LENT: Prepare the Way of the Lord (WEEK 3)

Week 3-Serving

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Jesus’ entire life was characterized by serving others. In Matthew 20:28 we read this, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The purpose of Lent is to immerse our hearts and minds in the truths of the gospel, worship Jesus Christ, and to ask God for the strength to walk in the ways of Jesus. If we are going to immerse our hearts and minds in the gospel we will have to spend most of our time thinking about the cross. The servant’s heart and sacrificial attitude of Jesus is most clearly on display on the cross. The wages we earned for our sin was death (Romans 6:23). Jesus graciously served us by dying on the cross, in our place, taking our sins upon himself, so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life. We worship Jesus because of his great love for us demonstrated on the cross. But it does not stop there. Because of this great love poured out on our behalf we now should desire to go and serve others. This week spend time mediating on Mark 8:31-38. In this passage we find that Peter has a strong aversion to the idea of serving others. Jesus goes on to tell Peter (and you and I) “For whoever would save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Scripture Meditation
• Mark 8:31-38

Questions for Reflection
• Here are the the two most important questions you can ask after reading God’s Word: What is God saying to you through this passage? What will your response be to what God is saying?
• Why did Jesus say that the “Son of Man must suffer many things”?
• In what ways was Peter setting his mind on the things of man, not on the things of God? How are we tempted to do the same thing today?
• Jesus says that if we are going to follow him we will deny ourselves and take up our cross. What are some ways that you need to deny yourself this week so that you can truly follow in the path of Christ?
• Moms and dads, ask your kids how they can be serving others (home, neighborhood, school).

Picture is ‘Christ in Gethsemane’, Vasily Perov (1878). Song is “Jerusalem” by CityAlight.