Why is Serving Others a Part of the Atonement?

[James Nored]

Jesus is our model for everything, including serving others. Paul says that our attitude ought to be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who took the “very nature of a servant” (Phil. 2:5-8). Jesus lived a life of service, healing people, feeding the hungry, casting out demons, and more. 

In Matthew 20:24-28, in dealing with a selfish dispute with James and John (the sons of Zebedee), Jesus calls his disciples to this life of service.

 

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.   21 “What is it you want?” he asked.   She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”   22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”   “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

Of all the people in the world who could demand to be served, who could insist upon his own way, it was surely Jesus, the Son of God. And yet, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve others. And he demonstrated this heart of service by giving up his own life “as a ransom for many.”

This passage in Matthew is one of the atonement passages--passages that deal with Christ’s death on the cross and the meaning behind this death. By dying on the cross, Jesus ransoms us--frees us--from sin and the slavery that it brings. It is interesting that something like service could be so intimately tied to the atonement. Why so? Is service this profound?

Indeed, service is this profound. By serving others and giving up our own selfish desires, we display the heart and character of Christ. We display to the world an alternative reality, an alternative story, upon which to base our lives. 

The world says that everything is about us--about our power, control, and glory. Christ says, the essence of life--the pathway to true joy--is serving others. Which pathway will you choose this week? --James