Christ's Servant: His Duties and Rewards

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John 12:24-26

Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die…

The motto of the Prince of Wales is "Ich dien — I serve; it should be the motto of every prince of the blood royal of heaven.

I. PLAIN DIRECTIONS FOR A VERY HONOURABLE OFFICE.

1. We should all like to minister to Christ. If He were here now there would be nothing which we would not do for Him, so we say. But much of this is mere sentiment. If Christ were to come now as He came at first, probably we should treat Him as He was treated. This sentimentalism has at the bottom of it the idea that we should be honouring ourselves by it. But if you really would serve Christ, you can, by following, i.e., imitating Him.

(1) One says, I should like to do something to prove that I really would obey my Lord. I would show that I am not a servant in name only." Imitate Christ, and you then show your obedience.

(2) Another says, "I would joyfully assist Him in His wants." Imitate Him, then, and go about doing good. Behold His wants in the poor saints.

(3) "I would do something to cheer Him." The solace of His sorrow is the obedience of His people. When He sees that He sees of the travail of His soul, etc.

(4) "I would honour Him." Christ is most honoured when His saints are most sanctified. Follow Him thus, and you will honour Him more than by strewing palm branches in His way and shouting "Hosannah!"

2. Let me mark out Christ's way, and then, if you would serve Him, follow Him. The proud flesh wants to follow Christ by striking out new paths, to he an original thinker. It is not for us to be originals, but humble copies of Christ.

(1) He went to Jordan to be baptized. If you would serve Him don't say this is not essential; it is not a servant's business to determine that.

(2) The Spirit led Him to be tempted of the devil; don't think that temptation is a mark of being out of Christ.

(3) Now He comes forth to work. So you must follow Him in labour. If you cannot preach to thousands you can to tens, or to one, as He did by Jacob's well.

(4) He bears bold witness before His adversaries. Let there not be a foe before whose face you would fear to plead His cause.

(5) He comes into the black cloud of reproach; they say He has a devil and is mad. Follow Him there.

(6) He comes to die. Be ready to yield thy life if called upon, and if not, devote every moment of it to Him.

II. GENEROUS STIPULATIONS FROM A NOBLE MASTER. "Where I am," etc. Whoever heard of such conditions. The master is in the drawing room, the servant in the kitchen; the master presides at the table, the servant waits at the table. Not so here.

1. This was Christ's role all His life long.

(1) He went to a wedding, to the house of Lazarus, to the Pharisee's house, and had He been an ordinary man He would have said, "I can. not take these poor fishermen with Me;" but they were always with Him: with Him too in His triumphal entry and His last great feast. "With desire," etc.

(2) But if He thus shared His comforts among His disciples, He expected them to share His discomforts. He was in a ship in a great storm, and they must be with Him though they were sore afraid. He goes to Gethsemane, and they must be with Him there; and though He had to tread the winepress alone, yet they were with Him in death, for they suffered martyrdom.

2. This stands true to us. Where Christ was we must be. He is gone to heaven now, and where He is we shall be also. Fare ill or well we are to have joint stock with Christ.

III. A GLORIOUS REWARD FOR IMPERFECT SERVICES. "Him will my Father honour."

1. In his own soul. He shall have such peace and fellowship that this honour shall be apparent. How greatly God honoured Knox, who never feared the face of man, with unruffled serenity of heart!

2. By success in whatever he may attempt. Why is it that little success rests on some who labour for God? Because they do not serve Christ by imitating Him. Ecclesiastical courts and rubrics confine too many.

3. At the last, before the angels.

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