Luke 22:54-62

Luke 22:54-62 Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Out of fear, Peter disowned Jesus. Peter, definitely afraid that he too would be arrested, denied he was a follower of Christ in the very presence of his Lord. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. When he realized he had fulfilled the Lord's words, Peter went away weeping bitterly. He knew he had denied the one who loved him the most. Peter's betrayal of Jesus was unforgivable, but easily understood. To the fleshly mind, saving his life was more important than loyalty to Jesus. How many of us find ourselves caught in that bind. We say and do things that we know Jesus would not approve. When we do so, we turn away from him quickly so we will not see his disappointed gaze upon us. Our prayer life, our Bible reading, our songs of praise all cease; we literally remove our lives from his presence. As we grab the reins of our lives out of the hands of Jesus, we are once again like a wild horse without any restraints, going where we want, thinking what we want, eating what we want, and doing what we want. In this state of separation, we ignore God's will and choose our own.

Yet God had plans for Peter the betrayer. He called him to be a fisher of men and did not rescind that call. After Pentecost, Peter would lead several thousand people into God's net as he preached them into the kingdom of God. Full of the Spirit, he was a very successful fishermen. Jesus also commissioned him to feed the sheep of Israel, the Jewish believers. In Acts we find Peter fulfilling that commission. Yes, the betrayer found himself a valuable instrument in the hands of God after the infilling of the Holy Spirit. During his time with Jesus, Peter believed he had committed to Christ completely. He told Jesus that he had left all to follow him and that if all others betrayed him, he would not. But he did not fulfill either of those statements. He had not left all: his life was still more dear to him than following Jesus Christ, THE LAMB, to the end. He fled that courtyard, but not because he was coward, for he was the one willing to draw a sword when Jesus was arrested. He was willing to fight for the mission, the insurrection against Rome. He left that courtyard because he was not willing to lose his life for a hopeless cause, for a sacrificial lamb. For this reason, he was not willing to endure to the end.

Are we willing to endure to the end, living lives of Bible reading, praying, meditating, and singing songs of praise when it seems as if things are not working out as we planned? Or are we going to walk out of the presence of Jesus, denying his lordship of our lives? Never leave the presence of Jesus. In his presence is fulness of joy, the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, and guide us. In the courtyard we will find the courage to face our enemies. Jesus said, But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7) Christ's presence within us gives us the strength and the faith to endure to the end. Yes, Jesus died as a Lamb; we too give our lives for the cause of Christ. We can only do that in the Spirit; otherwise, we will walk away weeping bitterly. Without resurrection power, we will stop serving God in the hard times. Reject the shame and sorrow of such a decision and allow the Spirit of God to lead you victoriously on the paths of righteousness.

Luke 22:49-54

Luke 22:49-54 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour — when darkness reigns.” Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.

When Jesus' followers understood he was going to be arrested, they resisted. I am sure the scene was quite chaotic for a while, even swords were drawn with the result that Peter injured the servant of the high priest. But Jesus said, No more of this resisting and fighting. Jesus' order must have upset his followers, for they were willing to defend him even at their own peril. However, Jesus knew God's purpose was to allow THE LIGHT to be snuffed out by the darkness. For a while darkness would reign. Jesus would be incapsulated in this darkness, separating him from the very kingdom of God. Jesus would carry the sins of mankind upon him, making him an anathema to God. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” — which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) God's redemption plan included all this, to allow men to enter into the kingdom of God.

They seized Jesus and led him away. Jesus had told Peter that when he was old, they would lead Peter away to where he did not want to go. Over the years, evil men seized thousands, maybe millions of Christians and led them away to their deaths. God's plan for our lives is not always for our deliverance from the plots of men. Since we have only one life to live, such hardship seems difficult or even impossible to accept. Why should we put our lives in danger for others or allow our time on Earth to be shortened? In our humanness, we want to escape to a safe place, a secure house, a strong America. Truly, no one desires imprisonment, danger, or an early demise. If we did, we probably would be mentally unstable. Still, the Bible says we are supposed to love our neighbors as we LOVE OURSELVES. Yet, to die for Christ is not an easy mission to fulfill. But the Bible indicates we are to die daily, die to our wishes, our own personal pursuits. That is why we put on the whole armor of God. God does not give us this protection so we might have better living conditions, an easier life. No, we need our armor because we are in a death struggle with the devil himself, a life and death battle.

