Key Scripture: Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

As Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven, two of His disciples saw an opportunity for rank and position and fought for a place of leadership in His Kingdom. Jesus used their misguided self-promotion as an opportunity to explain that His Kingdom was unlike any they had experienced. “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus explained (Matthew 20:22). Position wasn’t Jesus’ to give as even He came to do the Father’s will; (John 6:38) not to be served but to serve. Those in this Kingdom were to follow His example. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the great would serve, and the first would be a slave.

Jesus led by example as he provided a front-row seat to servant leadership when He washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1–17). Even as they personally experienced His service, they didn’t fully understand that leadership in this Kingdom meant serving others. Peter pushed back as their leader Jesus, took off His cloak, donned a towel, and washed their feet. Washing His disciples’ feet was nothing compared with the ultimate sacrifice to come.

That ultimate sacrifice came as Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. Jesus, who was in the form of God, made Himself no reputation, took on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:5–7). Jesus bore our sin, died as our substitute as He humbled Himself to give His life as a ransom for many. On the third day, He rose victoriously from the grave.

Throughout His life, Jesus endured suffering. “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). A day is coming when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Jesus, worthy of all power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12–13), the very Son of God became the servant of God in order to do the mission of God.