Hanson: the Servant of all

Thursday, June 27, 2013
Meditation:
    Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
    —Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)
Quotation:
    How did Jesus show his authority? Not by making vast claims for himself, though such claims were implicit. His authority seemed to reside in what he was and what he did rather than in what he specifically claimed to be. Especially in Mark’s Gospel there is an elusive quality about his authority, the mystery of the hidden Messiah. His authority was at the same time most deeply hidden and most clearly expressed by his servanthood... The more the Church in its life shows forth the character of the Servant, the more will its teaching bear the marks of the authority of the Servant.
    ... Anthony T. Hanson (1916-1991), The Church of the Servant, London: SCM Press, 1962, p. 113 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 20:25-28; Isa. 53:2-12; Matt. 7:28-29; Mark 9:35; 10:42-45; Luke 14:11; 22:25-27; John 13:13-16; Phil. 2:5-8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant the Spirit of Servanthood to Your church. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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