Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 20, 2011: Jesus Came to Serve (Mark 10:35-45)

John 13:6
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”





John 13:8
… Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”





John 13:14
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.





1 Timothy 5:10
and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.





Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”





Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…





Psalm 116:16
Truly I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.





Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.





Headed for Calvary, Jesus has to finish preparing His disciples for leadership. These are the men who will lead the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Future Apostles. Giants in the Kingdom. Counted among the twenty four elders. Chosen to sit at the very pinnacle of Glory, answering to the Holy Trinity only. Outranking, even the angels. And this particular moment offers an opportunity to put into place one of the foundational principles, literally one of the ‘pillars’ of the Church. He’s taken them to the mountain top at His Transfiguration. Exposed them to Divinity and Glory unparalleled as no others had been, then they come off the mountain and see His Power demonstrated in the deliverance of the child possessed by demons. James and John (and Zebedee in one account), the two ‘Sons of Thunder’ want a big piece of this. And they are willing to undercut the other disciples (including Peter) to get it. ‘Jesus’, they asked (gently demanded?), ‘ Give us whatever we ask’. Really? Really?? What kind of Church would have come out of that? Imagine for a moment (I can’t) how much hell would have come out of that. Yet, that was the heart of these men. Jesus seized the moment to make a point: The greatest in the Kingdom of God would take the position of the least: the position of the Servant. The Church could not have survived without this ‘teachable moment’. Power in Servitude.

I have a friend that I must mention in this writing. His name is Jim. At one time, he was occupied as a butler. Not a fireman, a nurse, a policeman; all most note worthy positions of service, but a butler. What kind of mindset does that require? To serve the wealthiest , the most affluent among us with such a spirit of excellence, that you actually compliment and augment the presence of the one you serve (unselfishly). Selah. Think about that for a moment.: the servant reflects the ‘glory’ of the master. Isn’t that what James and John wanted? Isn’t that what we all want? Listen, we’re big on words like prayer, faith, love, obedience, meditation; all keys to building ourselves ‘up’ in the Christ. But don’t overlook service, please don’t. In serving, you become ‘Christ’ on wheels, a true reflection of the Master of the universe, Jesus Christ, Our Lord in you own personal sphere of influence. Isn’t that what we want? To see the power Christ demonstrated through us? Serve and you will ‘demonstrate’ Christ to those you serve. Enjoy the lesson!



Blessings,



.wb