What is the definition of a servant? I haven't looked it up, but there's a definition that comes to mind; one who renders a service to an employer and gets paid for it. What is a prisoner? One who is detained/held within a confined space or environment where he doesn't want to be. And finally, what is the definition of a slave? Again, I haven't looked it up but the definition that comes to mind is; one who renders a service(voluntary or forced) and does not get paid for it. 

As followers of Christ, we do our best to walk in his footsteps. Sometimes on our journey we are put in a position where we are called upon to perform a task that is less than a servant. Less than a prisoner. But more like a ‘slave’. I wonder how many would be willing to admit that there have been instances when we’ve thought to ourselves, or perhaps even voiced, “what’s going on here?! I am not anybody’s salve!!!” However, if we’re truly following Christ, we are. We’re, in fact, Jesus’ slave and Jesus was a slave.

Many don’t agree with this, thus, I listed the afore-mentioned terms and their terminologies. When considering the question...'was Jesus Christ a ‘slave'?’...some will expressly look for the word 'slave' when reading the Words of Christ. When they search and can’t find where He actually called Himself a 'slave', they will answer …‘no’...Christ did not think of Himself as a slave. Jesus didn't actually call Himself, Prince of Peace, but He is. He didn't actually call Himself, Redeemer, but He is. And the Word of God in Is 28:9-10 tells us that it is by, ‘…line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little-there a little…’ that we come to a better understanding of His Word.

We know that there is only ‘One’ God. Within our ‘One’ God there are three persons; God, Son and Holy Spirit. When God, who ever was, took His Word(Jhn 1:1 & 14, 1Tim 3:16) and wrapped it in Living Flesh, He called it Jesus, His Son. The Son belongs to God, just as the Holy Spirit belongs to God. When the Son ‘willingly’ put on the robe of humanity - when He walked amongst us here on earth, Jesus was the willing servant of God. He was willing prisoner of God. He was a willing slave of God. And what is more, He was the willing Lamb of God!  He was all these things for His Father, to whom He belonged. Jesus did not have to be these things, but he 'elected' to be all these things in order to do the will of Him, to whom He belonged.

When Jesus called Himself a 'servant' in Luke 22:27...was He receiving pay for being a servant? If He was not receiving pay for being a servant then, He was, indeed, His Owner’s slave! Let’s look at another instance where Jesus, the ‘servant’, was yet another title. In the Garden of Gethsemane...was Jesus Christ a servant...a slave...or a prisoner? He(His Humanity) had a strong desire not to be where He was. He(His Humanity) did not want to be in the position that He was put in...but He was ‘bonded/stitched', irrevocably dedicated to His 'Owner’. He had worked for over 3 years with no pay, because He was committed! He was a servant, He was a slave, and when He allowed Himself to be taken from that Garden and beaten...He was a willing prisoner (spiritually and physically)for us. He, the Servant, who was a Slave, was obedient to every iota of His Father’s commands. Then he donned yet, another title and became a Sacrificial Lamb…that too, for us!  

You say to yourself, I know He was a servant. I know He was the Lamb of God...and maybe I can accept prisoner. But...'slave'? How is it that we can accept in our minds the pictures of Him being whipped, punched and beaten unmercifully, and of Him hanging on a Cross with a crown of thorns and spikes in His hands and feet as life ebbed out of Him, but somehow...our minds balk against the picture of Him as a slave? What is it about that terminology ‘slave’ that offends us? I think it’s the pride that reigns within us. I think it’s what the implication of it means. 'Slave' signifies the very bottom-rung of service. It signifies extreme lowliness and we sometimes have a problem identifying with being...that low.

But did not 'high and holy' Jesus become 'meek and lowly' for us? And if Jesus became a slave by the love-commands of His owner for us,  then are we not slaves too for our owner, who is 'One' and the same? We work for Him without payment. No task He might assign us to do is too lowly. We Love Him that much! We are slaves to His will and His way. If the term ‘slave’ disturbs you…stop…and ask yourself, why?

Remember in John 12:26 He said, if any man serve me let him follow me and be a servant to me? Also, in Matt 16:24, He said; Let a man deny himself...take up his cross and follow me. And to the rich young ruler, who hardly understood, in Matt 19:21, He said; ‘Sell all you have...have treasure in heaven...follow me’. This means that we too, become servants, slaves, prisoners, lambs (literally and spiritually)when we take on the ‘Mind’ of Christ, Phil 2:5-8. Thus, when Paul termed himself and others as 'prisoners', Eph 3:1, 3:4, 2Tim 1:8, Philemon 9 & 23, we can understand that, although he knew what it meant to be imprisoned literally, he was referring to a 'spiritual state' of mind. A surrendered, 'totally committed state’ of heart, mind, soul and body!

The term ‘slave’ calls for total commitment. The term ‘slave’ means taking on the Mind of Christ! We surrender to His every command, and do His will freely! Expecting...nothing…in return! We should do so because the bottom line is this; If God never does another thing for us, He did it ‘all’ on Calvary! He owes us nothing! Whatever service He has called us to perform, ‘if’ we happen to get paid for it…that’s a blessing that we don’t deserve, but receive only because of God’s excellent Mercy, Grace and Love! We work for Him for nothing…like Jesus did! He will never ask us to do more than we are able to do. He knows our limitations and our capabilities. Wherever we are, whoever we are and whatever gifts He has placed within us…belongs to Him. We are ‘slaves’ to His commands, whether large or small/high or low. Well, you ask, how do I know what He wants me to do? “His sheep…know His voice”, and He will tell you!(Jhn 10:4).

Jesus Surrendered His Crown, His Throne, His Divinity, His Will and did the Will of His Father because of the awesome...Power of Love! Was Jesus a 'Slave'?  You bet He was! And so the question is; are we?