The Way Up is Down

Study Notes

The Way Up Is Down

Mark 10:31-45

     About 70 years ago, Emile Rieu, a world-renowned publisher/editor of the Penguin Classics and translator of works like Homer’s Odyssey was asked to do a fresh translation of the four Gospels of the New Testament.  Rieu was also an outspoken agnostic.  When Rieu’s son Dominic, also a well-known classicist and language scholar, heard of this, he said, “It will be interesting to see what my agnostic father will make of the four gospels.  It will be even more interesting to see what the four gospels will make of my father.” Dominic did not have to wonder too long.  Within a year of beginning his translation, at the age of nearly 70, Dr. Emile Rieu became a committed follower of Jesus.  And, the passage we come to today was central to his conversion.

     I’ve thought of that story this week as I’ve prepared this sermon.  I rarely go away from reading the four Gospels being the same person I was when I began.  And, that is certainly true of the passage we come to today.  It has been the main text that has shaped my understanding of how God would have me conduct myself as your pastor.  And, I’ve found that this week, yet again, God has spoken to me through it in a new way at this point in my life.  I pray the same will happen to you.

     I think the best way to enter into the topic today is by looking at the request – or some may call it the demand -- that the brothers James and John brought to Jesus in Mk 10:35 -- “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

     Have you ever prayed a prayer like that?  I must confess that I have.  Indeed, I think too many of my prayers are like that.  And, often, when I look back on those kinds of prayers, I realize that the Lord was saying, as Jesus said to James and John v. 38., “You don’t know what you are asking!”  In fact, as I look back on those kinds of prayers I’ve prayed, I’ve sensed God saying to me, “Greg if you had known what you were asking, you wouldn’t have wanted me to answer yes to what you were asking of me.”  And, I humbly have to say, “I see it now, Lord – but I didn’t see it when I prayed it.”  Has that ever been true of you?

     Let’s see what has led up to these brothers, these sons of Zebedee, making this request of Jesus.

The Story:  The Paradoxical Topography of the Kingdom of God (or, the Upside-Down Kingdom)

     In Mk10:32-34, for the third time in his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross, Jesus took his disciples aside to tell them specifically about his impending death. 

Declaration #1 -- 8:31-32 -- Jesus said he would be killed and then rise again.  Peter rebuked him.

Declaration #2 -- 9:32-34 – Jesus said he would be killed and then rise again.  The disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest.

     With those in mind, look at the 3rd time Jesus told the disciples what would happen in Jerusalem.  It’s found in 10:32-34.  Again, Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

     Notice the very next verse, Mk 10:35:  Then, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

     I imagine Jesus may have been a bit exasperated when he asked in v. 36, “What do you want me to do for you?”  And, they answer in v. 37, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

     I know their words seem, on first glance, to be rather insensitive and callous.  It feels like the brothers are saying, “Jesus, you say you’re going to die in Jerusalem, but we don’t think you really will – so we want to ensure that we have the most prestigious positions when we all get to Jerusalem next week.”  But, I don’t think that’s exactly what they were saying when they made this request.

     Two things might help you read this passage a bit differently.  First, these two brothers, James and John, were by nature fighters. They were strong and confident.  When Jesus chose them to be disciples in Mk 3:17, he nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder” (“Boanerges” in Greek).  So, he knew what they were like. And, Jesus wanted them with him.  In one vivid incident on their journey, we see their thunder-like qualities come out. Jesus and His disciples were traveling through Samaria and they ran into trouble with the locals there. When Jesus looked for accommodations, the Samaritans turned him down.  In Lk 9:24, we read, When James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

     With that in mind, the second thing I want you to know is that, when the brothers asked to sit on Jesus’s right and left, they were not only asking him for the places of greatest prestige such as sitting at the right and left of the host of a meal.  No, those on the right and left of a person in the midst of a battle were those who were committed to providing security for their leader. 

     Putting those two things together, look at the text again.  The brothers say, “Jesus, we’re sorry you’re so obsessed with the opposition in Jerusalem and think you’re going to have to die there. So, we want you to know that we’ll keep that from happening.  Let us be at your right and left and you’ll be OK!  It makes no sense for you to die. So, we have a better plan.  Jesus, just do what we ask, and we’ll be there for you!”

