12. Caesar and the Servant
A number of ancient historians recorded the famous words of Julius Caesar "Veni, vidi, vici" – "I came, I saw, I conquered" – which typified the great Roman general's career and life. Caesar's achievements ultimately formed the foundation of the vast Roman Empire that controlled not only the land of Judea, but also a good part of the known world at that time.
If we look at the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who instituted a far greater kingdom – the Kingdom of God – do we find any parallel saying or expression that typifies the life and achievements of the Messiah in his human life? The answer is perhaps clearer than you may have realized. I Have Come to … Time and again during his ministry Jesus told his disciples and those who heard him "I have come to …." And then he added a specific task that he would accomplish. Notice an example from each of the gospels where Jesus said he had come to do certain things: "I have come …
to fulfill [the law]" (Matthew 5:17). • so I can preach" (Mark 1:38). • to call … sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32). • to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37 ESV). When we look at these and other "I have come to …" statements of Christ, we realize something regarding the range of tasks he would accomplish. All of these things involved action and are a far cry from the passive person Jesus is often believed to have been.
This active involvement is particularly clear in the metaphorical reasons he stated for his coming: "I have come …
to bring a sword" (Matthew 10:34). • to bring fire on the earth" (Luke 12:49). Whenever Jesus spoke literally of his purposes and what he would achieve, we find the same active approach. But Christ's accomplishments were not simply actions that would elevate himself – they were, of course, for the good of others: "I have come …
to save [men's lives]" (Luke 9:56 NKJV). • that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10 NKJV). Ultimately, these purposes and accomplishments can be seen in Jesus' statement: "I have come down from heaven … to do the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38-39). That will can be summarized in only two words: "I have come …
to serve" (Matthew 20:28). Caesar's self-elevating "I came, I saw, I conquered" pales into insignificance compared to the future coming of Christ the King (Revelation 11:15). But even at the time of his first coming, under the shadow of self-glorying emperors, the Son of God showed that true glory is not to be found in self-elevation and self-service, but in the elevation of God's purposes and the service of others. Caesar's so-called immortal summary "I came, I saw, I conquered" is surpassed in the eternal significance of what would be a fitting summary for the life of Christ: "I came, I saw, I served."
The lesson for us is obvious. Physical accomplishment is right and good. In his work as a human carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth doubtless accomplished many things that we are never told. Doubtless his work was of the finest quality. But at the end of our lives, our accomplishments are never as important as our service.
PART THREE:
SIGNS
The miracles of Jesus are among the most distinctive aspects of his ministry, and we are all familiar with those stories from the gospels. Yet the reasons for many of the miracles are not always obvious. Some were primarily proofs of Jesus' Messiahship, but others – where he instructed the people he helped not to tell anyone – seem not to have been. As we focus on the details of the stories themselves, we find there were many reasons for the miracles and signs that Jesus performed, as well as lessons in them for us …