Minister, Master, Messiah

As our Minister, Jesus is our servant, that is, He labors for us.  Paul said Jesus came in the “form of a bondservant” (Phil. 2:7).  As such, He ministered to the needs of those around Him.  He not only healed the lame, blind, and sick, but He also served the greatest need of man by addressing man’s sin (Matt. 4:23-25; Jn. 1:29).  While on earth, Jesus said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).  We are to learn from His example and serve others (Matt. 20:20-27).

Jesus is also our Master.  He is greater than us in nature, character, and action.  Jesus’ nature is divine, ours is human (Heb. 1:8).  He is our Creator and we are His creatures (Jn. 1:1-3).  Jesus is superior to us in character as well.  He is infallible; we are fallible (Heb. 4:15; Rom. 3:23).  While on earth, facing temptations and trials, He never strayed from God’s will (Jn. 8:29).  In action, He is greater in wisdom and knowledge, and is the master teacher (Jn. 13:13).

Further, Jesus is our Messiah.  As such, He came to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10).  He offered His body and blood as a sacrifice for our sins (Matt. 26:26-29; Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28; cf. Heb. 10:5-10).  He is the one and only Savior (Jn. 14:6).  Therefore, we must choose Messiah, not Mohammed; the Bethlehemite, not the Buddha; the “Prince of Peace,” not the pope.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginng with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
- John 1:1-3

The Case for Christ
By Lee Strobel