That day as the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders led him away, Jesus laid down his life. He knew the rabble had come not only to arrest him, but to kill him. Yet, He willingly accompanied them, for He knew this was the will of Father God. Jesus succumbed to the will of the mob because He knew God's plan was to redeem mankind. Because of his willingness to be led to the cross, we, the redeemed, can come into the very presence of God with Abba Father on our lips. Jesus' obedience, death, and resurrection made all who believe in his work an integral part of God's kingdom; we are in him and He is in us. We are no longer just created beings that will eventually turn to dust; we, who believe, are ETERNAL BEINGS, existing with God forever. This wonderful plan of salvation awaits all who repent and accept Jesus as Lord. As Christians, we lay our lives down to reveal this truth to mankind. Our lives should reveal God's salvation plan to all those who sit in darkness, for they, the blind, cannot see what we see. My friends, take every opportuntity to tell the blind of the "good news": Christ came to open the portals of heaven. He came to redeem sinners, making them children of God, adopted into the family of God through his saving works, to live with him forever. Amen!

Luke 22:47-48

Luke 22:47-48 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Judas, who was not Christ's enemy but a member of his entourage, betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Matthew and Mark's account say this signal was prearranged, probably to avoid mistaken identity in the dark of night. Before Judas reached Jesus, others undoubtedly greeted him since he was one of the Twelve. Some may have been pleased to see him or asked where he has been. But Judas had something other than friendship spawning in his heart as he approached the Lord. He desired wealth, maybe even fame among the Jewish elite because for all time, he would be known as the man who brought Jesus down. I wonder what Judas thought and felt in his heart as he pushed toward Jesus. Was it bitterness and anger, self-interest, a need to feel important? We do not know what led Judas to this moment, but each of us must take inventory of our hearts. If we allow seeds of self--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does, to inhabit our hearts, we stand in danger of betraying the Lord in our lives. If we live mainly for ourselves and not for others, we must beware of our true intentions. Are we following Christ for ourselves or for him? Are we promoting ourselves for self-aggrandizement, or are we trying to be ALL THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE FOR HIS PURPOSES. Great differences separate these motivations. The former can lead to betraying Christ; the latter can lead to total commitment, even martyrdom for the gospel. The former can destroy our eternal souls; the latter will lead us to a life of joy and peace in Christ where the flesh loses its power to control us.

Christianity is not just another way of living: it is LIFE, here and for eternity. In America, we sometimes make Christianity an addendum to our lives, an agenda for success and happiness, something we add to our existence. Our belief system offers an attractive proposition if it leads us to self-fulfillment and personal security, but faith in Christ may not seem a very attractive idea if it leads to losing our lives. However, the Bible says that we have been bought with a price, even the blood of Jesus Christ; therefore, we are not our own. We no longer strive to do our will, but the will of the Master. Now, many construe the Master's plan to include two cars in the garage, a nice house with plenty of room, and a happy mate and loving children in the living room. While God may very well give us these blessings, He sometimes overrides our hopes and dreams with plans that might require earthly pain and suffering. As members of Christ's body, we should bear fruit where He plants us, sometimes in very challenging environments, with a lack of amenities or very difficult mates, BUT GOD STILL ASKS US TO LIVE HIS LIFE, not ours.

Yes, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss that night, much to his own sorrow, for he later hanged himself. We also can betray Jesus by going out and living our lives as we desire instead of according to God's plan. If we seek the world and everything it offers, we will eventually understand that we, too, betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of worthless silver. Silver will not buy peace, will not secure a place in heaven, will not yield the happiness we so desire in life. Only following Christ will bring everlasting contentment and security. He alone is the door to heaven, and only He brings real satisfaction in life, that which is eternal. Who will we seek today; who will we offer a kiss of greeting or affection? Will we embrace the world or Jesus? When Judas kissed Jesus that night, he was really expressing love for the world. He had made his choice, to live for the world. My breakfast friends, in view of the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, let us allow the Spirit to search out any hypocrisy in our own hearts, any lack of commitment. Let us be genuine and live for Jesus alone

Luke 22:39-46

Luke 22:39-46 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

We see Jesus in anguish in these scriptures. We see Jesus fully man with all the emotions of a man. He knows the future will bring death to him, trouble to his disciples, and disillusionment to his followers. Within a few hours, everything will be different: the people who greeted him with praise just a few days ago will now want him crucified. People will reject him, viewing him as just another crazy man with ideas of grandeur. Only a few followers will gaze from afar at his last few hours. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:49) Jesus would be alone in his last moments on Earth. No one would be there to defend him, offer support, or tend to his needs.

