When Saint Paul called Jesus a humble servant who “made himself nothing” in A.D. 61 (Phil. 2:5-11), he was not simply reciting a cute poem.  He was summarizing the very character of Jesus in his historical life, death, and resurrection.  Indeed, if we like Paul, were to meditate on the depths of Jesus‘ condescension from a supreme  heavenly reign to a life on earth caring for sick and dying people (physically and spiritually), we might also be awestruck by the reality that in Jesus Christ a subject and a verb come together that no one could have anticipated: GOD SERVES. 

He didn’t have to.

He could have justly remained on high, worshipped by a host of angelic beings, and left us to continue on the path towards our own self-destruction.  The problems in this world are our problems.  We’re sinners.  And sinners make messes of the world.  The almighty God did not have to come and fix what we had broken.  He did not have to deal with the problem of our guilt and sin, which is our own doing.  He did not have to offer himself as a servant to us who, apart from his grace, have no desire to serve Him. 

But he did. 

He was homeless.  He ran around with stinking fishermen.  He wine catered someone else’s wedding.  He fed the starving.  He washed the feet of his betrayer.  He taught us that to be first you have to be last, to be protected you don’t seek isolation but forgiveness, to be successful is to serve, to live you are called to die.  He said, “turn the other cheek, go the second mile, give the spare coat, heap blessings on those who curse you, lay down your life, forgive your enemy.”  Those were not just his teachings; they were the marks of His life...for us.  And he was mocked, spat upon, beaten, lynched, and hung...on a cross...naked.    

What kind of God does this?

Only the real one.  What was Saint Paul saying 2000 years ago?  If you’ve tasted of the vast mercy of God in Jesus Christ’s coming to serve you, then you will live life in the service of others.  Not because you want to prove something.  What could we possibly prove to a God whose depth of service takes Him to a cross for our sins?  We serve because He served us.  If your faith and trust is in Christ, his humble heart of service is in your DNA.

A graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Joe is currently laying the groundwork for the ministry of Reformed University Fellowship at UCLA.  He is graced by the forbearance of a beautiful and passionate wife in Tiffany, as well as an adorable set of opinionated and energetic children in Taylor and Lydia.