The prophet Isaiah writes: “The LORD says, ‘Here is my servant, the one I support. He is the one I chose, and I am pleased with him.’” Isaiah 42:1 (NCV).
In serving His Father, Jesus also became our servant. You would think that the One God sent to be our Saviour and our King would arrive in great glory so that the world would see at once who He was and what He came for! But the Bible says that “he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant.” Philippians 2:7 (NCV).
Human nature is basically selfish, and people usually think that if others serve them and treat them well, they will become happy. But true happiness has a much deeper source than that! Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:27. He showed this by His own example. He also says about Himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.
Jesus did not serve others in order to be honoured by them, but because He loved them. He especially chose to serve those who could do nothing for Him in return, like the little children, the lame and the blind, the lepers and the outcasts. They could all come to Him to be comforted and healed. Jesus served because He loved people, not because they deserved it.
It is not right to serve and do good only to those we think deserve it. Jesus loved to do right and hated unrighteousness, and that is why God anointed Him “with the oil of gladness more than [His] companions”, as the Bible says in Hebrews 1:9. In other words, He was the happiest person who ever walked here on earth!
Now it is our turn! We have a chance to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and serve others through love. (1 Peter 2:21; Galatians 5:13-14.) If we love and serve God, He will also show us how best to serve our fellow men!