     So, Jesus says, “You don’t even know what you’re asking.”  And they didn’t.  They didn’t know what their real need was in this world, i.e., they most needed a way for their sins to be atoned for.  And, because they couldn’t see that, they also couldn’t see the real reason for Jesus’s coming into this world, one that would require his death.  They did not yet have eyes to see or ears to hear what Jesus was saying to them.

     In that light, Jesus asked, “Can you drink the cup I’ll drink and be baptized with what I’ll be baptized with?”  In other words, “Can you be immersed in the kind of suffering and death that I soon will endure to accomplish my Father’s work in this world?” They said immediately and with confidence, “We can!’  In other words, “Jesus, those other 10 disciples may be wimpy but, you know us – we’re the Sons of Thunder!  We’ll protect you!  So, Jesus, stop talking about dying and do what we ask you to do!”

     Jesus knew that the battle he would face was much bigger than just against those who would oppose him in Jerusalem. He had come to do battle against the kingdoms of this world, the kingdom of the Evil One and against the kingdom of sin that ravages human hearts.  So, Jesus tells James and John in v. 40 that the places nearest to him had long been appointed by his Father, the One who is at work in all things to bring about good.  It’s a bit ironic that these two brothers would indeed be playing central roles in the establishment of God’s kingdom – after Jesus’s death and resurrection. James and John would see better than they were seeing when they demanded those positions as they did.  And James and John did drink the cup Jesus drank for the cause the Gospel.  These brothers would die in the battle – but only physically die.

     Then, in 10:41, the other 10 disciples heard the conversation and became indignant.  You know why, don’t you?  James and John had gotten to Jesus first with their request.  They had done all the things that leadership books tell us to do – asserted themselves, taken the initiative to provide a better plan for the team.  And, of course, that meant that positions 1 & 2 in the Jesus’s administration were now taken.  The best available positions to the other disciples were numbers 3-12.  The other disciples were angry that, because of James and John getting to Jesus first, they could only get director-level roles instead of vice-presidencies!!  Come on, LAC folks – Isn’t this how the world thinks?”

     To this, we read what I call “the hammer blow of Mark’s Gospel”.  Jesus, for the first time, declares specifically why he will die.  He let them and us know how the greatest accomplishment in the history of the world would be brought about.  Listen anew to Jesus’ words in 10:42-45:

Jesus said, “You know that those regarded as rulers in the world lord it over their people, and their high officials exercise power over them for their own benefit.  Not so with you! Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be a servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

     Jesus not only taught this, but he lived it out.  So, in Mk 10:46-52, Jesus healed another man viewed as the “least of these”, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus.  Then, he went directly into Jerusalem where he would die as a ransom for these disciples -- and for us.  That’s the story, life through death.  Greatness through service.  The way up is down.

What Does This Say to Us:  It Is a Call to a New Way of Living

     As I said earlier, this is the passage that God has used to be the foundation of every role and place to which God has called me -- whether as husband and father, school president, your pastor, etc.  If I can communicate the reason for this simply and clearly, I think it will become the same for you.  Let me try to speak of this by using those three words we’ve used throughout this series: see, understand and respond:

See – God has a plan that he is accomplishing in this world than we often cannot see.  Jesus said, “You don’t know what you are asking (10:38)?

     I find it so easy to criticize James and John.  Don’t you?  They seem so dense and stubborn.  But, the more I think about them, the more I see myself in them.  They knew things in their world were messed up.  They knew that the oppression they felt from being under a godless government was not right.  They knew their own people’s disinterest in or apathy about the things of God was not right.  They had no way to grasp how Jesus dying could change any of that.  They had seen his extraordinary miracles over and over.  He’s the only one they knew who might make things better.  He could maybe be as great as Moses and Elijah were.  Why would he of all people die?  That’s what they saw at the time.

     Can you empathize with them?  Do you see that the very thing that made no sense to them was the only hope they had in this world, i.e., that Jesus’s death was the only hope for salvation.  Are you in a situation that makes no sense to you?  Do you say? “These things at work are wrong!”  “These things in my marriage and family are messed up!”  “This transition stuff that’s happening at church doesn’t make sense.”

     I remind you that, at the heart of our faith, we believe that God is present and at work in all things in our world.  To what end? Rom 8:28: “… for good, yes “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

     So, when you cannot see well into why the things happening in the present are happening, open your eyes to the reality that God is at work in all things and your hope will be renewed.

Understand – God does not need us to rescue him though he delights in using us to further his plan.  Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left… (10:37).

