Servus Servorum
“I AM AMONG YOU AS HE THAT SERVETH.” — LuJce XXii. 27.
SINGULAR fact with regard to the apostles. They were at the same time troubled with two questions: “Which of them should be accounted the greatest?” and “Which of them should betray his Master?”
Where humility should have abounded ambition intruded.
Of the evil of self-seeking our Lord would cure the apostles.
The remedy which he used was his own conduct. John xiii. 12-17.
If he made himself least, they must not strive to be greatest.
May this example be blessed to us also!
Let us attentively note —
I. OUR LORD’S POSITION. — “I am among you as he that serveth.”
1. In the world our Lord was not one of the cultured few on whom others wait. He was a working-man, and in spirit he was servus servorum, servant of servants. Mark x. 45.
2. In the circle of his own disciples he was one
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that served. Where he was most Master he
was most servant.
He was like a shepherd, servant to the sheep. He was like a nurse, servant to a child.
3. In the celebration of the Supper, our Lord was
specially among them “as he that serveth,” for he washed his disciples’ feet.
4. In the whole course of his life, Jesus on earth
ever took the place of the servant, or slave. His ear was bored by his entering into covenant.” Mine ears hast thou digged, or
pierced:” Ps. xl. 6 (Margin); Ex. xxi. 6. His office was announced at his coming,” Lo,
I come to do thy will!” Ps. xl. 7; Heb. x.
5-9. His nature was fitted for service: he” took
upon him the form of a servant:” Phil, ii 7. He assumed the lowest place among men.
Ps. xxii. 6; Is. liii. 3. He cared for others, and not for himself.
The Son of man came not to be served but
to serve:” Mark x. 45. He laid aside his own will. John iv. S4; vi.
38. He bore patiently all manner of hardness. 1
Peter ii. 23.
II. THE WONDER OF IT. — That he should be a servant among his own servants.
The marvel of it was rendered the greater —
1. As he was Lord of all by nature and essence.
Col. 1 15-19.
2. As he was superior in wisdom holiness, power,
and in every other way, to the very best of them. Matt. viii. 26, 27; John xiv. 9.
3. As he was so greatly their Benefactor. John
xv. 16.
4. As they were such poor creatures, and so unworthy to be served.
How could it be that they suffered themselves to
be served of him? How could it be that he endured to serve them?
III. TlIE EXPLANATION OF IT.
We must look for this to his own nature.
1. He is so infinitely great. Heb. i. 2-4.
2. He is BO immeasurably full of love. John xv.
9; 1 John iii. 16.
Because of these two things lie condescended so marvellously.
IV. THE IMITATION OF IT.
Let us copy our Lord —
1. In cheerfully choosing to fulfil the most lowly
offices.
2. In manifesting great lowliness of spirit, and
humility of bearing. Eph. iv. 1-3; Phil. ii. 3; 1 IMer v. 5.
3. In laying ourselves out for the good of others.
Let self-sacrifice be the rule of our existence. 2. Cor. xii. 15.
4. In gladly bearing injustice rather than break
the peace, avenge ourselves, or grieve
others. 1 Peter ii. 19, 20; iii. 14.
5. In selecting that place in which we receive
least, and give most; — choosing to wait at table rather than to sit at meat.
Does not the text rebuke our pride?
Does it not arouse our adoring love?
Does it not lead us to gird up our loins to serve the brethren?
CONCERNING SERVICE.
When the son of Gamaliel was married, Rabbis Eliezer, Joshuah, and Zadig were invited to the marriage-feast. Gamaliel, though one of the most distinguished men among the Israelites, himself waited on his guests, and pouring out a cup of wine, handed it to Eliezer, who politely refused it. Gamaliel then handed it to Joshuah. The latter accepted it. “How is this, friend Joshuah? “said Eliezer.” Shall we sit and permit so great a man to wait on us? “Why not? replied Joshuah, u a man even greater than he did so long before him. Was not our father Abraham a very great man? Yet even he waited upon his guests, as it is written, ‘and lie (Abraham) stood by them whilst they were eating. Perhaps you may think he did so because he knew them to be angels; no such thing. He supposed them to be Arabian travellers, else he would neither have offered them water to wash their feet, nor viands to allay their hunger. Why then, shall we prevent our kind host from imitating so excellent an example?” “I know,” exclaimed Rabbi Zadig, “a Being still greater than Abraham, who doth the same.” “Indeed,” continued he, “how long shall we be engaged in reciting the praises of created beings, and neglect the glory of the Creator? Even he, blessed be his name, causes the winds to blow, the clouds to accumulate, and the rain to descend! He fertilizes the earth, and daily prepares a magnificent table for his creatures. Why, then, shall we hinder our kind host, Gamaliel, from following so glorious an example?” — Hebrew Tales.
An old woman in Glencroe, visited by William McGavin, was found seated in bed, which, contrary to usual experience in the district, was scrupulously clean.
‘; You are an old servant of Christ, I understand, said he.
“Servant of Christ!” she responded, “Xa, na; I’m naething pit a puir sinner. It’s nine-and- forty years syne he pegan tae serve me.”
“Serve you, how?”
“Dae ye no ken that?” she replied. “In the hoose o’ Christ the Maister serves a’ the guests. Di<l he no’ himsel’ say, ‘I’m amang ye as ane that serveth? ‘When he brocht me hame tae himsel’ he then pegan tae serve me, an’ he ha’ served me ere syne. Nane ere compleened o’ Christ pein’ a pad servant!”
“Well, but I hope you are a servant for all that. In the state of glory his servants serve him; and what is perfected there must begin here.”
“That’s a’ fery true. I ken that I’m under his authority, pit somehoo I dinna like tae think much aboot servin’ Christ. It gi’es me nae comfort.” — The Sword and the Trowel
Why is it that so many professed Christians “feel above” undertaking humble work for God and humanity? We have heard of a minister of Christ complaining that his station was “beneath his talents!” As if the soul of a beggar were beneath the genius of a Paul! Some are unwilling to cuter a mission-school, or to distribute tracts through a poor district, strangely forgetting that their divine ?»Iaster was himself a missionary. Have such never learned that the towel wherewith Jesus wiped his disciples’ feet outshone the purple that wrapped Caesar’s limbs? Do they not know that the post of honor is the post of service?” .My seat in the Sunday-school is higher than my seat in the Senate,” said an eminent Christian statesman. — Dr. Cuyler. 14