Who Belongs?

Jesus’ Ministry Showed He Cared for Everyone

North America has three main social classes:

Upper class (people who are independently wealthy)

Middle class (people who work regular jobs and have a comfortable lifestyle)

Lower class (people who do not make enough to take care of their necessities)

You might know someone who is rich or poor, but most Americans are somewhere in the middle. We really don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. BUT… there are times when an adult has to say “no” because they don’t have the money to pay for everything they or their family wants.

In Jesus’ day, the middle class like we know it did not exist. Some were wealthy and some struggled to make it from one day to the next.

Religious leaders in this time would often show favoritism to the wealthy and completely ignore anyone who was disadvantaged. But that wasn’t Jesus’ attitude. He loved all people.

Mark 10:13–14 KJV 1900

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

And Jesus wasn’t unkind to the rich, either. He loved them too.

Mark 10:17 KJV 1900

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Mark 10:21 KJV 1900

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

So, if we’re going to be like Jesus, we have to show love to everyone we meet. We have to care about people, regardless of their background or problems. Jesus is love. And we have to love like He does.

Ministering Out of Love

Maybe you’ve felt the urge before to help someone, even if that person was a perfect stranger. Maybe someone who was driving an electric cart at the grocery store and struggling to get something off a shelf and you offer to help them. In moments like that, both people leave feeling good about it.

Everywhere Jesus went, He interacted with people who were broken and hurting.

Why was He so intent on serving others?

What drove Him and motivated Him to perform the miracles He performed?

Matthew 9:36 KJV 1900

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

We might be tempted to say that Jesus served others because it was His mission to do so. And that’s not really wrong.

The Bible tells us that many of the miracles He did were done with the intention of leading people to belief (John 20:30-31). BUT, that wasn’t the only reason - or even the main reason - that He looked for ways to bless others.

Jesus did not minister out of obligation - He ministered out of love. He had a burning desire inside of Him to be a blessing to others, and He could not ignore that feeling.

We could serve people out of obligation, but doing so will not make a lasting difference in their lives. To make an eternal difference, we have to serve out of love.

Jesus Ministry Showed That His Heart Was Set on Serving Others

Now, there are sometimes that you try to do something kind for another person, but instead of them being appreciative, they get offended at you.

Let’s go back to the electric cart…

Imagine getting something off the shelf for the person on the electric cart. You hand it to the person, and you expect them to say thank you, but instead, they rebuke you.

“I didn’t need your help!” And they speed away.

You would probably be pretty confused. You were just trying to be kind.

Jesus experienced something sort of like that. I know it’s hard to imagine people being offended at a guy who is opening blind eyes, causing the lame to walk, and cleansing lepers. But we read that there were some who argued with Him, no matter what good He did.

Mark 6:1–3 KJV 1900

1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

So they weren’t just rejecting the words He spoke or the miracles; they were rejecting His love. And I’m sure that it hurt His heart. But it didn’t stop Him. Because He IS love. It would mean Him ceasing to be who He is.

I remember in math class, whenever my teacher was teaching something new, she would write out several problems on the board and then solve them step by step. And it’s not that in doing that she’s trying to show off her knowledge - she wants me to follow the steps she’s outlining so that I can get it, too.

The main reason Jesus served others was because He loved them. But another purpose was to demonstrate to His disciples the importance of serving. He wanted them to show love through service.

The Book of John has a powerful story that illustrates how much Jesus desires us to show love through serving.

At the Last Supper, once everyone had taken their seats, Jesus filled a wide pan with water, grabbed a towel, and went to the disciples to one at a time wash their feet.

So Peter objected to Jesus doing this. And Jesus warned him that if he didn’t let Him do this, then Peter couldn’t be one of Jesus’ disciples.

Once Jesus was finished, He explained to them why this was so important:

John 13:12–15 KJV 1900

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

He went on to tell them that they had a new commandment: to love one another as He loved them. And it was by this that everyone would know that they were His disciples (John 13:35).

So we have to have solid doctrine, but that alone is not how people will know we are His disciples.

We need to walk in holiness, but that alone is not how we will be identified as His.

We have to answer the call to ministry, but that alone is not what will tell people we love Jesus.

People are going to know we love Jesus because of the way we love one another.

Imagine you work at a fast-food restaurant, taking orders at the counter. Some people who walk up to you may smell bad. Some may use language you don’t appreciate. Some may be dirty, ugly, or just plain rude.

Even though some customers make you uncomfortable, they are still the customers. You don’t have the option to turn customers away simply because you don’t like them; you serve whoever comes to be served.

We are called to love. And that means serving. We are not just called to serve when it’s convenient or when it’s someone we feel like serving. We have to look for ways to serve those who are hurting.

The kid who always eats by himself at lunch.

The friend whose parents are going through an ugly divorce.

The girl who is struggling with her grades.

A servant doesn’t get to choose who to serve. A real servant will serve whoever is in need.

One of the best ways we can serve Jesus is to find people who need to be served and look for a way to make a difference in their lives.

Conclusion