The Servant’s Heart
Why should it be important for us today to consider the First Century Church? My primary reason for this consideration is that I care about the church of Jesus Christ. Some wonderful things are happening today but I also see some dangerous trends these days. After 50 years of observation I have come to the strong conclusion that many of our problems stem from our lack of attention to the original plan of Christ Himself. The men who were personally trained by Jesus had an advantage over us. And yet, God has wonderfully preserved in the bible the results of their experience for our learning!
Hence my enthusiasm for this discussion.
On the other side I would ask this question: Why would we not want to learn from the First Century Church?
Each time I have read through the book we call the Acts of the Apostles, I have been challenged and inspired by the passion, the courage and the power I see in the lives of these followers of Christ. Each messenger of the Gospel had a personal encounter with Jesus that they were able to communicate to others, and to pass along to them. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I want that for myself and all of my fellow believers. I believe we can possess it because God has communicated to us in the New Testament that it is for us as well.
For approximately 3 1/2 years, Jesus took special time with 12 men who were called to be His ambassadors, His apostles. He taught them lessons in private that were not a part of His public discourses. This special attention might have gone to their heads. Feeling privileged and important they began to contend with one another as to who among them would be the greatest.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” NKJV (Mark 10:42-45, see also Matthew 20:25 & Luke 22:24-27)
Here and in other passages Jesus establishes Himself as the prime example of a humble servant and even a slave to others (John 13:13-15, 1 Peter 2:21-22). Likewise leaders in the Christian community were also to lead in this example themselves. (1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Peter 5:1-6).
This is in stark contrast to many leaders in the world, and even in the church throughout history! How much of true intimacy with Christ are we missing when we fail to experience the joy of serving others as He did?
Jesus knew that his disciples would not become servants of all overnight. This is seen in a conversation He had with John’s disciples.
Matthew 9:14-17:
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
NIV
Many Old Testament prophecies were about to be fulfilled. Great changes were to take place involving the people of God. John the Baptist and Jesus had both been tearing up the roots of idolatry, pride, rebellion, and unbelief in their hearts.
His 12 apostles were not excepted from this process. At this time they were riding high in the success of His mission. The Bridegroom, their Prince was among them, but not for long. He warned them in advance, but they could not hear it. When He was eventually taken from them they were shocked, humiliated, disillusioned, and broken up by the death of their Messiah on a cross.
An old covenant system of worship was on its way out, but the old attitudes and habits of the followers of Jesus also needed to go. These confident young men were about to be used of God to lead this new revolution of faith. They must first learn to transfer all of their confidence from themselves to God. Jesus told them that without Him they could do nothing!
How many of us can identify with this experience? Have you also been brought low by your failures, or the disappointments of life? Have you by God’s grace persevered through it all until the light at the end of the tunnel was seen? Then, when it was all over and a new day became clear, were you also in a better place than ever before?
Can we possibly walk with these First Century believers through the time when their dreams were utterly destroyed? Then, can we embrace with them the unspeakable joy and wonder at His glorious resurrection and escape from a guarded tomb? They could never be the same again. Even though they still did not understand the manner by which His Kingdom would come, it did not matter now! He is risen and alive forevermore!
When they received the promised power from on high and were filled unto overflowing with the Holy Spirit, this time it did not boost their egos. Instead they knew their weaknesses and His power better than before. They became the new wineskin which contained the blessing of the new wine of the Holy Spirit.
In my lifetime I have many times seen the blessing of God upon us as we gather unto Him. At the same time I have also seen the failure of old wineskins to contain the blessings He offers. In our pride we have tried to steer the ship to where we wanted it to go. We have held fast to our man-made traditions that too often serve our pride and egos. We have learned how to please people first in order to gain their support for our vision for our church.
Very recently I have once more witnessed the failure of old wineskins to contain the wine and have seen them spitting open themselves at great loss. We desperately need to return to humility and the simplicity of the First Century Church! Are we willing to receive a fresh vision of Christ in His Church? Are we also willing to give of ourselves with Servant Hearts to build up others in His Kingdom?
Think about it!
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