     Every time I read Scripture, it speaks in new ways to me.  This time, I’ve been remembering back to times when I have prayed as James and John did, “Lord, if only you will do what I ask you to do, you’ll see I’ll do some great things for you.”  Some of the prayers are not such bad prayers – like, “Lord, if only you will heal this cancer, you’ll see how earnestly I will serve you and love people and…”  When I do, I sense God saying, “Greg, serve me earnestly and love people deeply now with what health strength you have. I heal -- but you don’t see yet what I’m doing through this trial in your life.  Trust me.”

     I’ll confess to you too that sometimes I have thought, “Lord, if only you would let me be a benevolent dictator in this congregationally governed church, I could make everything right around here.”  And, he says to me, “My child, do you know who is Lord of this church?  Do you know who makes things right in a church? Don’t look in the mirror for the answer, Greg.  I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  No, I’ve called you and will use you – but I don’t need you to rescue my church.”

     Am I the only one often tempted to pray? “Lord, I want you to do whatever I ask and then see what great things I’ll do for you!”  Do you ever think, “Lord, let me win that billion-dollar lottery, and I’ll give enough money to the church that it won’t have to worry about meeting budget and sending out new missionaries.”  I think God might say to you, “Be faithful in your giving when you have little -- and then you will find you will be faithful in much.”

     Or, “Lord, if only you will let me have that job promotion, then you’ll see that I’ll treat the people under me better than my boss does now.  I’ll witness to Jesus to them. And, I’ll spend more time with my husband and with my kids…” Do you hear God saying, “Do that now and see how I’ll use you.”

     Let me tell you that it’s NOT wrong to ask specifically for things like healing, for God’s financial provision and for him to open opportunities for you at school or at work.  But, the model for our prayer should not be James and John saying, “Give us whatever we ask, and we’ll do great things for you, Lord.”  Our model is Jesus who specifically asked, “Father, if it be possible, take this cup of the cross from me.  But, Father – your will; not mine.”  And, that will of the Father that Jesus accepted was the means of our salvation.  See – understand -- and

Respond – God’s sends his people each day into the world to serve. Leaders in the world use their power to lord it over their people… Not so with you!  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:42-45, Waybright Version).

     These verses are worthy of many sermons, don’t you think?  One point is that they tell us about how to use influence and power when God has given it to us.  Power often becomes self-centered and self-consuming just as it was for possessions in the case of the rich young ruler in Mk 10:17-31.  But, when a position of authority is entrusted to us, we are not to run from it, but we are to use it to serve those we influence.  Our influence and power should bring benefit not to us but to those we affect.  Who shows us what this is like?  After Jesus died and rose again, the Apostle Paul said this: “Let your attitude in life be like that of Jesus who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Instead, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Phil 2:5-7).

     So, the thing I want to tell you today is that the main calling in Jesus-like living is service.  We all have influence of some kind in this world.  You influence your family members whether you are the parent or child.  You affect your workplace whether you are the boss or the worker.  You influence those around you in school whether you are the teacher or the student.  What Jesus told you to do before he died to serve you is to live each day asking how you might serve those he will bring across your path. That’s how we are to live.

     We think that the more power we have, the greater we will be. And Jesus turns that way of the world on end.  He says, “Those who are willing to be the least will be the greatest.” Of course, we will not be able to do everything Jesus did when he served.  We do not have the ability to give our lives to forgive the sins of the world.  And, we cannot serve everyone who is in our vicinity each day.  But, Jesus asks us to do what he did, i.e., to be aware of those times when God is bringing someone into our lives.  Then, see them.  Ask what their needs might be. And, seek to serve them with what wisdom and resources you may have.

     It’s a new way of life:  Daily, Jesus calls us to use our words and our actions to serve those around us.  Pray that you might see the one whom God brings across your path as a divine appointment.  Then, use whatever God gives you to seek justice where there is injustice, to show mercy when no one else shows mercy and to walk humbly with God when everyone is living for himself.   

     I have more I want to say – but I will stop with this. Please, think about it:  Just before going to Jerusalem to die, Jesus said that he had come to serve us – to serve us by giving his life to ransom ours, to free us from our sin, shame and guilt.  He came not to be served but to serve and to give his life for us.  And he calls you and me to do the same. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

     Jesus turns our world’s values and ways upside down.  In the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ, the way up is down.  Life like that will be – to God’s glory alone.

