Merriam-Webster defines servant as one that serves others - a public servant - especially one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer. A servant may be an employee or a slave. Employees have the ability to leave - if treated poorly - a slave does not have that option. Servants are used to perform tasks that their master does not want to do themselves - cooking family meals - doing the laundry - maintaining the property - landscaping - handling repairs - being a nanny - or any other task you might think of. Servants in general who are employed - do so willingly. Slaves perform their obligations because they are forced into service against their will. To willingly be a slave of another person is not the norm and highly unusual.
In Isaiah 53 we are introduced to The "Suffering Servant" - a proclamation some 700 years before the birth of Jesus. While the original Hebrew text clearly refers to the Jewish people as the “Suffering Servant” - over the centuries Isaiah 53 has become a cornerstone of the Christian claim that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus was the One who came to serve - rather than be served. He did not see Himself as royalty - One to be waited upon - He was to be the One who waited upon all. In boldness and humility - He proclaimed a new vision of Heaven on Earth - a new way of thinking - a new way of serving - a new way of life for all. As a disciple of Jesus - we are called to share with Him - the service of others. We are called to be last - among those who seek to be first. We are called to quietly continue the work - first begun by our savior - as servants - as slaves. We are called.
Deacon Dale
Deacon Dale
