STP Devotional for the Week of 2/3/25
During the hectic Christmas season, my oldest daughter puts out a basket of snacks, Gatorade, and water bottles for those who deliver packages to her house. She wants to make sure those who are serving her family by delivering mail and packages feel appreciated. What other jobs do people have that serve others? In our last show, Cinderella, we saw a picture of how people often look down on servants in the way the Cinderella’s step family treated her poorly. How do you treat those who serve you? Do you have a tendency to look down on those who serve?
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, who we also know as Prophet, Priest, and King, is also known as the Suffering Servant? Let’s look at the following scripture:
“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)
Remember from a few weeks ago that Jesus called Himself “The Son of Man” so that we would know that He was fully God and fully human. This week, let’s go one step further and notice that He came to serve and not to be served. How do we see this in Jesus’ life? In the gospels we see Jesus do the good works His Father called Him to do–He healed the sick, He preached the gospel, He ministered to others’ needs above His own, He fulfilled the law, He did many miracles that showed His deity, He suffered, He died, and He was raised from the dead all for the sake of salvation. All so that we don't have to pay the price for our
sins.
YOU and I are part of this salvation plan! That’s what our scripture from Mark means when it says, “...to give his life as a ransom for many.” You are a part of that story!
Christ–the Suffering Servant–continues in this very moment to serve us by interceding on our behalf and guiding us with His Holy Spirit.
How do you feel about the Prophet, Priest, and King coming as a servant; coming as your servant? Does that mean that He is the servant and you are His master? By no means! It means that Jesus knows we are weak and need His help so He promises to never leave us or forsake us but to be there for us always. In His suffering and service to us He has claimed us for His own.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
He gave us a gift – an identity in Him. This gift doesn’t depend on the work you do. It doesn’t depend on how well you read, take a test, sing a song, do a sport, perform on the stage, or fill in the blank_______. Your identity is now in Christ—the Suffering Servant who also reigns as Prophet, Priest and King.
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