Chinese Study Notes

為上之道必先為下

 馬可10:31-45

 

     艾米力.芮, 是聞名於世的企鵝出版社出版人和編輯，翻譯過荷馬史詩“奧迪賽”，大約70 年前有人請他重翻“新約”的四福音書。芮是有名的不可知論者。芮的兒子多明尼克，也是一個有名的古典作家和語言學家，他聽說此事後就說：“我很有興趣看我的不可知論爸爸如何翻譯四福音，我更想看四福音如何改變我爸爸。”這話不久，翻譯還工作不到一年，快70歲的艾米力.芮博士成為一個委身的基督徒。今天的這段經文對他生命轉變至關重要。

      我準備這篇講道的時候想到這件事。我每次讀福音書都會帶給我更新。這段對我是非常重要的經文，幫助我明白神要我如何作你們牧師。這一周我又一次發現，神藉著經文對我說話，更新我的生命，我盼望這也發生在你的身上。

     我想進入今天主題的最好方法是先看看馬可福音10：35節記載的雅各、約翰兄弟帶到耶穌面前的那些請求，或稱之為“要求”：“老師，如果我們向你求什麼，希望你為我們成全。”

      你有沒有類似的禱告？我承認我有，我想大多數人都會有；而且當我回想這樣禱告的時候，我能瞭解為什麼主在38節對雅各和約翰說：“你們不知道自己在求什麼！”我仿佛聽到主對我說：“格裡高利，如果你知道你要的是什麼，你就不會要我答應你的所求。”我要謙卑地說：“主啊，我現在知道了，儘管我禱告的時候並不明白。”你有沒有這樣的經歷？

      讓我們看看西庇太的這些兒子在請求主時所要的是什麼？

故事:  一反常態的神的國 (或稱顛倒的國度)

      可10：32-34記載，在去耶路撒冷和十字架的路上，耶穌特別把門徒叫到一旁，第三次向他們宣告了自己即將要面對死亡。

宣告#1 -- 8:31-32 --耶穌說自己要被害並要復活； 彼得攔阻他.

宣告 #2 -- 9:32-34 --耶穌說自己要被害並要復活；門徒卻彼此爭論誰為大。

      我們看看這第三次耶穌對門徒所說的：“耶穌又把十二使徒帶到一邊，開始告訴他們將要發生在他身上的事，說：‘看，我們現在上耶路撒冷去，人子將被出賣給祭司長和經文士。他们要定他死罪，并且要把他交给外邦人。他们要戏弄他、向他吐唾沫、鞭打他，并杀害他；然后在第三天，他要复活’。”
      注意下一節  可10:35:  這時候，西庇太的兒子雅各和約翰來到耶穌面前，說：“老師，如果我們向你求什麼，希望你為我們成全。”
      我可以想像耶穌在36節回答他們時一定有些生氣：“要我為你們做什麼呢？” 他們說：“請准許我們在你的榮耀裡，一個坐在你的右邊，一個坐在你的左邊。”
      對他們的話第一感覺是太不明白事而且很粗，好像是說：“耶穌，你說去耶路撒冷是赴死，但我們以為不見得；所以我們要爭取下周抵達後我們在你的國裡能有一個尊貴的位置。”當然，這只是一種猜測。
     有二點可能幫助你對經文有不同看法，第一，這二兄弟天生好鬥，他們強壯有自信。在可3：17， 當耶穌揀選他們時，耶穌稱呼他們為“雷震子”。耶穌知道他們是這樣的人，但耶穌還是要他們跟從自己。在一次旅途中，他們的暴躁脾氣顯露出來：那時耶穌一行正經過撒瑪利亞，結果他們與當地人起了衝突，於是路9：54節記載著他們說：“主啊，你要我們吩咐火從天上降下來燒滅他們嗎？”
      第二點我提醒你們的是，這二兄弟要坐在耶穌左右，不僅是要最尊貴的席位，就像宴會上坐在主人旁邊的位置；事實上在戰鬥中，統帥左右的人是要確保主帥的安全。
      這樣我們再讀的時候，二兄弟好像說：“耶穌，我們知道你為耶路撒冷的敵對勢力很頭疼，甚至認為會死在那裡；但放心，我們不會讓這樣的事發生，只要有我們在你左右准保沒事！你不可能死，所以你只要應允我們，我們就會為你去！”
      耶穌說：“你們連自己在求什麼都不知道啊！”他們確實如此，他們不知道自己在這世上最需要的就是罪過得贖。因此，他們也認識不到耶穌來世界的真正原因就是出生入死。耶穌的言行，他們有眼看不懂，有耳聽不明。
      因此耶穌問他們：“我所喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？我所受的洗禮，你們能受嗎？”換句話說：“你們能承受我即將面對的那種痛苦去完成我父在地上的事工麼？”他們竟毫無猶豫地說：“我們能！”換句話說：“耶穌，那另外10個門徒可能不行，但你知道我們---我們是雷震子！我們能保護你，所以別再說死的事了，就答應我們的要求吧！”
      耶穌知道他要面對的爭戰比對付那些在耶路撒冷的反對者大得多，他要與世界的國度爭戰，與邪惡的國度爭戰，與破壞人心的罪的國度爭戰。耶穌在40節告訴二兄弟“坐在我的右邊或左邊，不是我所賜的，而是已經預備給誰，就賜給誰”,因為父要讓萬事相輔相成。有意思的是，在耶穌死而復活後，二兄弟真地在神國建設中居功至偉—他們一定看到了比他們此時所求的位置更大的場景；二人為福音的緣故喝了耶穌的杯，他們死而後已，但只是肉體的死。