Jesus knew the realities of this time. He knew his disciples would be harassed and threatened. He knew they would be tempted not to believe in him. Pray that you will not fall into temptation. However, the disciples were exhausted from sorrow. They had heard too much about what was going to happen to Jesus. They had wept and not prayed. They retreated within themselves and fell asleep, probably in dazed disappointment and sorrow. How often we want to retreat and fall asleep when heavy pressure is upon us. A bed seems a safe escape for the depressed. But Jesus said, get up, get active, pray, pray you might endure these tough times instead of retreating into sleep and rest. Jesus believed in prayer; the disciples were not so sure. They felt their emotional needs were more pressing than ernest prayer.

How much do any of us really believe in prayer? Because of past experiences, do we believe things will go on pretty much as they have in the past. As with the disciples, if Jesus said these troubles are going to happen, why pray? If we are all to die, why pray? Notice, the angel came to minister to him when Jesus prayed. He was in great agony; only an angel could lessen that agony. When we feel we cannot endure a situation any longer, we need the Comforter. Only He can ameliorate the situation. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to help us endure. Jesus was not delivered from the situation, but He was helped to endure the situation by the angel. We need to know God's voice. If not, we are alone in our garden of pain. If not, we will fall asleep. But with his presence, our heart will be comforted, and we will not fall into temptation. We will know God is alive and we are important to him: He will never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus said, get up. This day in your spirit, get up. Face your enemies and your trials. Pray for your deliverance. Bind things on earth, for they will be bound in heaven. Know for sure that God hears you and that He will do those things you request if you pray according to his will. No, Mt Rainier will never be moved to Spokane just because Christians in that city want it there, but mountains in heaven are moved by the requests of the saints, the children of faith. People are rescued from hellfire. The lost are restored to their heavenly father. Soldiers of the cross are enduring to the end. So, after breakfast, GET UP AND PRAY.

Luke 22:35-38

Luke 22:35-38 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.

Isaiah 53:1-9 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Jesus reminds his disciples that they were under divine protection when He sent them out as sheep among wolves to preach the gospel. Now, He tells them they will need a purse, bag or sandals and they'll need swords. These items will be necessary for them to live their lives without him. When they were identified with Jesus, others provided for them. Now, Jesus would not be with them. Notice, He says two swords will be enough. Two swords would never be enough to protect them from an unruly, hostile crowd. Jesus knew that, but He says two swords are enough. Enough for what is the question? Enough to fulfill God's plan for them. Isaiah 53 denotes Jesus is not a man of violence. He had done no violence; his destiny and ours lay in the Father's hands. Two swords revealed Jesus as a man of peace, who willingly gave his all for mankind. If they would not have had swords with them, Peter would not have had one to cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. But immediately Jesus tells Peter, Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matthew 26:52) Jesus indicates that his kingdom is not one of violence, of killing and maiming; it is one of peace, love, and restoration.

Even today, many Christians think the kingdom of God is won with violence. They believe they will win a victory for Christ by hurting or defeating others. This is not the spirit of the kingdom, but the world. Violence in the home, on the streets, or between nations is not the nature of the kingdom of God. If we Christians are not careful, our sinful nature will hurt the message of Christ. We do not win people to Christ by wrestling them to the ground and making them submit to our message. We do not win people to Christ by killing them. If we are the body of Christ, we should not be act like the world, using violence to corral human behavior. But, many of us still do. We still have a lot of Cain in us. Even with our loved ones, we sometimes disappoint them, strike out, and hurt them. The good news is that Jesus Christ came to deliver us from this fleshly nature by giving us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control: the fruit of the Spirit. These are not attributes of violence. Christians should love people, not use the sword against our enemies. We are to display the kindness of God, not the judgment of God. God bears the responsibility of bringing people to give an account. When we teach hatred, revenge, and violence, we teach the opposite of the Spirit of God. These spirits come from the pit of hell, not God's heart. Therefore, we should repent quickly when bitterness, anger, hostility, and the like invade our hearts, for they will destroy us.

