Servus Servorum

Singular fact with regard to the apostles. They were at the same time troubled with two questions: “Which of them should be accounted the greatest?” and “Which of them should betray his Master?”

Where humility should have abounded ambition intruded.

Of the evil of self-seeking our Lord would cure the apostles.

The remedy which he used was his own conduct. John 13:12–17.

If he made himself least, they must not strive to be greatest.

May this example be blessed to us also!

Let us attentively note—

I. OUR LORD’S POSITION. “I am among you as he who serves.”

1. In the world our Lord was not one of the cultured few on whom others wait. He was a working-man, and in spirit he was servus servorum, servant of servants. Mark 10:45.

2. In the circle of his own disciples he was one that served. Where he was most Master he was most servant.

   • He was like a shepherd, servant to the sheep.
   • He was like a nurse, servant to a child.

3. In the celebration of the Supper, our Lord was specially among them “as he who serves,” for he washed his disciples’ feet.

4. In the whole course of his life, Jesus on earth ever took the place of the servant, or slave.

   • His ear was bored by his entering into covenant. “Mine ears have you dug, or pierced”: Psalm 40:6 (Margin); Exodus 21:6.
   • His office was announced at his coming, “Lo, I come to do your will!” Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:5–9.
   • His nature was fitted for service: he “took upon him the form of a servant”: Philippians 2:7.
   • He assumed the lowest place among men. Psalm 22:6; Is. 53:3.
   • He cared for others, and not for himself. “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve”: Mark 10:45.
   • He laid aside his own will. John 4:34; 6:38.
   • He bore patiently all manner of hardness. 1 Peter 2:23.

II. THE WONDER OF IT—That he should be a servant among his own servants.

The marvel of it was rendered the greater—

1. As he was Lord of all by nature and essence. Colossians 1:15–19.

2. As he was superior in wisdom, holiness, power, and in every other way, to the very best of them. Matthew 8:26, 27; John 14:9.

3. As he was so greatly their Benefactor. John 15:16.

4. As they were such poor creatures, and so unworthy to be served.

   • How could it be that they suffered themselves to be served of him?
   • How could it be that he endured to serve them?

III. THE EXPLANATION OF IT.

We must look for this to his own nature.

1. He is so infinitely great. Hebrews 1:2–4,

2. He is so immeasurably full of love. John 15:9; 1 John 3:16.

   • Because of these two things he condescended so marvelously.

IV. THE IMITATION OF IT.

Let us copy our Lord—

1. In cheerfully choosing to fulfill the most lowly offices.

2. In manifesting great lowliness of spirit, and humility of bearing. Ephesians 4:1–3; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5.

3. In laying ourselves out for the good of others. Let self-sacrifice be the rule of our existence. 2 Corinthians 12:15.

4. In gladly bearing injustice rather than break the peace, avenge ourselves, or grieve others. 1 Peter 2:19, 20; 3:14.

5. In selecting that place in which we receive least, and give most;—choosing to wait at table rather than to sit at meat.

   • Does not the text rebuke our pride?
   • Does it not arouse our adoring love?
   • Does it not lead us to gird up our loins to serve the brethren?

Concerning Service

When the son of Gamaliel was married, Rabbis Eliezer, Joshua, and Zadig were invited to the marriage-feast. Gamaliel, though one of the most distinguished men among the Israelites, himself waited on his guests, and pouring out a cup of wine, handed it to Eliezer, who politely refused it. Gamaliel then handed it to Joshua. The latter accepted it. “How is this, friend Joshua?” said Eliezer, “shall we sit and permit so great a man to wait on us?” “Why not?” replied Joshua, “a man even greater than he did so long before him. Was not our father Abraham a very great man? Yet even he waited upon his guests, as it is written, ‘and he (Abraham) stood by them while they were eating.’ Perhaps you may think he did so because he knew them to be angels; no such thing. He supposed them to be Arabian travelers, else he would neither have offered them water to wash their feet, nor viands to allay their hunger. Why, then, shall we prevent our kind host from imitating so excellent an example?” “I know,” exclaimed Rabbi Zadig, “a Being still greater than Abraham, who does the same. “Indeed,” continued he, “how long shall we be engaged in reciting the praises of created beings, and neglect the glory of the Creator? Even he, blessed be his name, causes the winds to blow, the clouds to accumulate, and the rain to descend! He fertilizes the earth, and daily prepares a magnificent table for his creatures. Why, then, shall we hinder our kind host, Gamaliel, from following so glorious an example?”—Hebrew Tales.

An old woman in Glencroe, visited by William McGavin, was found seated in bed, which, contrary to usual experience in the district, was scrupulously clean.

“You are an old servant of Christ, I understand,” said he.

“Servant of Christ!” she responded, “Na, na; I’m nothing pit a puir sinner. It’s nine-and-forty years syne he pegan tae serve me.”

“Serve you; how?”

“Dae you no ken that?” she replied. “In the hoose o’ Christ the Maister serves a’ the guests. Did he no’ himsel’ say, ‘I’m amang you as ane that serves’? When he brocht me hame tae himsel’ he then pegan tae serve me, an’ he ha’ served me before syne. Nane before compleened o’ Christ pein’ a pad servant!”

“Well, but I hope you are a servant for all that. In the state of glory his servants serve him; and what is perfected there must begin here.”

“That’s a’ fery true. I ken that I’m under his authority, pit somehoo I dinna like tae think much aboot servin’ Christ. It gi’es me nae comfort.”—The Sword and the Trowel.

Why is it that so many professed Christians “feel above” undertaking humble work for God and humanity? We have heard of a minister of Christ complaining that his station was “beneath his talents”! As if the soul of a beggar were beneath the genius of a Paul! Some are unwilling to enter a mission-school, or to distribute tracts through a poor district, strangely forgetting that their divine Master was himself a missionary. Have such never learned that the towel with which Jesus wiped his disciples’ feet outshone the purple that wrapped Caesar’s limbs? Do they not know that the post of honor is the post of service? “My seat in the Sunday-school is higher than my seat in the Senate,” said an eminent Christian statesman.—Dr. Cuyler.