Jesus Served Us

I like helping others, and for as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed helping others in both big and in small ways (but mostly small). Most everyone would agree that there’s something in our nature that tells us it’s a good thing to serve others. Likewise, most people enjoy being served. When we’re served, we feel cared for; we feel honored; we simply feel good when someone takes the time to serve us. Even when I’m served by someone who’s paid to do so, like a waiter or waitress at my favorite restaurant, being served makes me feel special.

The way someone serves us is certainly important, but the person who is serving is also significant. For example, let’s say that you and a few friends have just been seated by the host at your favorite restaurant. A few moments later a man walks up and asks if he can take your drink orders. The voice is familiar, so you all turn in his direction and much to your surprise you see the President of the United States, standing in common waiter’s attire, with a notepad in his hand and a smile on his face. You’re all sure it’s some kind of joke and you’re trying not to stare, but the more you look, the more convinced you are that the President of the United States is standing there ready to serve you. You know something isn’t right about all this, but it sure is amazing. The President never steps out of his “waiter” character, but simply continues to smile, takes your orders and walks away. You’re all nearly speechless, but there is one thing for certain: you are feeling very special right now.

I think it’s safe to say that you’re never, ever going to experience something as bizarre as someone with that much authority, influence, and power choosing to humble himself to serve someone like you. Yet, the Bible tells us of one who is higher even than that. One who is above all authorities that have ever reigned has done something even more incredible.  

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, emptied himself and took on the form of a servant.

"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" (Philippians 2:6–7).

To be honest, there’s something in me that pushes against the idea that Jesus took on the form of a servant; that he came to serve (Matthew 20:26b-28a). And especially that he came to serve me. But it’s God’s word, and like it or not, I have to believe that it’s true. It’s awe-inspiring and humbling to think that the Son of God would stoop so low as to care for and serve us. Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung offers these insights about how Jesus served us.

“Jesus served ‘us’ by healing the sick, raising the dead, opening the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. Jesus served us by laying down his life day after day as He met the needs of those he walked this earth with. He cast out demons, he stooped down the meet the deepest needs of the woman caught in adultery… He reached down and brought forgiveness to her sin-torn heart.

Jesus healed. Jesus cast out demons. Jesus taught about the kingdom. But all of that was to the end that he might serve his people by death and resurrection. Not just service broadly conceived as blessing people with his care and compassion, but service in the best possible way, and in the way only Jesus could fulfill, service through suffering on a cross."

Jesus Serving Me

As the Scriptures tell us, Jesus surely came to serve us. In fact, he served even to the point of giving his life for us, and though that is an incredible act of love and service to us, there are also other reasons for which Jesus served us. These reasons don’t in any way lessen the value of all that Christ did for us. Instead, they make what he did all that much more glorious.

You see, Jesus served us because he was on a mission. But not a top secret mission. This mission was one that was meant to be on display for all to see. His mission: to show us God and to show us the way to Him.

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:15-19).

So again: Why did Jesus come? What was the baby sent here to accomplish? What was his mission? Quite simply, Jesus came to serve. And how did he serve? Mark 10 shows us how (full sermon here): He gave up his life (10:45, 32). He drank the cup (10:38). He paid the ransom (10:45). Thank God for the exalted Son of Man who, for our sakes, humbled himself to become our suffering servant.

Yes, Jesus came to serve us, and for that we will be eternally grateful. The Scriptures are clear about that, but he did not come to serve us only for our own sake. He came to serve us in obedience to the Father. He came to serve us because that is what the Father had sent him to do. He was serving his Father first. Jesus said that I only do what I see the Father do (John 5:19).

Beyond Finished

So when Jesus said that, “It is finished,” did he mean that his work on our behalf, his serving us, was fully completed? It was apparent that he had given himself completely for us when he died for our sins. He bought our ticket back to God and paid for it with his own blood. All that we need to do is get on the train and ride it back to him. Wouldn’t it be correct to say, then, that there is no longer a need for him to serve us?

In short: no.

God’s plan of redemption did more for us than pay for our sin and give us right standing before God. As it always is with God, he leaves no detail to chance. He knew that he’d need to make sure we actually made it to the station, got on the train, and stayed on board until we were safely in his presence. To that end, Jesus continues to serve us as our mediator before the Father!  

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

Even now Christ is still serving us as he continually intercedes for us before his Father, and ours (Hebrews 7:25). That is what Jesus is doing right now. And it is one of the most glorious and profound ways that he, the very Son of God himself, serves us. The entire universe is changed forever by this. Consider these words from James MacDonald as you ponder and think over these truths today:

"Over and over the New Testament tells us Jesus is actively making intercession for us. He comes before the throne of heaven as our mediator, and he makes requests before the Father for our moment-by-moment needs. Today Christ lives to bring his victorious power to bear upon our character. Not only does he offer victory over sin and death and extend forgiveness to all who believe, he also wants to live his life through us. That is what Christian living is all about—'That the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.'”