In the New Testament, we do not see the early church holding out in Jerusalem with drawn swords and military schemes. We do not see them fighting the Romans in the streets, rebelling against their rulers. However, we do see them chased from city to city, spreading the "good news" as they went. The good news was Jesus came to save sinners, to bring eternal life with God to all who would believe. As they fled, they championed the cause of the kingdom of God. They reveled in the fact that a Savior came from the very throne of God. Jesus did not come to save Jerusalem and Israel from the yoke of the Romans. No, two swords would never have won that victory. Through his sacrifice and love, Jesus brought peace, deliverance from sin and death to all mankind. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14) Jesus came to make peace with the Creator God and to promote divine love. The war between man and God and batt;e between man and man was ended. No, two swords would have accomplished that feat.

Sometimes, Christians champion weaponry and mighty arsenals to save this nation. Sadly, Israel did the same thing in the Old Testament. They thought themselves invincible, but God allowed their destruction in their arrogance. God inhabits people, not nations and lands. We are his habitation, his dwelling place. Jesus protected his own when they went out to minister. If we trust in the hands of men, in our weaponry, in our "Christian" nation, we are greatly deceived. God protects his loved ones, even if they are martyrs. He makes sure we make it home. Our hope is not in this world or in the things of this world, for it is not our home. Yes, we will fulfill our duties to our country, we will protect it, pray for our leaders, and GLADLY pay our taxes; but this nation, this world, is not our home, our place of rest. We are a "peculiar people," bought by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus was a man of peace. As his body, we should be people of peace. Therefore, as children of God, members of his family, kingdom dwellers, we should be ambassadors of his divine nature to the world.

Luke 22:31-34

Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Luke 22:54-62 Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them. “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Peter was put in an untenable position. He was not a coward; he was willing to give his life that day in Christ's defense. He drew a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant, an action that could have resulted in his imprisonment or death. Peter was willing to go down fighting for his Lord, but Jesus betrayed his intentions by saying, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51) Jesus' words must have confounded Peter, the rugged, independent fisherman. How could Peter defend a man who would not allow him to do so? Peter knew that most of the great men of God in the past were warriors who fought mighty battles for God and righteousness. Now, Jesus, who proclaims to be the Son of God, would not even allow his followers to fight for him. Instead, Jesus allowed himself to be led away as a lamb to slaughter. I am sure as Peter sat in that courtyard, he mulled over Jesus' words. “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11) How could he defend a man who would not fight? For sure, Peter was brave: Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. However, he was left with no options to save the One he dearly loved. He could only sit and observe the inevitable consequences of Jesus' arrest.

When the servant girl and the man pointed out to the crowd that Peter was with Jesus, Peter had no other recourse in this futile mission but to say, I don’t know him; I don’t know what you’re talking about! Yes, he could have chosen to die with Jesus, but for what? Jesus' incarceration brought great disillusionment to Peter, for Jesus was seemingly just another man, now in the hands of a fierce and superior force. Their movement to bring deliverance to the house of Israel had failed as far as Peter was concerned. Why carry on with this futile adventure with no victory in sight. So Peter left that courtyard in tears of tremendous shame, sorrow, and discouragement because, as Christ had predicted, he was not faithful. Jesus who fed the multitudes, raised the dead, healed the lepers, and opened the eyes of the blind could not prevent his own capture by a violent crowd. To Peter, the magnificent Jesus he served now seemed powerless as He stood defenseless among the unruly crowd, seemingly without authority to change the situation. Yes, Peter left the courtyard in tears, believing everything they had worked for was at an end, forever destroyed, finished.

