SERVANT

The One who is in essence God, took upon Himself the form of a servant, veiling those things that would cause men to recognize Him as God. Isaiah saw Him in the glorious surroundings of the throne. John watched Him as He laid aside His garments and girded Himself with a servant’s towel and stooped to wash His disciples’ feet.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of the Servant of Jehovah who is the willing Servant, Heb. 10. 5-7. Ps. 40. 6-8. The Lord Jesus is the fulfilment of the servant described in Exodus 21. 5-6. This servant, because of his love for his master, his wife, and his children, refused to go out free. He received a mark, the ear bored through with an awl, to mark him as a bond servant forever. In glory the Lord Jesus will forever be marked with the marks of Calvary because He loved His Father, John 14. 31, and His church, Eph. 5. 25. The Lord Jesus was also the submissive Servant, John 4. 34; Mark 14. 32-36. The Lord Jesus never had any other object in view than the completion of the Father’s will. It consumed His life and bowed His heart in obedience at its most dreadful hour. Thus, He became the successful Servant, John 17. 4; 19. 30. The greatest task ever undertaken was successfully completed when the great work of redemption was finished at Calvary. Because He completed this great work He is now the exalted Servant, Phil. 2. 9-11. He completely satisfied His Father and so His Father raised Him, exalted Him, and sat Him at His own right hand where He will receive honour, glory and praise forever.

We should be characterized with the same mind. We need a mind that does not seek the outward trappings of selfenthronement, but the servant’s towel, seeking to serve God by serving men. As Timothy is commended for not seeking his own but the things of others, so we should be. As Epaph- roditus, we should be expending ourselves on the behalf of others in service to God. When the focus of our lives is doing the will of God we will be in the business of serving others. And in a coming day we will hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.