Right Side Up - Coming in Last Place
' He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” '
Mark 9:35
With the Olympic Games, the gold medal goes to the one who comes in first -- the fastest, the highest, the strongest, the greatest, the best.
And it is the same for every other competition; sports, academics, arts, whatever it might be. Everyone is aiming to finish first in every aspect of life.
The Greatest
In the excerpt from the Book of Mark we read above, before Jesus called His disciple over, they were busy arguing with one another, debating who among them was the greatest. They probably were saying we think we have the top three but who gets the bronze, the silver and the gold medal.
And Peter, James and John were probably in the thick of that fight. Each one saying, me, me, no me.
The Last Place
Jesus called them over and schooled them by saying whoever among you wants to be first, must be the last --none of the others will serve him but rather he needs to be the servant of all or beneath everyone else.
This probably would have just went over their heads, not really understanding an unheard of and ridiculous idea.
Walk the Talk
But Jesus finally explained this to them before having their last supper together, He bent down and one by one, washed every single one of their stinky and dirty feet, a chore that is normally performed by female slaves or maid servants, one of the lowliest of tasks.
Jesus did this to show them that no activity or job is beneath Him. He showed them in action that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, is the servant of them all.
He came to serve and not to be served. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. He got everyone covered.
But Jesus finally explained this to them before having their last supper together, He bent down and one by one, washed every single one of their stinky and dirty feet, a chore that is normally performed by female slaves or maid servants, one of the lowliest of tasks.
Jesus did this to show them that no activity or job is beneath Him. He showed them in action that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, is the servant of them all.
He came to serve and not to be served. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. He got everyone covered.
Quote
A sports writer once wrote that “It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.”
Now Jesus came, not to get a participation trophy, He came so that everyone of us will have an equal chance and opportunity to participate.
Impartial
Christ is no respecter of persons.
God shows no partiality, or undue favor or unfairness. With Him one person is no different from another.
God shows no partiality, or undue favor or unfairness. With Him one person is no different from another.
Yes, we are all the same, and in the end of our life here on earth, this will become apparent. We were all born and we will all breathe our last breath.
The Dash
The Dash
'But many who are first will be last, and the last first.' Matthew 19:30
Church of the Lost Sheep 2012
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