Servant

Jesus spoke frequently about the concept of servanthood and its importance in the Kingdom of God. His teachings on this subject are central to Christian ethics and discipleship, emphasizing humility, selflessness, and the inversion of worldly notions of power and greatness. Here are several key Bible verses where Jesus discusses or exemplifies the idea of being a servant:

1. Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2. Matthew 23:11-12 (ESV): “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
3. John 13:12-17 (ESV): “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'”
4. Luke 22:26-27 (ESV): “But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”
5. Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

From these passages, we can derive three key takeaways regarding Jesus’ teachings on being a servant:

1. Inversion of Worldly Greatness: Jesus radically redefines what it means to be great and powerful. In the Kingdom of God, greatness is not measured by how many people serve you but by how many people you serve. This teaching inverts worldly notions of power and status.
2. Servanthood as Imitation of Christ: Jesus not only taught about servanthood but also exemplified it in his own life, most notably through the washing of the disciples’ feet. By serving others, Christians are following the example of Christ himself, embodying his humility and love.
3. Blessing in Service: Jesus indicates that there is a blessing in serving others (“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” – John 13:17). The act of serving not only benefits those being served but also enriches the servant, aligning them more closely with the heart of God and the values of his Kingdom.

These teachings and actions of Jesus underscore the central role of servanthood in Christian discipleship, calling believers to a life characterized by humility, self-giving love, and the pursuit of the good of others above personal ambition or gain.