The Nature of a Servant

THE NATURE OF A SERVANT

Philippians 2:5-11

Goal:          That the hearer may know God's true Servant to fallen humanity is Jesus Christ.

Today’s liturgy incorporates a joyous and solemn, but not raucous, procession of palms with a subdued note of sadness. It commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as fulfillment of the prophecy of Zech 9:9. It is also a reminder that Jesus has yet to drink the cup of the accursed cross. Thus there are Palms for glory and yet fists showing forth hatred. Jesus is the sign for the rise and fall of many in Israel.

The Old Testament Reading introduces the one who was destined for hate and glory .His body suffers, but the Lord vindicates. This is the Servant of the Lord, introduced in Isaiah 42. The Gospel fully reveals the Servant. It is Jesus. Enmity and hatred surrounds him, from Judas to the large crowd with swords and clubs, to the Sanhedrin, to the soldiers at the cross, to even God himself. Yet the glory, the cross, is not revealed to the naked eye. That must be seen through faith, through the hearing of the Word.

Introduction: The cross conceals from the naked human eye, God’s Servant warrior, Christ. His humility looks wimpy and inconsequential to natural man, but it is his personal armor, which He bears to do battle. He empties himself, and humbles himself in his human nature and refrains from the full use of his divine majesty. Why does he do this? It is for us, but not only us, but for all people, for the Christ of God comes to pay the debt mankind owed to God.

1. Christ was Servant. What a contrast we see between the natural man and the Servant.

A. Natural man boasts of what he has and the power he is able to wield. That is why it is not afraid to attack someone or something that appears weak and indolent against its advances. It exhibits an overconfidence of power. We might better relate to it in the following examples: The Japanese felt invincible against the United States who did not want to get involved in the European war of the 30’s. Of more recent note, we have seen a similar thing in the September 11 attacks on our nation. Natural man not only thinks it can use its position of power to overcome the weak, it also thinks it can hide its wicked activities from being found out.

In utter contrast to this is the attitude and behavior of our Lord Jesus. Being from heaven, He knew who He was and why He had come to dwell on Earth. He knew He had all the power used in Creation, He knew He was God, yet He was willing to put all that power and authority aside to fulfill His purpose for mankind. Thus the power of God and the divine nature stood hidden in the image and weakness of sinful humanity.

B. Who could have known? Surely not anyone blind to the truth. For Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” In other words, he will always be hidden from the natural eye and ear and mind. The cross of Christ only shows the Christ in utter humiliation. Little could anyone without God’s Spirit know that there, on the cross, is displayed for all to see, the self-renunciation of God, His power, His might, so all the sins of humanity are there atoned for. The debt of all man’s sin is paid in full on a cross.

          2. Baptized, you are in Christ. Now that wouldn’t make a hill-a-beans worth of difference to us if we remain blind to its truth. But Paul a few verses before our text talks about “being united with Christ” and the “encouragement” and “comfort” and “fellowship” and “tenderness” and compassion” that touches us by the divine in that union.

A. When parents bring their little baby to the baptismal fount, they are presenting their child to God that He might literally touch them with His very own nature. It is by that touch that the Spirit of God is given to make alive what was dead to God. And that means that even in a little baby the divine lives. No wonder Paul says:

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil 2:1-3

Paul, of course is talking about being like-minded with Christ who brings all of these things to human life, not to be boasted of, or paraded about, but to serve our fellow human beings. And to have such a mindset is indeed possible because Scripture also says of the believer: “We have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 2:16 It comes to us by way of God’s promise. Believe it!

B. Servanthood does not mean servitude in God’s kingdom. Servitude is what happens under the compulsion of law. But under the compulsion of love and grace we accept God’s will and want to move in concert with Him. And just like Christ, we also accept the cross of suffering that comes to us. You see; a servant is not concerned about self, but others. So if anyone still puts themselves, their needs, their desires, their feelings, and even their wants, above others, they are no servant.

          3. But you are servant, to God and to others.

A. How can this be? you ask. Especially in view of our behavior and attitude, we might indeed see our selfishness, our inability to put God first, and our lack of passion to bear a cross. Whenever we look to self we are bound for disappointment because what is visible is the sinful human nature. But, what is visible to God in all who are in Christ by faith, is His Son, Jesus Christ, and all His works. It is this truth that moves us toward the divine. It is this truth that keeps us in His grace. It is this truth that determines our servanthood.

B. And when we begin to see ourselves as God has made us to be by the presence of His Spirit, it becomes our desire to do as He does. Thus we begin to look outward and put the needs of others, their desires, their feelings, and even their wants, above our own. And, like Christ himself, what remains important is the kingdom, not its servants.

Conclusion: When I speak of you in my prayers I call you what you are, “His servant.” That is what you are, not because of some wonderful thing you have done, nor because you are more valuable than another, but simply because I know what God has given you, what He has worked in you, and what He continues to do in you. I suppose I am like-minded even to Luther who writes in his hymn of 1523 entitled “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” “No garb of pomp or power He wore, A servant’ form, like mine, He bore.” So let’s close this meditation my singing stanzas 1, 6, 7, and 10 of Hymn # 387.