind has committed, is committing, and would commit in the futility of their minds. Christ knew before He went to the Cross that the lost state of humanity has a deeper root than what appears on the surface, i.e., adultery, murder, stealing, fornication, covetousness, hatred, violence, disobedience, etc.. Sin derives from a longing that is much like a thirsty man who sees the ocean water and drinks, not knowing that it will drive him absolutely mad, and in the end, kill him. The world thirsts to be satisfied and validated, but cannot possess enough to stay the bitter hand of time and death.
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing! This prayer will echo throughout eternity as the greatest request Christ ever made for us to the Father! People who don’t have Jesus are eating food that tastes great yet has a tasteless and odorless poison added to it! Mankind knows only the feelings of emotion, the work for acceptance, and fear of rejection. We are tuned to see and feel results that will strengthen us somehow and validate our existence. But that is not the right way!
When you make pancakes you don’t turn the heat to its highest degree, lest the cake batter only cooks at the surface, leaving the center a sloppy goo. Many pancakes have been burnt to a crisp that way:) Patience must have her perfect work. The world burns in its lust because it wants results that will satisfy now, with ingredients that don’t make the real thing. And to top it off, are burning with the highest heat! That has never worked! What does work is accepting God’s gift of salvation (even as a Christian every day!) and being confident before the Throne of Grace, confessing your sins and then being cleansed from all unrighteousness and sin. Be patient – trusting in God’s ability to uphold you in Spirit and Truth. Let Him do the work; your task is to trust and obey!
Christ Jesus put all of us ahead of Himself because He already knew He would be first – first to die and overcome death that we might live!
