What is the definition of a servant? I haven't looked it up, but there's a definition that comes to mind; one who renders a service to an employer and gets paid for it. What is the definition of a slave? Again, I haven't looked it up but the definition that comes to mind is; one who renders a service and does not get paid for it. What is a prisoner? One who is detained/held within a confined space or environment where he doesn't want to be.
I am bringing up these terminologies in connection with the Holy Scripture because there are some, when considering the question...'Was Jesus Christ a ‘slave'?'...will expressly look for the word 'slave' when reading the Words of Christ. When they search and can’t find where He actually called Himself a 'slave', they will answer…‘no’...Christ did not think of Himself as a slave. But the Word of God in Is 28:9-10 tells us that it is by, ‘…line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little-there a little…’ that we come to ‘understand’ The Word of God.
The answer is, yes He was! When He was amongst us, walking in flesh, here on earth, Jesus was a servant...He was a slave...He was a prisoner ...and more. He was all these things for His ‘Employer’. He did not have to be, but he 'elected' to be all these things in order to do the will of His ‘Employer’. Let me explain:
When Jesus called Himself a 'servant' in Luke 22:27...was He receiving pay for being a servant? If He was not receiving pay for being a servant then, He was, indeed, His 'Employer's slave! Slave???!!! You are shocked, are you not? But, let's think about this; since Jesus Christ was indeed a servant, as He called Himself, He was rendering a ‘service’ for which He was not being paid thus,...He was a salve. Let’s look at another instance where Jesus, the ‘servant’, donned another title. In the Garden of Eden...was Jesus Christ a servant...a slave...or a prisoner? He called out...to His 'Employer' in Luke 22:42 and said, '...Remove this cup...nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done...'. He(His Humanity) had a strong desire not to be where He was. He(His Humanity) did not want to be in the position that He was in...but He was ‘bound/owned', fiercely dedicated to His 'Employer’. He worked for over 3 years with no pay, because He was committed! He was a servant, He was a slave, He was a prisoner, for us! Yes, a prisoner! When He allowed Himself to be taken from that Garden and beaten...He became a Prisoner(spiritually and literally). Yes!…He, the Servant , who was a Slave…was obedient to every iota of His Employer’s demands and became a Prisoner…for us. Then he donned yet, another title and became a ‘Sacrificial Lamb’…that was for us too.
You say to yourself, I 'know' He was the Lamb of God...and maybe I can accept 'prisoner' but...'slave'??? How is it that we can accept in our minds the picture of Him being punched and beaten unmercifully and the picture of Him hanging on a Cross with spikes in His hands and feet as life ebbed out of Him, but... somehow ...our minds balk against the fact that He was a slave? I think its the pride reigns within ourselves because, knowing My Jesus...I know He didn't mind. Yes...His temporary cloack of Humanity cried out along the way but He was committed...forever and entirely...to His 'Employer'...because of us.
Remember in John 12:26 He said, if any man serve me, let him follow me and be a servant to me? Also, Matt 16:24, He said; Let a man deny himself...take up his cross and follow me. And to the rich young ruler, who hardly understood, in Matt 19:21, He said; ‘Sell all you have...have treasure in heaven...follow me’. This means that we too, become servants, slaves, prisoners, lambs (literally and spiritually)when we take on the ‘mind’ of Christ; Phil 2:5-8. Thus, when Paul called himself and others 'prisoners'; Eph 3:1, 3:4, 2Tim 1:8, Philemon 1 & 923, we can understand that he was referring to a 'spiritual state' of mind. A surrendered, totally ‘committed state’ of heart, mind, soul and body!
How do we take on this ‘mind’ of Christ? We do it the way Jesus took on the mind of His 'Employer'. Jesus, who was clothed in ‘our’ Humanity, was able to become servant, slave, prisoner and ‘Lamb’ because of His 'Employer's…LOVE!!!
Yes! Jesus Surrendered His Crown, His Throne, His Divinity, His 'Will' and did the 'Will of Humanity' through the awesome...POWER OF LOVE! Was Jesus a 'Slave'??? You bet He was!...and oh, so much more! The Word says, Jhn 3:16 '...God so Loved the World that He gave His only Begotten son...' Well, since Jesus and the Father are One, Jhn 10:30...then Jesus, '..So Loved the World'!
He gave up Everything to The Only True and Wise GOD…Who ever Was and Still Is…that Unmatchable, Uncontainable, All Encompassing SPIRIT...called...L-O-V-E!!! (1st John 4:8)
1Tim 3:16
copyright; jmsbell-6/16/13
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I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL AGREE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS A SERVANT. SOME WILL ALLOW THE TERM, 'PRISONER' TO GET BY. BUT WHAT ABOUT...HIM BEING THOUGHT OF AS A SLAVE? BEFORE YOU ANSWER, PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND. JESUS DID NOT USE ANY OF HIS DIVINE POWERS TO DO 'ANYTHING' BEFORE CALVARY. THIS IS WHY HE ENCOURAGED HIS DISCIPLES WITH(PARAPHRASING)(MAT 17:20)...IF YOU HAVE FAITH THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF A MUSTARD SEED YOU CAN MOVE A MOUNTAIN...NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU. AND ALSO(JHN 14:12)...GREATER WORKS THAN I DO...YOU WILL DO.