We Are Saved To Serve


Those who are saved from the guilt of sin through the power of the blood of Christ should, out of hearts filled with gratitude, glorify God in the church. God is glorified by the lives of those Christians who commit their lives to His service.

Jesus Christ is our example in all things. The apostle Peter wrote “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). No one should doubt that humans need an example and Jesus completely satisfies our need. In Christ we find an example most unique. He is ageless and belongs to the entire human race in every century and in every place. He is a worldwide example for every person. He is for each of us the great example.

On the night that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus, He declared to His disciples that “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). Isaiah 53, the well-known Old Testament prophecy, portrays for man the suffering Servant of the Lord. Jesus Himself taught that the prophecies of Isaiah 53 were fulfilled in Him (Luke 22:37). The rest of the New Testament agrees with His identification. Matthew recognized in the healing miracles of Christ the Servant who was to carry our sicknesses and sorrows (see Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:17). Mark recognized in the two robbers the transgressors with whom the suffering servant was to be numbered (Isaiah 53:12; Mark 15:28). In preaching Christ to the Ethiopian official, the evangelist Philip identified Jesus as the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:32). Isaiah 53 pictures an innocent Servant suffering for others: “He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). He was a voluntary Servant who “poured out His soul unto death” (Isaiah 53:12).

Remember, Christ is the Servant of Isaiah 53! Remember also that God was not ashamed to call His Son “Servant” and focus the attention of the world on Him as servant. There is nothing shameful in being a servant. To the contrary, to be a servant of the Lord is a great honor (Isaiah 53:12). Of course, that is God’s evaluation.

However, among men in the ancient world – as today – a “gentleman” was one who never worked. He had servants to do the work, and servants were considered the very lowest persons of society. But the very glory of Christ is that He came as a servant to serve others – even to give His life for others (Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:7). One evening just before he died on the cross, like a common household slave, Christ girded himself with a towel and washed the feet of His disciples! He told them later: “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). Jesus Himself is the greatest example of serving!

Jesus was God’s suffering Servant, for He placed Himself solely and wholly at the disposal of His Father in order to redeem mankind from sin. The life of Christ, as outlined in the gospel accounts, shows how much His life was serving. He went about doing good, serving people’s needs (Acts 10:38). Jesus healed the sick, the lame and the blind. He served men by teaching them the truth about God as Father and pointing to the eternal principles of life which come from God.

A study of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth will reveal that He never performed one selfish act! Paul wrote of Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equalitywith God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- and even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8). How gloriously unconventional is Jesus, for the Son of God becomes a servant! The Greatest stooped to become the lowest. And in this act of humility, there was grace ,the shining glory of God’s mercy.

The Highest has stooped to serve the humblest, the Purest of all has stooped as a servant to bear the sins of the vile and rebellious! Jesus declared that the greatest are not those who exercise lordship and dominion, but those who serve (Luke 22:24-26).

Peter teaches us that He is our example and we should follow in His steps. This means that as members of Christ’s church we determine that we must be servants of God and Christ.

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