VS. April 26, 2025 Devotional
April 26, 2025
MATTHEW 20:26-28 | 26 It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus lived in a time where everything was dictated by hierarchy. The Roman republic was led by an emperor of quasi divine status, and below him were 600 senators. Then were the equestrians and the decurions. About two percent of the society fit into these upper echelons. Below them were the “personis mediocritis” or as Tacitus called them “the rabble.” Among these ordinary masses, some were citizens with rights and freedoms and some were freed men with rights, but no liberty. At the very bottom were servants. Everything reflected your place in this order, including your clothes, your possible jobs, your legal status, your seats at a public event—even your means of execution. Roman citizens could be decapitated or incinerated but not crucified. Only slaves could be crucified. When God entered the world He occupied the bottom rung.
Do we have a social hierarchy? Where are you in it?
Gracious God,
The depth of Your humility is astounding. You upset the hierarchy. Help me to see past social standing to Your kingdom values.
Amen.