However, Christ's work was not finished. God's kingdom would not be taken by swords, but by The Lamb. God would not usher in the Promised Land through conquest, but according to the prophetic Word imbued with grace and mercy. In the flesh, Peter could not discern God's plan. Since the resurrection and the infilling of the Holy Spirit had not occurred, as a mere man Peter could not discern spiritual truths fully. Only after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did the depths of Jesus' ministry become clear to Peter. Only then could he realize God's Kingdom was not of this earth but of the Spirit. Only then did he know the power and authority of God revealed in Christ Jesus, the only true door. Then he knew heaven and Earth could pass away, but God's kingdom would never pass away. Despairing the loss of his Lord, Peter walked away in the flesh, weak and frightened. Although his self-will had been strong, now he felt too weak to remain to confront his accusers. However, God did not leave Peter in his weakened state: He brought Peter out of this experience a powerful man of God. Although the sword was put away, the kingdom of God was established by force, the force of the Holy Spirit. Where the flesh failed, the Spirit succeeded. By obeying Christ and putting away his sword that day, Peter helped establish God's kingdom, which has grown from a small mustard seed into a hugh tree, flourishing around the world to encompass millions of believers. Although over two thousand years removed from that difficult day, we can hide ourselves in that tree of faith because the kingdom of God has come to us.

Luke 22:24-30

Luke 22:24-30 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Mark 10:35-45 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” -- When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Today's breakfast is the main course of anyone's Christian life. Before we ever rule and reign with Jesus in the kingdom of God, we must be servants to all here. If we are not servants, our lives are pretty much like everyone else's in the world. Jesus the Lord turned the world upside down because He came to serve mankind. He came to redeem mankind. He came to die even for his enemies. He epitomized love, unreciprocated, undeserved, and unconditional love--God's love.

As the body of Christ, we are his ambassadors, who should turn the world upside down by serving others. Now this concept of servanthood is basically foreign to mankind's self-interest. In general, we want everything in our immediate world to eventually revolve around us--our perspective, our needs, our lives. If we marry, we want our mates and our children to defer to us when needed. If we cannot get our way by dictating, laying down the law, cajoling, pleading, crying, or railing, we tend to become angry, bitter, upset, and removed or distant. Jesus came to serve mankind, a very unruly, unholy family. Yet He went about preaching the "good news" and healing people. As his disciples followed him on this mission of servanthood, they sometimes had to live off the land. The elite criticized the disciples for eating grain in a field on the Sabbath. Farmers always left some grain for the poor. Jesus did not have a place to lay his head; nevertheless, the disciples willingly followed him in this lifestyle for a while, but they expected a reward sooner or later. Of course, as Jesus gained popularity for his miracles, many followed him for the fishes and loaves and for his healing ministry. But they did not become servants.

Christ's popularity with the common people brought a certain amount of prestige to his entourage. Those close to Jesus probably were considered important and privileged people; therefore, the disciples received honor from the people. But Jesus reminds them that they must be servants if they desire to be great in his kingdom. He explains that on Earth, people who rule and reign are considered great. The most important people here are those in a position to dictate their wishes. But in the Kingdom of God, the greatest are those who are the servants of all. Now this idea of servanthood rubs many Christians the wrong way. We want to be on the dais; we want God to give us THE MESSAGE or THE SONG. But Jesus says, you must be like little children, powerless, unhonored; you must be servants, willing to use your energy and strength to make other people happy. Such is the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, of service. Wow, do any of us want to be a servant all the time--to serve everyone, even our enemies? I think not. We will serve those who can reciprocate or who are kind to us, but we are not going to serve the unruly, the unthankful, the unkind. The fleshly nature wants to rule like king David, but Jesus took on the very nature of a SERVANT. As his servants, his body, OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS.

James confirms Christ's call, saying, let me see your faith by your actions. If we follow Christ, we should be a servant to as many people as possible. This servanthood starts in the family where we serve our spouses and our children, going out of our way to be of service. If we are waiting for others to serve us or to reciprocate our kindness, we are still not Christlike. We are still in the selfish mode of the ungodly. If we strive to preserve our energy for ourselves, we are not sacrificing our lives for Christ. Following Christ is very simple: people are to be like Christ in all situations. Father, Mother, Grandpa, Grandma, Sister, Brother, Daughter, Son, Friend, will you lose your place of honor and authority if you are a servant? No, you will gain importance, honor, respect, and authority in God's eyes and often from those you serve. People who know and care for you will be more likely to want to please you, to heed your words because they will know you follow Christ closely as a true ambassador of his kingdom of grace, mercy, and love.