      10：41節描述了那10個門徒聽到就很惱怒，你們懂得！這二兄弟竟然捷足先登，要當領袖啊---要成為耶穌的左右手發號施令，指揮全隊呀，豈不是高居眾人之上了！他們氣這二人要當副手，而自己只有惟命是從了。弟兄姊妹們，這不就是世界的想法麼？

     我稱10：42-45為“馬可福音的定音錘”，因為耶穌第一次談到他為什麼必須死，他要讓他們、也讓我們知道世界上最偉大的一幕是如何成就的。請聽：於是耶穌把他們召來，對他們說：“你們知道，外邦人有所謂為首的壓制他們，也有為大的管轄他們。但你們當中卻不是這樣；相反，無論誰想在你們當中為大，誰就該做你們的僕人；無論誰想在你們當中為首，誰就該做大家的奴僕。要知道，就是人子來，也不是為了受人的服事，而是為了服事人，並且獻上自己的生命，替許多人做救贖的代價。”
      耶穌不僅如此說，也如此做了，在可10：46-52，耶穌又醫治了一個叫巴提賣不名一文的瞎子，然後就徑直走向耶路撒冷為救贖他的門徒、救贖我們而死。這就是藉著死而生的故事，是藉著服事而偉大的故事。為上之道必先為下。

這段經文對我們說了什麼:  這是對新生命的呼召！

            就如我早先所說，這段經文是神呼召我擔當任何角色的基礎---無論是丈夫還是父親，校長還是牧師，我會簡明告訴你們為什麼，我相信對你們也是一樣，讓我們還是用這系列的三句話：認識、明白、回應：
認識– 神定意在這個世界上成就的遠超我們的眼見。  耶穌就說：“你們不知道自己在求什麼（10：38）！”
      我們很容易責備雅各和約翰，不是嗎？他們顯得愚拙、固執，但我越想到他們，就越從他們身上看到我自己。他們知道世上的敗壞，經歷了不敬神政府的高壓，也認為自己的人民對神冷漠是錯的，但他們無從把握耶穌的死為什麼能帶來改變。他們一遍遍見過耶穌的神跡，知道他是唯一能更新萬事的人---也許和摩西、以利亞一樣的偉大，但為什麼要為眾人死？這就是他們當時的認識。
      你們能懂他們嗎？你們認識到了麼？對他們而言最不可思議的事，就是這世界的唯一盼望---即藉著耶穌的死帶來救贖盼望。你現在所處的境地是否讓你無解，以致你會說：“一切都一團糟！”“我的婚姻一團糟！”“教會的過度期一團糟！”
      我提醒你們，在我們信仰的核心，我們相信神的同在，相信他讓萬事相輔相成，羅8：28：“這是為了愛神之人的益處，就是那些按照他的心意蒙召之人的益處。”
      所以，若你不知道現在為什麼要發生這些事的時候，請睜開你信心的眼睛，就會看見神讓萬事互相效力，並帶給你盼望的更新。

明白 –儘管神願意在他的計畫裡使用我們，但他並不願意我們救助他。請准許我們…一個坐在你的右邊，一個坐在你的左邊  … (10:37)
      我每一次讀經都有新的感受。這一次，我想起自己曾像二兄弟那樣求：“主啊，若你照著我求的做，你就會看見我可以為你做大事。”也有一些禱告並不壞：“主啊，若你醫治我的癌症，你就會看見我將多麼熱心地愛神愛人…”我這樣禱告時，就聽見主說：“格裡高利，不要管你現在是怎樣的健康狀態，只要盡心事奉，更深地愛人。至於我的醫治，就是我在你生命試煉中要做的，你並不一定現在就看見，但請相信我！”

