SERVANT OF ALL!

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:30-37).

Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:2). Amen.

Dear fellow Christians, Presidential election campaign is in its peak in Ukraine nowadays. Less than one month is left before elections. More than twenty candidates would like to win the position of the President of the country. TV and radio, newspapers and journals, big-boards and wall advertisements compete as for which of the candidates is better.

This is nothing new in the world. Our Gospel text for today tells us of the similar discussions between the Lord's disciples. After coming to Capernaum the Lord has asked His disciples what has been the topic of their discussion. The disciples were believers and therefore they were too ashamed to answer because as it is written, "by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest." Who should be the greatest? Andrew who was the first called? Or maybe Peter because he was confessing the Lord most vigorously? Or maybe Judas since he was carrying a treasury? Who was the greatest? How can one determine that?

Dear brothers and sisters, does not this discussion seem familiar as we look back at our last week relation at families, work and elsewhere? Who is the greatest? From the time of the fall this dispute became that important that families were broken because of that. Because of that countries dispersed and wars broke out. Because of that dispute genocides were practiced. Because of that dispute arts of ads and gossiping developed.

The Lord answers this dispute in His own way. He sits down and then says, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." Do you want to be the greatest, Peter? - says the Lord. - Be the last of all and be their servant. Judas, do you want to be the greatest? Be the last of all , too and become a servant of your brothers. This is the same true about James and John, Serhiy and V'yacheslav, about all the people who are here today. This is equally true about all the people.

This true because the Son of God says so. This true because this is done by Him in truth. As it is written, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philip. 2:6-8).

True God became man to serve Andrew and Peter, to serve James and John. Eternal Son of God took upon Him the form of a servant to complete the Law on the place of Philip and Bartholomew. Jesus Christ became obedient unto death on the cross to wash all our sins away with His holy blood. He never deserved any death. But He took all our trespasses, so He died for us.

Jesus died for the sins of Peter and Andrew, John and James. Jesus even died for the sins of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him. Jesus died for our forefathers and for the sins of our descendants. Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins.

He has done it so that we would not know eternal death for our sins. The Son of God has served us because of His inexpressible love to every human being, to all of us. As He says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). As then, the Lord says us even today, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."

Jesus became servant of us even unto death on the cross. He died for our sins and He has risen for our justification. As it is written further, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philip. 2:9-11).

Christ became the last. Christ became the servant of mankind. Christ died on the Cross of Calvary for our forgiveness. Christ is risen from the dead to declare our belonging to the eternal Kingdom of God. He became the last, He became the servant of all, so God has highly exalted Him so that we could believe in Him, worship Christ and praise Him for our salvation from the sin, devil and death. He did it so that we could confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Adam and Eve, Christ is the Lord of Abraham and David, Christ is our Lord.