THE GREATNESS OF A MINISTERING SERVANT

Matt 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Also See Matt. 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-45)

In order to understand the lesson text, one must look at the preceding five verses. Here we learn of an aspiring woman thought to be Salome, the wife of Zebedee, coming to Jesus and seeking favorable and prejudiced advancement for their two sons, James and John. Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom. In Mark's account of this incident, he writes that James and John came to Jesus on their own, without the intervention of their mother. Whether she or her sons directly sought personal elevations in the kingdom of Christ, it seems they had discussed the plan together to seek these favored positions. Their desire for more influential positions probably were the result of Jesus telling His apostles that in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). All twelve apostles were told they would become judges in the kingdom of Christ, but these two sought higher, more prestigious positions.

Realizing these two apostles did not fully understand the nature of their request, Jesus asked them, Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? This question carries the meaning as if Jesus had asked them if they thought themselves able to suffer and bear the afflictions, anguish, trials, and sorrow that awaited Him in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish leaders and the Roman officials and executioners. They assured Jesus that they were able to bear any burden that faced them in the future, and, in turn, He assured them that, indeed, they would do so. However, He said, to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father. The destiny of Jesus and His apostles had already been fixed by the foreknowledge of God - it had already been prepared of My Father, and could not be altered by anyone, including the Son of God, Christ Jesus. As the lesson text reveals, the highest honors of those in the kingdom of Christ would not be given to anyone to satisfy worldly ambitions. Only those giving up the most on earth would receive the most in heaven. Observing what had just taken place, the other ten apostles were moved with indignation against the two brethren. These ten were offended by the personal, selfish desires of James and John. Then as it is now, the kingdom of Christ, His church on earth, has no room for selfish ambition by its elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, or any of its members. When such desires of preeminence take place, the body of Christ is disgraced, disunity results, and the spiritual need of all members is unfilled.

Having dealt with the ambitious request of James and John, Jesus now teaches the spiritual principles that are to guide the lives of all twelve apostles as they serve Him, and teach His gospel message of salvation, for their remaining days on earth. First Jesus explains the customary ruler/subject relationship that exists among the Gentile world - the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them. That is, those that have been elevated to positions of rank and authority, lord over the general population with dominant power. This order of authority and dominance known in the Gentile world, Jesus now contrasts to the great chief/servant relationships that He demands within His kingdom - the body of Christ here on earth. Unlike the authoritative relationships normally found in societies of the world, Jesus tells His apostles that within the church of Christ here on earth it will be entirely different. He told them that whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

Greatness within the body of Christ can only be found in the lowly position of serving others rather than self. No position in the established New Testament church can anyone be ordained, elevated, or elected to, that will place them in a position of greatness in the sight of God. This Christian tenet seems to be totally lacking where papal and priestly power is absolute within Roman, Greek, and many Protestant "religious" bodies, all of which have been formed by "human wisdom" subsequent to the establishment of Christ's church on the Day of Pentecost following His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven.

Elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers are all recognized titles of qualified men within the church of Christ, yet they are all mere ministers that are bound by the commands of the Head of God's church, His Son, Christ Jesus. And this is His command found in the lesson text:They are to serve Him by preaching and teaching His gospel message of salvation and by serving the spiritual and physical needs of others with the lowest degree of humility. Not only did Jesus give them the commandment to do so, but He also gave them the best possible example to follow, which was Himself:Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Never has there ever been another earthly human being that has demonstrated a greater loving compassion for the physical needs of men and women of the world. In order to do so, Christ suffered the greatest possible self denial, ridicule, and humiliation by those that refused to accept Him as the Son of God. Even greater love for mankind was shown when He gave His life a ransom for many by His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world. It was by this loving act that all sinful men and women of the world could be reconciled with our righteous Heavenly Father and enjoy the hope of eternal life in heaven. The greatness of a ministering servant was truly demonstrated by Christ Jesus. As much as possible, and to the best of the abilities we have been given by our Creator, we are to go and do likewise.