Question: Why did Jesus come to earth on that first Christmas Day?
Answer: In order, not to be served, but to serve.
For that is what we’re told in Mark 10:45, just after Jesus tells his disciples that, whoever wanted to be great amongst them would have to be a servant, and whoever wanted to be first amongst them would have to be the slave of all.
The Bible then, gives us a way of behaving that is the complete opposite of how our society encourages us to act. Far from it being determined by how much we have accumulated for ourselves, success is ultimately measured by how much we have been able to give away; it’s not how hard others have to work for us that counts, but how hard we’re prepared to work for the good of those who need our help; and it’s not pride in ourselves that we should be looking to achieve – instead we should be striving to act with genuine humility, considering others more significant than ourselves. [Philippians 2:3]
These are of course fine words, ones that, over the years, many have given lip service to. But has there ever been anyone who acted in this way?
Because I for sure haven’t.
Even so, there was one person – someone who really did show how great he was by behaving exactly like this for the whole of his earthly life.
And I’m thinking, of course, about
‘…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by 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 the cross’ [Philippians 2:5-8].
Jesus then was the one who, not only talked the talk, but walked the walk – the one who came to earth that first Christmas Day in order, not to be served, but to serve.
To reveal the secrets concealed behind door 6 of last year’s Christmas Countdown, click here
Some musings 