      我也要坦白，有時我想：“主啊，若你讓我成為教會的一個仁慈的獨裁者，我就能讓一切運轉自如。”而主說：“孩子，你知道誰是教會的主嗎？你知道誰使教會健康成長呢？不要從鏡子裡找答案，我要堅立我的教會，地獄之門不能得勝。儘管我呼召你並使用你，但並不需要你拯救我的教會！”

      我大概不是唯一一個曾試著禱告說：“主，我要你答應我求的一切，你就看見我為你做多大的事！”你有沒有想過：“主，讓我贏這個頭彩，我就會給教會足夠的錢，再不會擔心預算，可以派更多的宣教士啊。”我想主可能對你說：“在我給你的小事上忠心，你才能在許多事上忠心。”
      你有沒有說過：“主啊，若你讓我這次得到提升，你就會看見我不像我的老闆那樣苛待員工，我要向他們見證主！我要花更多時間陪伴家人…”你有沒有聽見神說：“現在就這麼做，看我如何用你”？

     我要說，求主醫治、求主供應、求主在工作上開路這樣具體的禱告都不錯，但我們不應像雅各和約翰那樣說：“把我們所求的給我們，我們就為你做大事。”我們當效法耶穌的禱告：“我父啊，如果有可能，讓這杯離開我吧！但不要照我的意願，而要照你的意願。”耶穌所領受的父的旨意是我們得救的唯一道路。
            認識---明白----

回應 – 神每天都差遣工人進入世界服事。外邦人有所謂為首的壓制他們，也有為大的管轄他們…就是人子來，也不是為了受人的服事，而是為了服事人(可10：42-45)

     這些經文值得我們多次講道，其中一點就是：如何使用神給我們的影響力和權力。權力可以讓我們自我為中心，也可以吞噬我們，就像我們在馬可福音10：17-31節看到的那個富有的年輕官。但若我們被賦予了權柄，我們不可以濫用，要用它在我們的影響範圍內服事人。我們的影響力和權力不是為自己服務的，而是為了那些我們可以照顧到的人。耶穌死裡復活後，使徒保羅說：“你們應當有這樣的意念，這也是基督耶穌的意念。雖然他就是神本體的存在，卻不把與神同等看做是一件要強抓不放的事，反而倒空自己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式，以人的形態出現。”（腓2：5-7）

     我今天要說的是：效法基督的生命呼召就是去服事。我們在這世上都有不同的影響，你可能作為家長或孩子影響家庭；可能作為老闆和員工影響企業；可能作為老師或學生影響學校。耶穌在以死服事你之前就教導說，你要天天服事那些神放在你生命中的人，這就是我們應有的生活。

           世人認為權力越大越了不起，但耶穌把世界的法則推翻了。他說：“那些願意為小的就會成為至大。”當然我們做不到耶穌服事的樣式，我們既沒有權柄舍己來赦免世人的罪，我們也不能每天服事我們城市中的每一個人，但耶穌要我們效法他，有意識地關照神放在我們生命中的人，要去認識他們，瞭解他們的需要，用我們的智慧和資源去服事他們。

      這是新的生命之道：耶穌呼召我們每天都用我們的言行服事我們周圍的人；要祈求，使自己能看見神定意放在我們生命中的人；要在不公義之處用神所賜的來尋求公義；要在沒有憐憫的地方表達我們的憐憫；當人人為己的時候，我們卻要謙卑地與神同行。

            我還有很多要說的，但我今天就停在這裡，請大家思想：就在耶穌去耶路撒冷赴死之前，他說他來是要服事人---為我們捨命，贖去我們的罪惡、羞恥和罪疚。他來不是為了受人的服事，而是為了服事人，並且獻上自己的生命。他呼召我們也如此“無論誰想在你們當中為大，誰就該做你們的僕人；44無論誰想在你們當中為首，誰就該做大家的僕人。”

      耶穌完全顛倒了世界的價值和方法。在我們主耶穌基督的眼中，為上之道先為下。生命若此，必將單單歸榮耀給神。

      榮耀歸給神！

Greg Waybright 博士

主任牧師