Matthew 20:25-28
We often think of great people as the ones with authority, prominence, and power. Though Jesus had all that, He laid it aside to become a servant (Isa. 42:1).
Jesus gave Himself completely to fulfill the Father’s plan of redemption, even though the beneficiaries—each of us—were undeserving. God, who is holy and righteous, has “eyes ... too pure to approve evil, and [He] can not look on wickedness with favor” (Hab. 1:13). Yet all of humanity is marked by wrongdoing (Rom. 3:23).
Jesus’ ultimate act of service was to give His life to rescue us (Matt. 20:28). He made it possible for all of us to be free and to experience the joy that comes with being united to God in love, which was the Father’s intention from the moment we were created by His loving hands.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we receive the gift of grace. We are now sons and daughters of the Almighty! He served the Father’s purpose faithfully. He gave up His righteousness to carry the weight of all our failures and endured pain and disgrace to bring us salvation. To meet our needs, the Savior held nothing of Himself back and thereby set a powerful example of servanthood for us to follow.
Bible in One Year: Ephesians 4-6
