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REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is the servant King. A servant is a person whose vocation or calling is dedicated to meeting the needs of others through a life of total submission. On the other hand, a king is a male ruler or sovereign monarch who has absolute power over his subject and his jurisdiction and to whom service is rendered at his beck and call. A servant King is a leader who is committed to serving his subjects regardless of his privileged position of power or authority. We shall reflect on the fact that we please God and also receive His blessings when we follow the example of Jesus Christ who is the Servant King.

Beloved in the Lord, following the perfect example of the Servant King, who is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, pleases God and brings His blessings upon us. “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:12-17). What blessing do we receive if we follow the example of the Servant King? We receive the blessing of divine exaltation or elevation which is true greatness. Jesus assures us in Matthew 23:11-12 that “The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” It is for this reason, Paul wrote, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Beloved in the Lord, following Jesus’ example of a Servant King is directly opposite to what the world upholds in the realm of Kingship. The world believes in demonstrating one authority as King and lording it over others. Jesus teaches us the opposite when He says, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28). In the example of Christ, the concept of the Servant King is a radical paradigm shift from the worldly view of power and leadership. It is a call to a life of submission and service even in a position of power and privilege. Many people want to be Kings or desire to occupy positions of power but only a few desire to be servants of the people. This is the problem we have mainly in African societies. Some Church leaders and Politicians have made themselves demi-gods because of their privileged position of power or authority. One common title shared by church leaders and politicians is “Minister.” The title “Minister” means a servant and this servant’s core mandate is to give help to or care for people. The question is “Do our religious and political ministers pay critical attention to the needs of their people as servants who have been placed in a position of power or authority to serve rather than lord it of over people?

Our understanding of power and leadership must be radically different from that of the world, let us “… not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2). In other words, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”(Philippians 2:5-7). Are you following Jesus’ example of a Servant-King as a pastor, catechist, presbyter, group leader, boss or supervisor at your workplace, government appointee, chief executive, parliamentarian, minister of state, or spouse at home? Indeed every believer is a disciple of Christ and must demonstrate Jesus’ Servant King example wherever he or she is. Let us remember that a disciple does not have an option whether or not to obey the master, it is a command from our Lord Jesus Christ that we follow His perfect example as Servant Kings.

In summary, we have meditated on the theme “The Servant King”. We have discovered that we please God and also receive His blessings when we follow the example of Jesus Christ who is the Servant King.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, strengthen us to follow Jesus Christ, the perfect model of a servant King. Help us to overcome pride and abuse of power in our relationship with those we are called to serve and may our service and leadership bring glory to God. Amen.