JESUS, THE SERVANT OF MAN

 

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Lecture Objectives:

We wish to show that Jesus was the greatest servant who ever lived and that we will serve best when we acquire His attitude of service toward God and our fellow man.

References:

Philippians 2.3-7; Matthew 7.12; Luke 10.25-37; Mark 10.31-45; Mark 3.17; Luke 9.49-55; John 4.5-43; Matthew 23.6-12; Luke 22.23-27; John 13.1-17

Questions for Focus:

What persons in your nation are best remembered for their kindness and service to others?

What specific services of kindness did they perform?

Illustration:

In the village of Falkland, is the famous summer residence of Mary queen of Scotland. But Falkland is better known because of a peasant woman called "Kind Kittock" who shared all she had in serving people in their need. After 400 years, the kindness of Kittock is remembered more in Falkland than Mary, the Queen.

However a King more famous than Mary and kinder than Kittock unselfishly served all He met, even His enemies. Though He died about two thousand years ago, He served with such kindness, that the world still remembers Him. His name is Jesus.

 

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  1. JESUS' ATTITUDE OF HUMBLE SERVICE
    1. Student reads Philippians 2.3-7
    2. What role did Jesus give up before he became flesh?
    3. What lowly role did Jesus take in becoming man?
    4. What higher roles on earth could he have assumed?
    5. What attitude did Jesus demonstrate in serving man and obeying God even to the point of death?
    6. Which of the following answers does not exemplify Christ's humble attitude of service.
      1. Get rid of self-importance and think of others.
      2. Think less of status, position, accomplishments.
      3. Be willing to sacrifice to serve others.
      4. Only be interested in serving yourself.
  2. JESUS' GOLDEN RULE OF SERVICE
    1. Jesus' rule stated: "Do to other people the same things you want them to do to you." Matthew 7.12
      1. The Rule of Confucius, the Great Chinese Philosopher of the fifth century B.C.: "People should not do to others what they would not want others to do to them."
      2. The two rules applied to the parable of the good Samaritan - Student reads Luke 10.25-37 and others answer questions.
    2. What is God's greatest command that underlies Jesus' rule of service to others?
    3. To which persons did Confucius' rule rebuke?
    4. Which person exemplified Christ's rule?
    5. How is Jesus' rule superior and why?
  3. JESUS' AMAZING PARADOX OF GREATNESS THROUGH SERVICE
    1. Read Mark 10.31, 35-45 and answer questions.
      1. What bad attitude did Jesus' disciples, James and John, show in respect to Christ's kingdom?
      2. How does Jesus' kingdom differ from men's kingdoms?
      3. Who is the greatest in Christ's kingdom?
      4. How did Jesus intend to demonstrate the example of a humble servant in verse 45?
    2. Paradoxical thoughts about Jesus and His teaching
      1. Jesus said the first would be last and the last first.
      2. Jesus said the servant is greater than the master.
      3. Jesus possessed the greatest self-esteem, but demonstrated the greatest self-sacrifice.
      4. Jesus was the center of his own teaching, but others were the center of his service.
    3. Observations about John and James
      1. Called the "Sons of Thunder" Mark 3.17
      2. Hindered a man casting out demons. Luke 9.49-50
      3. Wanted to send fire down on Samaritans. Luke 9.52-55
      4. John later became known as Christ's "most loved", "disciple" and "the apostle of love."
        1. Question: Did Jesus' teachings and example of service change John's life?
    4. Imagine playing the role of Jesus and John in an imagined modern situation.
  4. JESUS' IMPARTIAL SERVICE TOWARD ALL HUMAN BEINGS
    1. His service to children: No social partiality
    2. Read Mark 10.13-16.
    3. What was the attitude of Jesus' followers?
    4. What was the status of children in Jesus' time?
    5. What was significant about a "touch"? See verse 16
    6. His service to beggars: No class partiality
    7. Read Luke 18.35-43
      1. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar, thus dysfunctional.
      2. His "roadside" position depicts his insecurity.
      3. His cry for mercy was rebuked by others.
      4. Questions:
        1. How did Jesus show mercy?
        2. What did the people think of Jesus' kindness?
        3. What do you do to help beggars?
    8. His service to a sinful Samaritan lady: No racial, sexual, religious, or moral partiality. Teacher tells story of John 4.5-43.
      1. Samaritans were despised by Jews as ethnically and religiously inferior.
      2. Women were considered "property" to be used for man's pleasure, but without any special value to society.
      3. This Samaritan represented the most sinful of women, having been married five times and presently living with a lover.
      4. Yet, Jesus saw her inner value as a human being.
      5. Jesus' teachings transformed her life and she persuaded an entire city to meet and believe Jesus.
    9. His service to His disciples: No church partiality
      1. Read Matthew 23.6-12. Question: Do you know any religious leaders that violate Christ's teaching of humility?
      2. Student reads Luke 22.23-27. Question: What problem did the apostles still have at the Last Supper?
      3. Teacher tells the story of Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet. John 13.1-17. Students answer questions:
        1. Who ordinarily washed people's feet?
        2. Did Jesus wash the feet of the man who knew would soon betray him? Observation: Imagine! The Son of God wrapped Himself with a slave's towel and stooped to wash the sin-stained feet of a lost humanity.
        3. Which of the following does our world need most?
          bulletPreachers who lecture on service
          bulletMore men willing to wash the sores of hurting people
  5. CLOSURE (REFOCUS)
    1. Questions
      1. Would you prefer to be remembered as a King that ruled powerfully or a King that served kindly?
      2. Whose rule of service best fulfills the God's law of love for one's fellow man?
        1. Confucius
        2. Jesus Christ
      3. What kind of human beings are included under Jesus' ethic of service?
      4. How does pride, self-importance and selfishness lead to man's inhumanity toward others?
      5. What would happen to the tragic wars of ethnic and religious violence now occurring, if all men followed Jesus' teaching on humble service?
      6. Divide class into groups of four to discuss other ways Christ's teaching on service could make the world a better place in which to live.