What Does It Mean to Be a Servant?

I remember the first time that I saw John.  Worship had already begun, and as I was up front sharing some announcements, I noticed someone quietly edging his way into the building.  A tall man, silently moving so no one around him noticed him making his way in.  A gentleness about him, but at the same time - a dominating force, I was fairly certain he could inflict great damage simply by using his thumb.  He purposely stood at attention for most of the worship service.  Arriving after worship began.  Leaving before it ended.  Week after week.  Until one week, he didn't stand the entire time.  He pulled up a loose chair to the very outside of the circle.  Week after week.

On a week when I had less responsibilities - I was able to chase John out the door to greet him.  Probably not the wisest move given the fact I had now determined he wouldn't even need to lift a finger to kill me, just look at me wrong...  But as a person who has also snuck in and out of worship services, I at least wanted to know his name.  John knew that I was persistent enough, and let me catch up to him.  Introducing himself with his last name, a formal tone, and a "ma'm," the military background was confirmed.  Weeks passed by until he finally asked to schedule a sit down with myself and "my superior."  

As it turned out, John had spent 10 years overseas in the military.  Because he was one of the best at what he did, he had seen the worst.  He didn't want to talk about his service.  Transition into every day life.  What it meant to be back Stateside and attending university classes with people who took the very freedom for granted, for which he had pledged to give his life fighting for.  Rather - he was honest.  He wanted to know if it was ok that he was a "Catholic" who had a crass sense of humor.  Would it be ok if he became a member of our church?  He then continued to give a discourse on how our unit was sloppy, what we needed to do to improve security, and get things shaped up into "dress right dress." The sarcasm, laced with colorful vocabulary, Scriptural references, and standing every time I stood - it was a moment where I knew I was about to be blessed beyond what I deserved.

John was committed.  He decided we were his family, and no one messed with HIS family.  Endless hours of hard work, being willing to share his faith, and daring to trust a ragtag group of people who didn't have it all together - it was a picture of how God means things to be.  When people would find out that John was leading Bible study?  The numbers would double.  He had a unique way of translating the stories from God's Word into every day language.  People would hang off his every word as he shared what it meant to see a "flame retardant juniper" and how Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead was a "pants - pooping" moment.  Because of this man - countless people have a deeper relationship with Jesus.

The gruff exterior was only a small piece that endeared him to so many - because they saw what it meant to be a follower of Jesus in every day life by watching John.  The way he held a door open for people.  His simple, yet deep prayers.  His protection.  Leaving worship to find a young woman who had left in tears - giving her a hug (something he hated) and praying with her.  Helping change the culture and feeding people in need.  When danger was at its worst on the streets - opening up his own home to a member of our homeless family.  Helping the man find a job, driving him to and from work, and sharing his one bedroom apartment for months.

And at the end of the day, what was most striking, was when anyone would thank John for what he was doing.  Whether holding a door, building shelves in the basement to house canned food, walking people to their cars, or the patience he exuded when teaching Bible study.  He didn't want thanks.  He didn't want credit.  And he would tell you to stop thanking him.  It wasn't because he had an over or under - inflated sense of pride or ego.  Rather - he considered it a daily part of discipleship.  "Thanks is not required, ma'm."

We meet this odd sentiment in the reading from Luke 17:1-10.  What looks like a bunch of sayings thrown together as Jesus is moving back and forth between the audience of the Pharisees and the disciples, Jesus is about to address some basic concrete ideas.  This text is the conclusion to the section that began in 13.10 in asking the question: "Who will participate in the kingdom?"   This transition, and Jesus' answer, sums up what it means to be a servant:

1.  Don't cause others to sin.

2.  Forgive.

3.  Have faith.

4.  Don't look for credit.

Jesus is trying to do a "cultural reset" and show the disciples this is the way it is supposed to be. Jesus' point to the disciples in verses 1-2 are a summation of the parable of Lazarus.  Verses 3-4 are a summation of the Lost Son.  And in this Jesus is continuing to show that one iota of the Law does not disappear.  Harkening back to Genesis 4:23-26, Jesus is showing that the idea of retribution and justice is not left in man's hands, but continuing to redefine the cultural standard, Jesus sets the tone for the restoration that God is accomplishing.  Even in this.  Is it about retribution and repaying wrong seventy times seven times?  Or is forgiveness to be found, seventy times seven times?

Every day.  One. Day. At. A. Time.

The disciples know that this is almost impossible, and so their response is ours.  Please Jesus.  We can't do this.  Give us faith.  This is overwhelming.  

They don't have the kind of faith that is required. Neither do we.  This is the gift that is given to us.  Jesus' death and resurrection - and the promise that we will not be left alone.  "God with us" is taken to new heights, beyond what we could ever imagine.  Not simply dwelling with us, but dwelling in us by His Spirit.

"In a message transparently designed to locate his disciples over and against a Pharisaic mind-set, Jesus opposes any suggestion that obedience might be construed as a means to gain honor, or that one might engage in obedience to receive a reward." 

Jesus knows the temptation that comes with the freedom he is giving us here.  It's easy to run back, look at the old culture, and begin to tell each and every person how wrong they are with an air of arrogance.  To right all the wrongs in a sanctimonious fashion, quickly forgetting the gift you were given, twisting it, rather than loving people into the kingdom, in the same way that Jesus has done for you.  It would be tempting for the disciples to throw things back in others' faces, so Jesus tells them a parable, illustrating a positive with a negative question in verses 7-10.

My real life illustration, provided by God, was found in John.  The very nature of daily discipleship.

While John's illustration of what it meant to be a true servant was a blessing to me and to so many, the ultimate illustration that he was following was found in Christ Jesus.  More than an illustration - Jesus gave his disciples  - and us - an incredible gift.  He included us in His story, blessed to serve, because Jesus himself didn't cause others to sin.  Rather - he who knew no sin - became sin.  The forgiveness that was achieved on our behalf through his death and resurrection is what gives us faith that we may have the mind among ourselves which is found in Christ Jesus, "who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  That we as his beloved may work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  (Philippians 2:6-13)