This is our God the Servant King

Voting

Tomorrow is election day. There are some who have grown cynical with our system. What’s the point? Every gov’t is the same.

I heard Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock quoted on CBC this week, “A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children.”

I like that — and my prayer for our next government is to embody servant leadership. To focus on doing what is best for our province and to not focus on re-election next time.

Jesus is the servant king who gives his life for the true benefit of others.

And yet as we will see: to be a servant king is not to same thing as giving into the demands of his followers. It is doing what must be done for the true benefit of others.

Today I hope we can come to recognise Jesus as the wisest of leaders, and we can ask ourselves the hard question — who or what do I live for? And maybe come to see if it is helping us or hindering us in our goal to be more Christ-like

A Bold Request

Cousin denying the existence of God — b/c there was no Porsche in his driveway. Such an outlook fails to appreciate gifts all around. My cousin did not want God he wanted a genie — He wanted to be God with his will to be done. He wanted to be served not to serve!

What made James and John make this request?

Jesus announces that they are going to Jerusalem where he would be rejected by the authorities, suffer & die. Then on the third day he would rise.

Perhaps James and John thought this was metaphor. We are going to have a tough weekend and then be in service to the rightful king!

They took their opportunity and made their request to Jesus: We want you to do whatever we want!

(This by the way is a sure sign that we are in spiritual trouble)

All of us can think of times when we have wondered with anger why Jesus has not done what we clearly see as the right thing to do.

Do not be ashamed of being in such a place. Instead start asking questions: Why wont you do what I want? Will you help me to see what it is you ARE doing?

Such questions get us out of our selves and place our focus back on God

Let us Reign with you

Their request is for honour and power

How arrogant, right? Maybe.

Have you ever been working on a project at home and you could not find the right tool for the job?

You need it to be empowered to get the job done. It is so frustrating when you are spending time looking for it rather than doing it.

Maybe J&J’s request was arrogant. Or maybe they really wanted to be empowered to do the work of Jesus.

The problem was they didn’t comprehend the work of Jesus. The didn’t get that his mission was not to be a warrior king but instead was to suffer and die.

Jesus’ Cup & Baptism

The cup up in OT was associated with God’s judgement and wrath against human rebellion. Baptism may // this — but it also shows the fullness of the cup.

Who ended up being on Jesus’ left and right.? The two criminals condemned to death. Jesus was glorified on the cross because love took all the hate we could throw at him and he refused to stop loving.

James and John would share in this same ministry — but not until Jesus had accomplished his mission on the cross.

Consumed with visions of honour and power — the other disciples were annoyed with James and John.

For their presumption? Or for their asking before the others had had a chance?

And its in light of this rift that Jesus paints the picture of Servant Leadership.

True Leadership

Disney nuts. Bigger the crowd, the lower the IQ. Leadership is a real gift. To have the best experience you need someone to lead. Someone who can balance fast passes, shows with down times with flexibility. Otherwise the group stands around wondering what to do or they spend all their time in lineups. Tired and miserable.

Leadership is a gift. And yet how many of us complain about our leaders? How many of us distrust our leaders?

The disciples distrusted Jesus. Their vision of his ministry was completely opposed to his vision. And yet it is his vision that lead to our life in God, and continues to offer the chief tool in dismantling cycles of violence: Self-giving love. Mercy — practicing forgiveness. Grace: Assuming the best in people. In the hopes of continued relationship.

Do you want to be great in God’s kingdom? Then out-do others in acts of service. Become a slave (Not based on Race but a sense of indebtedness).

Follow the example of Jesus - who in obedience to the Father - laid down his life that we might be freed from exile and brought home to live with our Father.

Servant Leadership

Lets be real — human governments are imperfect, but they are a provision from God and in the best of times point to God’s perfect future reign.

So vote — hope & pray that God will be working in our weakness

Also check yourself — are we in a place where its all about me? Are we living with J&J — God let my will be done right here and now?

Or are we praying with Jesus: Father thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?

We live out this prayer in the footsteps of Jesus. Keeping the vision of God’s reign before us and serving God in our neighbours.