Jesus Serves

This week at Thrive, Marji talked about the service of Sherpas to their climbers as a picture of the way that Jesus served, and our call to imitate him. Here's her thoughts:

"Continuing our thinking about Sherpas--

Mountaineers could never achieve the summit of high peaks without the Sherpas who schlepp their equipment, food, cook for them, set up their tents, and even carry tanks of oxygen to enable them to breathe at 24,000 feet. When the explorers reach the summit, they strike a conqueror's pose, post the flag of their country, take a picture of their handsome wind -swept faces and come back down. The Sherpas are usually not included in the picture--or even named as "conquerors of Everest"--although some of them have ascended that peak almost 40 times!

Glory is not their reward, but they enable others to reach their goals and become the best that they can be. They are the ones who prepare the way toward the summit. Might this be another way to think about the demands and frustration of life, be it marriage, parenting, jobs or other responsibilites? Unacknowledged facilitators, encouragers, suppliers, teachers, helpers.

As we look at our own giftedness and examine how we can use it to encourage others, we need to admit that contrary to what Oprah might affirm, we can not do anything we want, and we can't do it all. We make choices, but what is realistic and what is simply timid? Think about the difference and ask God to clarify your thinking on what you might be able to do in the place where you now find yourself."

This Thursday at Thrive, we will conclude our series on Unusual Encounters by looking at the very curious conversations between Pilate and Jesus while Jesus was being humiliated, falsely accused and condemned to death. If you'd like to read ahead, scan Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for all the details of their conversations, or jump here to find all the references to Pilate in the gospels. Just click on "show context" to read the chapter around the verse. See you Thursday!