Greatness Is Manifested In Service

"Greatness Is Manifested In Service" - Matthew 20:25-28 This vain conversation, of which was the greatest among the disciples: It becomes a revolution about greatness in "His" kingdom. It was no longer the realm of the kings of the earth to possess, abuse the weak, and magnify the powerful. Gentiles think of greatness in terms of government and dominion. In Christ's kingdom, greatness is manifested in service.

I. Everyone who aspires to greatness must first become a "servant."

A. Whoever wants to be first must become a slave.

1. The Son of Man is the perfect example of humanity in "service."

2. He came into the world "not to be served," but to serve and to give His life as a ransom (intensity, capture, catch) for many.

3. The whole purpose of the Incarnation can be summed up in two words: "to serve and to give."

4. It is amazing to think that the sublime Lord would humble Himself to the "manger and to the cross."

5. His greatness was manifested in the depth of His humiliation.

6. And so, it must be for us.

7. His great service: He gave His life as a ransom for many.

8. His service of death satisfied all of God's just claims against sin.

9. It was enough to take away all the sins of the world.

10. The greatest service in the world is a death of the Righteous Lord.

11. Our service is dwarfed by the great Servant.

12. Service = to provide help (action of being, presence, present) to those who need it.

13. (Mark 9:35-37) Jesus, knowing what they had been arguing about, gave them a lesson in humility.

14. He told them that the way to be first was to voluntarily take the humblest position of "service" and "live for others" and not for the self (subject to human).

15. He set before them "a little child," and taking him "in His arms," He emphasized to them that a kindness shown in His name to the least esteemed, to the least renowned, was an act of greatness.

16. It was as if goodness was done to the Lord Himself, yes, to God the Father Himself.

17. "O blessed Lord Jesus, Your teachings probe (inquiries, or inquiries, find out) and denounce this carnal heart of mine."

18. "Break my self and let Your life be manifest in me."

19. (Mark 10:45) "The Supreme Example is the Son of Man Himself."

20. He "did not come to be served," "but to serve." And to "give His life as a ransom for many."

21. Let's think about this!

22. He came with His miraculous birth.

23. He served throughout His life.

24. And with His vicarious death (the ability to replace another individual) He gave His life.

25. This (Mark 10:45) is a key verse of the entire Gospel.

26. It is a theology in miniature, a cartoon (picture that represents an instant or moment in history) of the greatest "life" that the world has ever known.

27. (John 13:14) The disciples had recognized that Jesus was their Master and Lord, and they were right about it.

28. But His example showed that the highest rank in the "kingdom power structure" "is that of servant."

29. "If the Lord and Master" had "washed the disciples' 'feet,' what excuse could they have for not washing one another's feet?

a. Humility that is accommodating, kind, humble of heart; but now He taught this lesson with such a graphic method (figures or signs) that surely, they could never forget it.

b. Condescending (kind and accommodating) to serve. It is to stoop to the darkest and most common services of love, for the true good and benefit of one's neighbor. This condescension must be reciprocal (mutual): We must help our brothers, and we must accept the help they are willing to give us; Often, the latter is more difficult, because our self-sufficiency prevents us from doing so.

c. Service for mutual sanctification. To help the brother to purify himself of the defects and sins that he himself often does not see and that harm him and the other brothers. To help our brother with our prayers, our tears, to purify him of his sins.

30. (Galatians 5:13) Christian freedom does not allow sin, but feeds (loving service).

31. Love is seen as the motive of all Christian conduct.

32. But "serve" one another out of love.

33. Greatness is demonstrated in service, as our Lord did by His great love, which led Him to serve the world with His death and surrender so that you today may enjoy the fullness of His writing, peace and joy, and the greatest as a human in all that is in our destiny. Amen