“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
Jesus said that the Son of Man came to serve and not to be served. This is the model for our lives of faith, serving others day to day. The problem is that our human service so often fails...This is because sin has affected us in such a way that the image of God has been marred within us. Human service only goes so far in our experience. Divine service on the other hand, is of God and so it lasts!
In Jesus Christ our Savior, the image of God is expressed in perfect form! We have a Lord who serves us not only well, but also perfectly! His is Divine service! Jesus spoke of his service to us as his people saying that he came “... to give His life as a ransom for many.” You and I are a part of “the many.” We have been ransomed, that is bought back from sin’s slavery to real freedom in our Savior by faith.
Our Lord serves us as we gather in his name! One time-honored way of referring to the historic worship of the church is Divine service. Another way that this can be understood is as God's service. As we gather, we are there served by him. He calls us together, gathers us in his name, blesses us in his word and Spirit and even calls us to the privilege of communing with him at the altar! We begin again this month to enjoy the Divine Service Setting 3 as St. John recovers its roots! This is the old “Common Service,” as it has been called. Its’ beautiful setting is so very fitting for the lofty privilege we share in our worship!
Divine service is just that, it is Divine! God's service to his people is gracious. It nurtures us so that we leave refreshed in faith and strong for our service in response. God's Divine service toward us enables our human service to be what it can be this side of heaven. His gracious service empowers us for service of love toward one another in our lives of faith!
Pastor