Jesus Came to Serve

December 9, 2012
Jesus Came to Serve
Mark 10:35-45
Scott Howard

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we want you to do for us whatever we ask.'
'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked.
They replied, 'Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.'
'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said, 'Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?'
'We can,' they answered.
Jesus said to them, 'You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.  These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.'  When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them together and said, '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.  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.'"  Mark 10:35-45

Why He Came...

• Jesus came to suffer --> Jesus is the Son of God who decided to come to earth as a human.  He called himself the "Son of Man" because he took on human flesh and suffered on earth as a human.    

"They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.  Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  'We are going up to Jerusalem,' he said, 'and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him.  Three days later he will rise.'"  --Mark 10:32-34

• Jesus came to save --> at the end of the first passage above, Jesus said he gave his life as a ransom.  When you think of a ransom, you think of paying for someone's release.  Jesus paid the price for our release, to set us free.  Free from sin, from bondage, from addiction, from eternal death.
• Jesus came to be our substitute --> Jesus took our place so that we didn't have to be the recipiant of God's wrath.  Jesus took on all sin, for all time, for all people and God could not look at it.  Death is the penalty of sin, and Jesus paid the penalty for us.
• Jesus came to show us how to live --> He shows us what it means to be a servant.  He re-defines "greatness"---the one who is great serves others.
• Jesus came to serve us --> He came willingly.  He wants to serve you and I.  Let Jesus serve you.  Let Him do what is best for you.

What this Means...

• Jesus is our servant --> Not that we have authority over him.
• This does NOT mean that we tell Jesus what to do.
• This DOES mean that He gives us what we need.  --> What Jesus is calling you to do, you cannot do it without Jesus giving you what you need to empower you to live the life He has called you to.
• We are Jesus' servants,  and at the same time...
• We submit to Jesus' authority

How we Respond...

• Trust Jesus to serve you --> admit that you need Jesus to serve you (because he can do better than we could on our own)
• Jesus' service to us is what enables our obedience to Him  --> every time He calls or commands you to do something, that is His way of telling you how He is going to serve you.  So trust Him to give you all you need to do what He's calling you to do.

Think about it....The Majestic King of all the universe has come to serve YOU!