The ultimate/perfect servant
by Norma Koehne
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Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35b).
Read Mark 9:30–37
I often wonder at the meaning of the term ‘public servant’. It should mean people who work for the good of society as a whole. However, it is often characterised by those pushing and back-stabbing to gain the best position, to be the greatest.
Unfortunately, the disciples of Jesus were not immune to this impulse. Jesus gives them a subtle object lesson by taking a small child and telling them that one so small and of no apparent value is to be welcomed just as he is welcomed.
What is surprising is that before the disciples argued about who was the greatest, Jesus had clearly told them that he would suffer, die and be raised after three days. Truly, he, who was the first – the Son of God – became the last, suffering a shameful death and paying for our sins with even greater suffering as he was separated from his Father for our sake. Having done this, he became the greatest of all.
Philippians 2:5–11 shows this most clearly:
Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God, give me this servant mind. Amen.
Norma grew up in Koonibba SA. She was a teacher at Concordia College in SA and then served in various roles in Papua New Guinea with her husband. Returning to Australia, Norma worked as an International Student Advisor and, after completing a PhD, worked in administration at the University of Divinity. She has been privileged to serve the LCA on the General Church Board, the Seminary Council, and as president of Lutheran Women of Victoria and Lutheran Women of Australia. Currently, she is happily retired.
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