Fraternity-Testvériség, 1982 (60. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1982-10-01 / 4. szám
“<KHf)p ©ííi Come?” “Even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28 If we would be true followers of Jesus Christ we must discover why He came into the world and what He hoped to accomplish during His life and ministry. We must let His nfotive become our motive and His goals our goals. As we search for the mind and purpose of Jesus Christ, we may be in for a real shock. Christ, who came to be the divine servant of both God and man, did not think like the ordinary, natural man of today. Jesus Christ lived totally to do the will of God, He lived in order to be a giver rather than a getter. He lived for the sake of others rather than for the sake of Himself. He lived to serve rather than to seek the service of others. Jesus lived in order to make other people happy rather than seeking His own personal happiness. And finally, He lived a life of utter self-denial in order that He might be the channel of God’s love to us. Jesus saw the purpose of life as something other than an opportunity to satisfy the human appetites. He rejected the idea that above all things a man must have bread to eat (Matt. 4:3). Later he was to tell His disciples “Doing thej will of Him who sent me and bringing His work to completion- that is my food.” (John 4:34) Jesus defined the purpose for life as something other than winning the applause of men. When Satan sought to tempt Him with a suggestion that was intended to gain the applause of men, our Lord repudiated this pathway to greatness and happiness (Matt. 4:6) Our Lord did not come merely in order to receive the applause of men. He refused to turn on the glamour and sweep the population off their feet. What then do we prepare for during this Christmas season? How do we make real the promise of the Christ-Child? What lessons do we learn during the weeks before Christmas? The answer is simply that Christ the Servant encourages us to live to serve. Jesus Christ came into this world to be the servant of God. He came into the world that He might serve the highest and best interests of humanity. He came serving others rather than seeking service. My friends, by His own example our Lord would encourage us to define our purpose for being in terma of being the servants of God and the servants of others. (John 12:26) By His teachings Christ would encourage us to be His disciples who have been invited to assume this role. A part of the epitaph on the tomb of General Cinese Gordon, in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London reads, “Who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his symphathy to the suffering, and his heart to God.” This is true greatness in the eyes of Christ, Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal that God wants to bless man rather than blast them. He sought to do this by assuming the rolé of servant and ministering to the total needs of men. As we progress into the Advent season let ;us all remember, that He is in need of men and women, young and old, who will be servants in order that others might come to know God’s love and power. Rev. Anthony Szilagyi Pastor, First Hungarian United Church of Christ, Bridgeport, Connecticut QAiß uitóíi uou 'jf lA blessed Ctastmas and (laziness tii/tougfiout tfie cAjgw QJea/t HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA REV. IMRE BERTALAN President WASHINGTON, D. C. ELMER E. VARGO, F.I.C. Vice President-Secretary JOSEPH S. MOLNÁR Treasurer 3
