Thursday, 9 April 2020 Luke 22:1-46
“Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” -Luke 22:27
The Way of the Cross is a well-known phrase to the Christian world signifying the journey of Jesus to the Cross. There are many practices in Christendom during the Passion Week to imitate this journey by way of performance or in litanies, which many feel, bring them some kind of penance; atonement, etc. But this is a far outcry from the real meaning of the way of the cross!
Today’s reading brings to light quite a few of those incidents before the Crucifixion:
The Last Supper with His disciples where He gave them the New Covenant in His blood (Luke 22:14-23)
A Lesson on Greatness (Luke 22:24-30)
Peter warned of his denial yet the Lord’s intercession for him (Luke 22:31-34)
Readying for His arrest (Luke 22:35-38)
Agonizing in prayer in the Garden (Luke 22:39-44)
A Rebuke to the disciples on watchfulness and prayer (Luke 22:45-46)
Our meditation today will centre on ‘The Servant- King’- Christ Himself who taught the bickering disciples the value of serving. For He said, ‘Yet I am among you as the One who serves.'
How did Jesus portray Himself before us as the One who serves? What are the qualities of a servant He depicted?
His Obedience: Jesus was obedient to do His Father’s will – obedient unto death on the Cross (Phil.2:8). See His prayer here: “…nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Besides in Hebrews 5:8 it says of Jesus, “…though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” We need to learn from Him. To us He says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt.7:21).
His Faithfulness: Jesus was faithful to the One who appointed Him (Heb.3:2), “…Christ as a Son over His own house….” (Heb.3:6). How about our faithfulness? The Parable of the Talents (Matt.25:14-30) is a lesson in point for us. We too need to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant' when we stand before Him to give an account of our lives.
His Service: Jesus in one of His parables mentioned how a servant should be always ready to do his master’s bidding (Luke 17:7-10). See what He said of Himself: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29). What of us? In 1 Thes.4:1, Paul exhorts us "…how you ought to walk and to please God;”
All these point to the fact that Jesus did not come to earth to please Himself but as Himself put it …not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). In serving God, He took on flesh, came and dwelt among us, served us and finally gave his very life as an exchange to win you and me back to God. This, my friend, is the Way of the Cross! If you have not understood the purpose of His suffering, crucifixion and death on your behalf, there is no point in celebrating His Resurrection as way of Easter!
Will you come to the Servant King today and surrender your life to Him? Let Him be Your Lord and Master from this day the words of the song (link) ‘The Servant King’ minister to us today.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life for me that I might be saved through You. Let your example of serving, guide my life as I seek to do Your will. Amen.
Listen: ‘The Servant King’
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