Who is the real boss?

Matthew 20:25-28 NASBS
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. [26] It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, [27] and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This is one more principle of the”upside down kingdom” that Jesus taught about.

This time Jesus was talking about His death on the cross with his disciples, and how He was about to fulfill Isaiah 53 as “The Suffering Servant.”

But it didn’t seem like the disciples understood Jesus very well. They weren’t looking at the example of suffering to be followed but to the rewards to be collected. They were after power, honour and influence.

They wanted to be sitting at a position where people would have to respect them, would have to honour them and that they would have power to rule over people, or as Jesus said, “to Lord over them.”

Wouldn’t it be perfect if such position was created? Our such structure of power? A place where we, as ambassadors of the King could justify our authority to rule over people, or demand that people paid honour and respect to our name and our position, and that people would fear our power and influence?

But as quickly as Jesus’ disciples climbed on that ladder, Jesus stood up and taught them this wasn’t His kingdom.

In His kingdom there would be servants willing to serve in such radical way that even death would be on the table. Servants that would serve each other because of love and not fear. Servants that would consider others above themselves. Servants that would consider other’s matters above their own interests. Servants that would empty themselves so that others may grow. Servants that would seek to serve, not Lord over others. Servants, slaves, suffering and making of themselves nothing. Does that ring a bell?

My prayer is that we, ambassadors of the upside down kingdom, don’t make of His church, Jesus, the Head of the Church, the Real Boss, The Only Boss, a comfortable place for us to exercise lordship over others.

My prayer is that we, ambassadors of the upside down kingdom, will be reminded that Our Lord, Our Real Boss, doesn’t have a seat of honour, comfort and authority for us on Earth, but a cup of suffering, humility and servanthood.

May we be found drinking of this cup, not sitting on that seat. Amen.