To Serve - Easter Reflections pt. 2 - Good Friday

Yesterday, we saw how Jesus chose to be a servant to his disciples by washing their feet and what that means for us in Part One of the Easter Reflections Series. This Friday, we're moving on to Part Two as we look at the crucifixion. 

After Jesus washed his disciples' feet, the story continued with Jesus and his disciples still at table. Jesus made a startling announcement:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." (John 13:21)

When quietly asked who, Jesus responded:

"It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread after I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. (John 13:26-28)

And Judas left to carry out his treacherous plan. 

Later that night, Jesus went to "a place called Gethsemane" taking with him his disciples. And he went by himself a little farther from them to pray. 

"My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

He knew that Judas had betrayed him. He knew that he faced death. He knew that he was about to die, undeserving of the punishment, for those who deserved death and worse. 

But he was willing to do it.

And this is why Jesus was a servant through his crucifixion. Because a servant doesn't decide what he will do; instead, he waits on his master's will. "Not as I will, but as you will." He chose to obey his Father's will. He chose to sacrifice himself for those least worthy of such an incomprehensibly painful and powerful sacrifice. He chose to be a servant.

Willingly he went with Judas and the men to whom Judas had betrayed his Master. Willingly he endured the mocking cries, the biting lashes of the whip, the stab of the thorns twined in a rude crown around his head. Willingly he allowed men to nail him to a cross, raise him upon it, and step back to watch his death with glee.

And how great was the pain he endured, physical and mental.

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)

He came as a servant, born in a lowly stable, without power or wealth in life, humble in death, and he carried out the Father's will. And through that, we have been washed clean. 

We deserve none of it; yet he gives us the priceless, precious gift of life through faith in him. And now that he has washed us clean, we have the responsibility to do as he did: to serve. To serve God out of our love for him. Now that he has washed us, we can do this, and how great an honor to be able to serve our Creator and Redeemer! We, helpless sinners, once condemned to wrath and punishment, now destined for a glorious eternity.

Jesus wholly served the Father through his crucifixion. 

Now, it's our turn to serve. 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)


All Scripture quotations from the ESV.