The True Servant 真正的仆人

[Dexu Xia]

The True Servant

Being found in appearance as a man, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8

In 27 bc, the Roman ruler Octavian came before the Senate to lay down his powers. He’d won a civil war, become the sole ruler of that region of the world, and was functioning like an emperor. Yet he knew such power was viewed suspiciously. So Octavian renounced his powers before the Senate, vowing to simply be an appointed official. Their response? The Roman Senate honored the ruler by crowning him with a civic crown and naming him the servant of the Roman people. He was also given the name Augustus—the “great one.”

Paul wrote of Jesus emptying Himself and taking on the form of a servant. Augustus appeared to do the same. Or had he? Augustus only acted like he was surrendering his power but was doing it for his own gain. Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). Death on a Roman cross was the worst form of humiliation and shame.

Today, a primary reason people praise “servant leadership” as a virtue is because of Jesus. Humility wasn’t a Greek or Roman virtue. Because Jesus died on the cross for us, He’s the true Servant. He’s the true Savior.

Christ became a servant in order to save us. He “made himself nothing” (v. 7) so that we could receive something truly great—the gift of salvation and eternal life.

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Why is it true that we’re never out of God’s reach? What does it mean for you to know that Jesus is the Servant who suffered and died in order to save you?

Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me. Your servanthood wasn’t a show but the reality of Your love for me. Fill my heart with love and gratitude today.

真正的仆人

既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。—腓立比书2章8节

公元前27年，罗马统治者屋大维（Octavian）来到元老院，宣示放弃一切权力。那时，他已打赢一场内战，成为罗马共和国唯一的执政官，他的权力就像个罗马皇帝。但屋大维明白这庞大的权力没有得到肯定，所以他在元老院前宣布放弃所有权力，愿意接受指派担任普通的公仆。元老院如何回应呢？他们尊荣这位统治者，授予他一顶槲叶环并称他为罗马人民的公仆，甚至尊称他为“奥古斯都”，意为神圣伟大。

保罗提到耶稣倒空自己，取了奴仆的形象。奥古斯都看来也是如此，但真是这样吗？其实奥古斯都只是假装放下权力，真正的目的是图谋私利。但耶稣却是“自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上”（腓立比书2章8节）。在罗马帝国时期，被钉死在十字架上是最屈辱且羞耻的死亡方式。

现今大家都赞许“仆人式领导”为美德，主要是因耶稣谦卑的榜样。谦卑不是希腊或罗马人推崇的品德。耶稣为我们死在十字架上，显明祂是真的仆人，是我们真的救主。

基督成为仆人，是为了拯救我们。因为祂的“虚己”（7节），我们得着伟大的救恩和永生。

为什么我们永远不会与上帝隔绝？
明白耶稣为了救你而成为受苦、
受死的仆人，对你有何意义？

亲爱的耶稣，感谢祢为我牺牲生命。
祢奴仆的形象并不虚假，而是真爱的流露。
今天，求祢使我的心充满爱和感恩。