The Servant of the Cross – Part #1 (Podcast)

The Servant of the Cross – Part #1

Only one act of pure love, unsullied by any taint of ulterior motive, has ever been performed in the history of the world, namely the self-giving of God in Christ on the cross for undeserving sinners.

—John Stott^[1]

The cross of Christ is the turning point of human history. Before the cross, God-fearing men awaited the promised Messiah. Day upon day they waited. Approximately 33 years after His birth, Jesus, the Messiah, would hang on the cross as the greatest servant ever known. Even though men rejected Him, He stayed on that cross for them.

The cross of Christ did not end with an undeserving death, but it began the process of the salvation of humanity. Without the cross, there is no hope of resurrection. Without the resurrection, there is no hope of eternal life. The beginning point of hope is the cross of Christ.

As you walk through these seven stories of the cross, may your life be enriched, and your eyes opened to the great servant of humanity—Jesus.

May you be blessed in seeing the cross,

The Servant of the Cross

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

(Philippians 2.5-8)

When there was nothing, God created something. When there was nothing, God created everything. In six days, God created everything we see. I know and try to fathom the infinite knowledge of God (Matthew 11.21) as He created the world. I know the scriptures tell us of the awesome power of God (Revelation 19.6). They even further give us details of the all-seeing eyes of God (Psalm 139:7-12). Our God truly is an awesome God.

When He made a tree, was the Son on His mind? The apostle John tells us that Jesus was there in the beginning.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that were made.”

(John 1:1-3)

The Son was there in the beginning. The Son was there when man was made. (Genesis 1.26) We know the Son was there when the trees were made. (John 1.1-3) Because of the apostle John’s words, we know Jesus Christ had a hand in the tree’s making, which would produce the seed, which would produce a tree, which generations later, He would hang from to save the world.

That Word became human, the flesh, and dwelt with people. (John 1.14) He left the throne of Heaven to come to earth and serve. (Philippians 2.5-8) He left the greatness of heaven to serve earthly man through serving His Father. If the Father wanted Him to serve to death, Jesus would. Jesus did.

What compelled Jesus to serve the Father to death and the resurrection from death?

Was it fame and fortune? Of course not.

Christ had the power and the majestic nature to claim fame and fortune. After all, everything is His. He created it. The car you own, His. The house where you live, His. The clothes you wear, His. He is the creator and giver of every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1.3) It was not fame and fortune; it had to be something else.

It was love! Why else would a glorious Child of the Father leave the perfect dwelling place (Revelation 21.3, 4) and come to sin-filled earth? Sin had filled the earth since Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3); Cain murdered Able (Genesis 4), and people continued to grow worse until the flood of the world (Genesis 6-8). People continued in sin through the time of Christ, and people continue in sin today.

Sin will continue until the earth is no more. As long as the sun rises and falls, sin will exist. It will exist because man exists. Man has a choice, the choice to follow God or the choice to create friction. When man creates friction between himself and God, he goes against the Father. Crossing the commands of the Father is sin (1 John 3.4). No “ifs,” “ands” or “buts,” disobeying God is sin.

Sin is the separating factor. (Isaiah 59.1, 2) Sin is the destroying factor. (Romans 6.23) Sin has infected the lives of every person to walk the face of this Earth. (Romans 3.23) There is only one exception, Jesus Christ Himself. (Hebrews 4.15) Christ was tempted in every way as we are, but He was perfect. In the face-to-face meeting with the devil himself, Jesus won! (Matthew 4.1-11)

Hanging on two wooden beams between two thieves was the beginning of victory. The burial and resurrection became the victory over death. (1 Corinthians 15.55-57) The victory was God’s plan from the beginning.

After the choice of sin from Adam and Eve, God said Jesus would crush the head of Satan. (Genesis 3.15) The crushing blow to a poisonous serpent crushes the head. Jesus administered a crushing blow to Satan when the tomb was found empty (Matthew 28.1-6). With the fatal blow, the sting of death has been taken away because of the servant, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15.54-55).

In Adam, every person will die, in Christ, they will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15.22) All this because of the humble servant of the Lord. Who would lay down their own life for their friends? It was the humble servant, Jesus (John 15.13).

As His thoughts turned to the cross He was about to bear, physically, mentally, and spiritually, the mind of our Savior turned to servanthood.

Jesus had sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover feast (Luke 22-13). It seems evident that Jesus had done some preparation Himself; a room was ready for the disciples to use. (Luke 22.11-13). While preparing the feast, one simple item was left out. After reading the gospel accounts, one can see that it is in the eternal plan of the Father. It is not clear at first, but the more you read, the more you find.

