The Faith of Jesus

"In the world, rulers lord it over their subjects, and their great men make them feel the weight of authority; but it shall not be so with you. Among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the willing slave of all — like the Son of Man; he did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28. N.E.B.

"And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If any one wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.’ " Mark 9:35.

"Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, ...‘Do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers;’ ... ‘And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.’ " Matthew 23:1,8,10,11. NASB.

"Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows. To even the lowliest of Christ’s disciples it is said, ‘All things are for your sakes.’ 2 Cor. 4:15.

" ‘The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ Among His disciples Christ was in every sense a caretaker, a burden bearer. He shared their poverty, He practiced self-denial on their account, He went before them to smooth the more difficult places, and soon He would consummate His work on earth by laying down His life. The principle on which Christ acted is to actuate the members of the church which is His body. The plan and ground of salvation is love. In the kingdom of Christ those are greatest who follow the example He has given, and act as shepherds of His flock." DA 550.

"At one time the disciples found a man who was doing a work in Christ’s name, and John, relating the matter to Jesus said, ‘We forbade him, because he followeth not us;’ but Jesus rebuked his spirit, and told his followers that ‘he that is not against us is on our part.’ " CSW 85.

"The apostles wished it to be understood that they did not set themselves up as lords over the faith and consciences of the believers. They avoided all the severity they possibly could, and labored to promote the joy of the believers, leading them by kindly persuasion to renounce their errors. Thus we are to work, by faith in God fulfilling our duty, not by exercising authority or dominion, but by revealing Christlikeness of character." 21MR 275.

"The churches have not been educated altogether as they should have been educated. They have been educated to depend upon the ministers to pray and open the Scriptures to the people who assemble to worship God. God would have the people hear the voice of God, and go to work for the Master." HM, Aug. 1, 1896.

"Instead of appointing one to be their head, Christ said to the disciples, ‘Be not ye called Rabbi;’ ‘neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.’ Matt. 23:8,10.

" ‘The head of every man is Christ.’ God, who put all things under the Saviour’s feet, ‘gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.’ 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:22,23. The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate what other men shall believe and what they shall do. This claim God does not sanction. The Saviour declares, ‘All ye are brethren.’ All are exposed to temptation, and are liable to error. Upon no finite being can we depend for guidance. The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ their efficiency. ‘Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.’ The Lord ‘is the Rock, His work is perfect.’ ‘Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.’ Jer. 17:5; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 2:12." DA 414.