“The Servant of All”

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

Read Numbers 15, Psalm 85, Mark 9

The religious leaders were not the only ones that didn’t completely understand Jesus’ mission. His disciples even though they spent time with him, they still had misunderstood his plans. The Jews, including the disciples, had been looking for a Mesiah that was coming to ride in on a white horse kick Rome out of the land and bring back the glory days for the nation of Israel. This being a couple of days past Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus rode in on a donkey and his fist appearance was not like they thought it was. In Mark 9 we get a glimpse of their thoughts in this area. The disciples were arguing about something while they traveled. Jesus knew what it was and decided to make this a teaching moment. He asked them, ““What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest” vv. 33-34. Apparently, they had envisioned Jesus taking his throne after his great military conquest and the disciples were arguing for their seat at the table after it was all said and done. Like many statements of Jesus, he offered a counter-intuitive one for them to think over. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all” v. 35. Jesus would continue to work on this mentality for them later, most of all when He washed the disciples’ feet in John 13. To drive home the point even more he grabbed a little child that was nearby (in a safe and good way!) to use as an example. “Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me” vv. 36-37. We must keep in mind that children did not hold anywhere near the power that they do today. In the biblical world, children were to be seen and not heard, they were considered useless until they reach the point where they could work and contribute to their society. Now Jesus was saying they had to value the things that culture did not. They had to serve and welcome in the “little children” to be great. Jesus was a great leader, the greatest of all time, but He was a servant leader and not one who led with an authoritarian hammer or as a dictator. How can you and I be more servant-minded?

What else do you see in these chapters? What stood out to you most?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

I Once Went Streaking (as a Christian)…

February 17, 2010

Well actually, it was more than once, unfortunately I have done it more than once.  Let me tell you about the first time I remember streaking (as a Christian)  It was about 10 to 11 years ago.  I was sitting in my office at work.  I was the youth pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus, GA.  I was having a busy day and my attitude was on edge because of all the “things” I “had to” get done.   I guy off the street came in looking for the Mormon church down the street.  I quickly told the man to go about 1 more mile down the road and he would find it.  I went back to my desk and that’s when it hit me.  I had just streaked as a Christian.  I was so pre-occupied by my “to do list” that  I didn’t take the time to try to talk to this man who was looking for a church that was leading people away from the truth and into hopelessness.  I didn’t have very much patience or love for this man.  That’s when I went streaking.

Colossians 3:12-14 says…

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

As a Christian I had forgotten to “clothe” myself with the virtues that Paul had mentioned to the church at Colossae.  In a way, I went streaking as a Christian.  There have been other times I have gone streaking too, sometimes I do it with my kids, sometimes with my wife.  I’ve even been streaking with groups of people from the church.  It is a bad habit and I try not to let it happen, but there are times when I don’t spent the right time in prayer and reading my Bible that I tend to start the bad habit of streaking as a Christian.   When I don’t spend that time with God I don’t “put on” those godly virtues that make a difference in my life, the life of others, and not to mention my witness for Christ.

The virtues that Paul listed were; compassion, gentleness, kindness, humility, patience, and love.   Paul says that love should be the virtue that is placed over all the other virtues because it is the one that holds the others together.  Love is the very nature of God.  The book of 1 John says that God is Love.  When we show love, we shine the very nature of God and put our best foot forward.

For a breakdown of these 6 virtues you can see my Bible study on them by clicking the link here.  So, the next time you are around someone and they fail to respond in a way that is like the type of virtues Paul listed, just call out “STREAK!” and call it what it is.  But be careful because someone might just call you out too for your words, attiude, or actions.  Let’s agree to keep the streaking down to as little we can shall we.

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Posted by John Weldon