While the Savior sat in the upper room with His closest followers, His thoughts turned to His father. He knew the hour was drawing near when He would suffer one of the cruelest punishments known to man—the cross. (John 13) Christ must have looked at the tired, worn, and weary faces around Him. He knew they would be scattered because of His punishment. (Matthew 26.31)

Did His face turn toward Peter, who had been the most zealous of the group?

Did His eyes look into the eyes of John, His seemly closest friend?

Did He glance and see 11 men who would later be there on Pentecost preaching of His resurrection?

As His thoughts turned to the knowledge that God the Father (#1) had given all things in to His hands, (#2) that He had come from God and (#3) He was going to God, He rose from the table to begin one of the greatest illustrations of humbleness and service the world has ever seen.

What made this the impressive picture of servitude? It was a King was stepping down to wash the nasty feet of the disciples.

What was missing was a servant to wash the feet of those who entered the upper room to eat? During the time of Christ, a servant would remain by the door to wash the feet of the guests. The roads were not paved as they are today but made with packed dirt. The role of the foot-washing servant was not a highly motivating position. There were few, if any, young men, or women growing up desiring to wash feet for their days on the Earth. Nevertheless, our Savior washed feet.

Rising from the table, Jesus placed a linen cloth or apron around his waist, filled a basin with water and begins to wash and then dry their feet with the cloth. Why would he take it upon Himself to take the place of the forgotten servant? Simple, He was the servant. If Jesus made plans to reserve the room, do you not think He would make plans for a servant? He did. He made plans for Himself. It was He who would do the serving.

As Jesus washes the feet of Peter, Peter refused (John 13.8). The spokesman finally has his say; Jesus tells Peter that He needs to, not for His sake but Peter’s sake. (John 13.8) Jesus shows Peter there is a noble purpose to this act, the purpose of the plan, the eternal plan.

It seems Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet. The apostle John writes, “So when He had washed their feet…” (John 13.12) Think the following people:

Did Jesus wash Peter’s feet? –Yes
Did Jesus wash Andrew’s feet? –Yes
Did Jesus was Philip’s feet? –Yes
Did Jesus was Judas’s feet? —Yes

Wait! Did Jesus wash the feet of the one about to turn Him over to a mock trial and a cruel death? It seems so. As the disciples sat and watched in embarrassment as their leader washed feet, do you not think they would notice if He left one out?

Jesus knew there was one in the middle who would turn their back on Him. (John 13.2) Jesus knew there was going to be a betrayer before this supper. (John 6.70) Jesus knew He was going to die for the sins of man, and He knew that hour was closing fast. (John 13.1)

He left the throne of glory for the linen, apron cloth of a feet washer. Not because He had to, but because He wanted to. The cross was a tough burden, but it was done because of love. The washing of a betrayer’s feet was a tough burden, but it was done because of love.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(John 13.34)

Understand, Jesus did not institute feet washing. Notice verse 15. Jesus says that “For I have given you an example, which you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13.15, emphasis mine)

Jesus did not say, “That you should do what I have done for you” but “you should do as I have done for you.” It was not the act of feet washing Jesus is discussing, it is the act of serving. Christ wants us to serve our brethren, so the world will see that we are His disciples. (John 13.35)

Why did Jesus go as far as He did? Simple, because He cared.

Amid His trouble, He cared. In the middle of His prayers in the garden, you were in His thoughts to the Father. (John 17.20-26)

Without a serving Savior, there would be no serving church.

Without a serving Savior, there would be no church. He served for you, and He served for me.

Will you serve for Him?

Thanks for reading,

^[1] Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (167). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

The Risen Servant

Just a few years ago, I visited the grave of a dear friend. As I parked our van and made my way toward the grave marker, it started to snow. While I drew closer the grave marker, the snow began to fall harder, and the wind began to swirl around me.

When I arrived at the gravestone, I reached down and brushed some leaves from the side noticing someone else had been there before me. Whoever was there before me placed flowers in the bronze vase and a small Christmas tree stuck in the ground beside the gravestone.

Beside the grave of my dear friend is the grave of his child. His child left this life at the age of six due to a fatal disease. I am sure he, being a Christian, and his child are united in the realm of Paradise at this very moment.

On his son’s grave, there was a deflated balloon and a Christmas tree. When I stood and looked at both grave markers, I could not help but stand and think of memorable times past. My mind was flooded with some many moments.

While standing there, I had forgotten about the snow and the wind; both swirling around me. I could tell that the temperature had dropped since I first knelt to wipe leaves away. When I shivered, I looked up and noticed a picture-perfect day in a cemetery. The snow, the sun and the wind made for a beautiful picture.

