This Life is All About Jesus

Counter Cultural in Age of Ego-Centeredness  

“Take all I can!” That seems like what I see often whenever I turn around. That’s pride isn’t it? Maybe at your work you think, “Man, he never talks about himself. He never makes us have to listen to him. Man he doesn’t think he’s got all the answers.” I believe pride is the root of all sin. You look all around with problems, it is usually rooted in pride. The antidote to pride is, “humility”  

Humility as C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of your self but thinking about yourself less” Humility is not ego-centered, arrogant or being self centered but others focused. These are people who are more concern for the success of others rather than self. Seems like such a rare trait we see these days anymore in the younger generation. 

Serving is not a popular vocation in the 21st century American. It seems like, people are more interested in being served rather than to serve. 

As we think of Jesus, he was radical in the way he served people. In a culture that despised the idea of “servanthood” Jesus was eventually murdered on a cross for his heart of service to the world. 

The world needs Jesus. Jesus the humble babe, the humble servant and the humble King. 

 

1. Service of Jesus

I love the opening of how the gospel of Mark opens up, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1). You see? The theme is ALL ABOUT JESUS! Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

What did he come to do? He came as a Servant of the Lord to do the will of the Father.

That is a very good news which is found in this;

(1) Jesus is good to us,

(2) Jesus has suffered for us,

(3) Jesus was raised from dead.

That I too shared with you here, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). 

 

2. Sacrifice of Jesus

We only not focus the person of Jesus but the work of Jesus; We see this displayed in two areas which were his devotion and sacrifice. 

Jesus gave everything for our sin out of his human state. 

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34) Here the words Christ spoke, was one of the 7 last words of Christ from the cross. 

As people saw this cry from the cross, the only response people gave was, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). 

 

3. Sending of Jesus

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” (Mark 16:6).

Our God is not dead, but He is a Savior who is alive! This should’t be a surprise to us as we have the whole complete work of the gospel as Jesus anticipated his resurrection from the very beginning. 

Does God wants us to be secret about our faith? Like following Jesus is “personal” so we should be “private?” I hope you know the answer, that is not the case here.

As we see Jesus made it clear as he send his disciples out, as this is where we use this very verse to make our mission accomplish to Know Him and Make Him Known, we are to, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15). 

 

Serve and Gives His Life as a Ransom…. 

I heard a quote recently it said, “Without humility there will be no humanity”

Being others focused rather than putting self first, it is such an attractive and powerful thing. 

That is true with the greatest humility which is Jesus! “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). 

May the words of John Wesley ring true as we emulate Christ to our community. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.”