Jesus is speaking in broad terms as he describes what people in power can be like. They can intimidate, bully, threaten, and seek to control. In contrast, Jesus says, we are called to live differently. We must not follow the way of the world with its structures of privilege, race, class, gender, culture, influence, politics, or religious elitism. Jesus says we are to be servants, following his example. He came not to be served but to serve and “to give his life as a ransom for many.”

All our relationships—parent-child, wife-husband, pastor-congregation, teacher-student—need to be refreshed from tendencies to control and manipulate. Instead the focus should be on serving others, helping people to flourish, and empowering everyone to honor, worship, and follow Christ.

Are you a servant in the example of Christ in your circles of influence? In what ways are you serving others as a neighbor, friend, spouse, parent, family member, teacher, or church member?

We are children of the heavenly Father and disciples of Jesus, who did not consider glory a thing to be grasped, but who humbled himself to die on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). Because of Jesus, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices so that the name and kingdom of God are made known.