Call it a sermon on the mind or too much studying, but my thoughts turned to the resurrection of Christ. I guess my thoughts concerning this sermon came into a broader view while standing in a cemetery. I could not help but think of the women as they approached the tomb of Christ.

What an early morning journey that must have been! Imagine what was going though the minds of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome as they walked toward the tomb.

- Were they mourning?
- Were they reflecting on the great works of Christ done in their life?
- Were they trying to figure out a way to roll the large stone away from the door?

To have the great advantage of going to the tomb of Christ to anoint Him with spices was a great honor. The spices the women most likely would have brought would have been a sort of aromatic vegetable compound that would have been prepared. (Luke 23.56) While searching through your Bible, you will find that Nicodemus brought about a hundred pounds of spices to begin the burial process of Christ. (John 19.39)

Christ had suffered on that cruel cross and fulfilled the scriptures relating to His death as our Passover Lamb. His spiritual body entered the Hadean realm of Paradise to wait for the entrance of the thief. (Luke 23.43)

When the body of Jesus was removed from the cross, it was taken to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. Previously, Joseph had approached Pilate and asked for the body of Christ. Even though Joseph approached Pilate in secret (John 19.18), he was still courageous enough to place the physical body of Christ in his personal, paid-for tomb. (Mark 15.43) Little did Joseph know the tomb would be borrowed.

Through a careful examination of the gospel accounts, you can see while the women were approaching the tomb a great earthquake occurred, and the stone had been rolled away by the angel of the Lord. (Matthew 28.2) Not only was the stone rolled away, the angel of the Lord was sitting on the stone. (Matthew 28.2)

Remember that the Pharisees and the chief priests approached Pilate concerning the burial of Jesus. It is very clear that Pilate had an extremely busy night; first, Joseph of Arimathaea, then the Pharisees and the chief priests. (Matthew 27.55) The Pharisees and the chief priests spent a great part of their life trying to trap Jesus and commit Him to death.

While the Pharisees still called Him a deceiver, they were troubled at His prophetic words, “After three days I will rise.” (Matthew 27.63) I am sure that they feared the resurrection of Jesus. I imagine as fear grew stronger overnight, they approached Pilate with the request to secure the tomb until the third day. Pilate gave the words to make the tomb secure.

Matthew, the tax collector, informs us that the tomb was sealed. (Matthew 28.65) Scholars and historians mention that sealing the tomb would involve a wax seal or clay seal around the stone as it was put in place.

A further indication of the seal might have been the seal of Rome. When the stone was sealed for Daniel, the king used his signet ring to seal the stone. (Daniel 6.17) Some have speculated if a ribbon was placed around the tomb of Jesus as a warning.

Further, the scriptures tell us guards were placed at the entrance. Talk about the fear of resurrection, to seal a tomb of a “deceiver” in a manner such as that could only be because of one reason—the fear of truth!

When the women examined the tomb, they found it empty. (Luke 24.3) For whatever reason, possibly amazement, they may have walked right past the angel of the Lord and entered the tomb. It could have been a shock that such a great stone was rolled away. It could have been the shock of the looks on the faces of the guards.

Remember imagining their thoughts on the road to the tomb, now picture their faces. The man they came to see is gone. Not only was He gone, but also a young man was sitting on the right side of the interior of the tomb (Mark 16.5).

My friends, that in and of itself is great news, but it is not the greatest news.

It gets better.

Paul writes of the definition of the gospel in the letter of first Corinthians. Notice the words of Paul.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received. that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

(1 Corinthians 15.1-8)

Paul informs his readers, and us, that many saw the resurrected Christ. Not just one or two people, but many. It is not just Paul telling you great words of witnesses to the resurrection, but Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Remember the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.13-29 or Mark 16.12,13? Jesus was there!

Remember the scene at the table with the eleven in Luke 24.28-32 or Mark 16.14? Jesus was there!

He was there for one reason; He is Christ. He walked the road to Emmaus for one reason; He is Christ.

Once again, remember the words of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians,

“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

(1 Corinthians 15.14-17)

Did you know there is no guide in the Middle East who can take you to the tomb holding the physical body of the Son of God? For that, I am grateful.

I am thankful for the great blessings I have as the result of the crucifixion of an innocent man; the tomb could not hold Him and the witnesses that saw Him. With those miraculous blessings from the Father, you can have a hope that is steadfast and secure in the risen Savior.

I think the words of Paul fit appropriately today,

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

(Acts 17.30-31)

Christ beat death. He beat death so your death would not be a time of sadness but a time of gladness.

Because of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-8), the Christian’s death is graduation to a higher plane.