[Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2.7)
Jesus the Servant. We become so comfortable with the kitsch art of Jesus holding a newborn sheep, soft wavy brown hair around his gentle smile, that we dilute our understanding of Jesus the Servant. We lose it in those brushstrokes that Jesus divested Himself of His rights. Jesus is the Creator of all. Jesus is the everlasting God enthroned in His own majesty. And yet, Jesus the King stepped down from His throne, walked through the royal generations of princes, ushered Himself from His own throne-room out into the streets of corrupted creation. Jesus then wrapped Himself in our frail humanity and made Himself a servant to all. The King is kneeling before His lowest peasants and is washing us clean.
Can we think of any earthly equivalent of a King maintaining His royalty but emptying Himself of His majesty and glory? Jesus did not sit on His throne and pass edicts but took the commandments Himself and served His people. Never has a King lived as a slave among His people to serve them. Never has a King abandoned His place of power to live at the mercy of His people.
How then do we follow the example of our Servant-King? How could we possibly step from our mediocre anthills of self-glory into the ravines of human destruction? Jesus lives and generously serves us, making intercession for us before the Father. Can we do less? Jesus lived and died for our redemption while we were lost and unreached by His grace. Can we do less? Jesus the servant kneels by us and offers us a towel.
Jesus, give me the strength to abandon my comfort and meager power to serve among the lost.