The focus of Christ's servanthood was not self but other: that other being the Father and us. "I solemnly assure you, the Son cannot do anything by himself--he can do only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise" (Jn 5:19). "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn 15:13). In both expressions of service--to the Father and to us--Jesus did all with zeal and love. In fact, he was consumed with the zeal of a servant. It is this consumption that led him to utter "I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited! I have a baptism to receive. What anguish I feel till it is over" (Lk 12:49-50)!

Jesus freely chose to embrace our humanity and to embrace the cross. He was not forced into servanthood. He chose this path freely, so that we could do the same. What seems to go against the grain of our fallen nature, namely, to put ourselves at the total service of another, to subject our will to take care of others first, to seek the good of another primarily, now in Christ becomes the way of life for the servants of Christ. What the world of today would consider intensely distasteful and humiliating--forced servitude--now is to be entered into joyfully and freely. "Defer to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21)....Give your service willingly, doing it for the Lord rather than men" (Eph 6:7).