Pertanyaan: 816. Apa yang dimaksud dengan "Anak Manusia datang bukan untuk dilayani tetapi untuk melayani"?
Bagian ini di Matius 20:28 telah menjadi subjek keraguan. Kristus, tentu saja, datang ke bumi untuk memenangkan semua orang untuk pelayanannya, tetapi itu untuk kepentingan mereka daripada dirinya sendiri. Melayani-Nya berarti keselamatan; dosalah yang menghalangi mereka dari kesetiaan kepada-Nya. Dan Dia datang untuk menyelamatkan mereka dari dosa-dosa mereka. Sepanjang waktu Dia berada dalam daging, Dia memberi pelayanan daripada menerima pelayanan. Dia digerakkan oleh kasih. Bahkan ketika orang-orang ingin memaksa-Nya menjadi raja, Dia tidak mau menerimanya. Itu bukan jenis pelayanan yang Dia inginkan. Dia ingin manusia melayani-Nya dalam kesucian dan kekuatan spiritual. Dia memberikan tubuh-Nya dalam penghinaan dan pengorbanan agar mereka dapat ditinggikan ke tingkat pelayanan yang lebih tinggi ini. Seluruh pesan Perjanjian Baru adalah bahwa Kristus datang ke bumi demi umat manusia, bukan demi diri-Nya sendiri. Dan Dia mengajarkan dengan contoh kehidupan kerendahan hati, pengorbanan diri, dan pelayanan yang Dia inginkan semua orang jalani.
Question: 816. What Is Meant by "The Son of Man Came Not to Be Ministered Unto but to Minister"?
This passage in Matt. 20 : 28 has been the subject of some doubt. Christ, of course, came to earth to win all men to his service, but it was for their sakes rather than his own. To serve him meant salvation; it was sin that kept them from their allegiance to him. And he came to save them from their sins. All the time he was in the flesh he gave rather than accepted service. He was moved by love. Even when the people would have taken him by force to make him king he would not accept it. That was not the kind of service he wanted. He wanted men to serve him in holiness and spiritual power. He gave his body in humiliation and sacrifice in order that they might be lifted up to this higher plane of service. The whole message of the New Testament is that Christ came to earth for the sake of mankind, not for his own sake. And he taught by example the life of humility, selfsacrifice and service which he wishes all men to lead.
