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The Son of man came...to minister

The theme for the Gospel of Mark and really for the life of Jesus is found in Mark 10:45. This verse speaks to our two fundamental states in this world: death and life. Jesus came to show us how to live our lives and to make a way for us to eternally be with Him even after our mortal (physical) death. If we have received from God eternal life through the atoning sacrifice of His Son on the cross at Calvary...then this is no longer an issue.

Assuming we have the first part – eternal life, this verse brings us to ponder the second part: Jesus came to minister.

Jesus, who is God incarnate, who is the eternally existent One & who came to earth after lowering Himself to the form of a man lived His life as an example for us that we see lived out a Spirit-filled abiding walk with God. Jesus told us that He only did & said that which the Father told to do and say – Jesus walked in meekness (the leading of God; literally in the Greek: strength under control).

And...Jesus walked in love and compassion and saw EVERYONE He came into contact with as a potential ministry (hence why the verse tells us that He came to minister) because of that great love He has for us.

The question we must, therefore, ask ourselves is, “Do I see everyone I encounter as a ministry?” So often we hear people say “I don’t like that person” or “they give me the creeps” or “I’m sure glad I’m not like that!” but that is NEVER how Jesus reacted. If we are to live our lives in His shadow and following His example we must look at everyone with the same eyes as He would – with the thought of “How can I minister to this person?”

You may have heard a church motto like “everyone a minister”, but that implies that everyone looks at everyone else as a potential ministry. Do we see the person on the bus or plane as a ministry? Do we see our co-workers or the person in the grocery or our neighbor next door as a ministry, or as an annoyance/non-person/or just someone of NO concern? How sad if we do...Jesus may have brought you to that person specifically so that he/she could be ministered to... The world will know we are His disciples by our love. If we don’t see people as ministries, is it because be are not walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and not walking in the unconditional love that God offers? Or have we just never thought about it before?

Pray with me that we see people with the heart and eyes of our loving Savior: Jesus Christ, Son of man – Son of God...
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Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

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posted by Pastor Jim @ 9:00 AM