Part Ten

Jesus Made Himself of No Reputation

Compared to God, mere men have no reputation at all.  They are just men, and no matter how great the achievement or how lofty the accomplishment, they are still just men.  Yet they strive to be considered ‘great’ and they often are driven to accomplish mighty feats of building or business or intellectual supremacy or, quite often, acts of charity.  Why?  Often, it’s to be known and admired by others.

Jesus addresses this pride in men with the following scriptures:

Matthew 6:1 “Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 23:5 “Everything they do is done for men to see…

Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Consider how Jesus’ actions and behaviors contrast with the religious crowd:

• Jesus did many miracles yet he said “don’t tell anyone”
• He washed the feet of his disciples
• He ate and drank with tax collectors 
• He received the woman with a checkered past and an alabaster
• Welcomed little children
• He was fully God – yet He humbled Himself to be shamed, beaten, and spit upon (Isaiah 53)
• Shameful and degrading thing to be crucified
• Worse than a common criminal

Jesus spoke of the hypocrites that prayed so that they would be seen. “For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matt 6:5).

You can substitute anything else besides pray, whether it’s their good works, giving, spiritual gifts or preaching.  “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:6). They lived to be noticed and seen as more important than others. Speaking of the Pharisees in John 12:43 “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

We always need to be careful of the traps of being sought after and put on a pedestal. Once pride sets in it becomes harder to return to walking in humility and letting God use you as He once may have.

A real servant is busy doing God’s work whether he is noticed or unnoticed. He doesn’t care if anyone watches him. His reward will be later.

This same mind (attitude) that Jesus had we are to have for one another- “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom 12:16). Jesus ate with the sinners, the less fortunate, and the needy. He enjoyed their company compared to the rich and important people. He purposely did not eat with the kings or leaders unless they had an open heart to listen.

Jesus made servanthood an absolute requirement for leadership. To be a servant one must let go of their own significance and be willing to serve others at their own expense. In Matthew 20:26-28: “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave–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 was the example He gave us in the apostles and others in the Church.  It was the example we need to live by.

Being a bondservant of Christ is a station in life that is proven through our service to His Church.  When we love as Christ loved, we will see the unredeemed through His compassionate eyes and we will love them as He did.  Jesus said “if you love me, feed my sheep.”

Serving Christ is much more than the “form” – it’s love in action and a heart attitude of humility that makes us want to be like Him – a bondservant of Christ.

On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 1
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 2
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 3
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 4
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 5
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 6
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 7
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 8
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 9