Jump Start # 3845
Ephesians 4:10 “He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.”
In one of our recent podcasts (Heaven Bound), I made reference to the show Downton Abbey. Many have watched that series and got caught up in that English aristocratic culture. There is noting like that in America. Within the abbey mansion, there were two classes of people. The upstairs people were the ones who owned the mansion. They were rich. They were beyond doing the daily tasks. The other class of people were the downstairs people. They were the servants. They made the fine food and took it upstairs to those people. The upstairs people dressed in fine clothes. The downstairs people wore the practical uniforms of servants. The upstairs people were taken care of before the downstairs people were. When a bell rang downstairs, the servants would rush upstairs to serve. Once or twice, an upstairs person ventured downstairs, to the amazement, shock and embarrassment of the downstairs people. The upstairs people didn’t belong downstairs. We might express this as the haves and the have-nots.
Our verse today illustrates the ultimate upstairs/downstairs concept. Jesus left Heaven and came to earth. He descended. And, once people realized just who Jesus was, one can imagine a response of “What are you doing down here?” Upstairs people do not come downstairs.
And, Heaven where Jesus came from was truly upstairs. There is nothing on earth like Heaven. Heaven doesn’t deal with stormy weather, bugs, traffic, crime, medicines and deadlines. That’s life on earth. That’s downstairs. We have crabby and cranky people. We have things that break and do not work. We have inconveniences. We have suffering and pain. We have death and grief. We get hungry every day. We get tired every day. We are surrounded by people who break the rules, are selfish and inconsiderate. That’s our world. That’s life downstairs. Jesus came to that. His world, Heaven, wasn’t like that at all.
Not only did Jesus come down, descended, but he wrapped a towel around Himself and took on the role of a servant. The upstairs person became a downstairs person. In John 13, Jesus says, “If I then, the Lord and the teacher, washed our feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (14). I came to serve.
And, within this concept there are wonderful lessons for us:
First, serving must not be beneath our dignity. It wasn’t for Jesus. Our culture would say otherwise. Serving jobs are often low paying entry level positions. One is encouraged to work hard and move up. Move out of those positions. Being served is what people want. But, remember, Jesus descended. That is more than location. It also means in the role He filled. He came to serve. When people needed Him, He went. He was always available. People flocked with their sick and crippled so He would heal them. And, that He did.
When it comes to the kingdom, serving is at the core of discipleship. Our word “deacon” comes from the word for servant. Deacons serve. Members serve. Shepherds lead in serving. And, when one starts tossing money into the equation, serving quickly becomes a job and that changes the heart and the nature of things.
Second, in the eyes of Heaven there is no such thing as upstairs and downstairs people. We are one in Christ, Galatians reminds us. Jew, Gentile. Man, woman. Master, slave. All equal. All one in Christ. Within our congregations, unity will only exist if there is spirit of oneness. Young and old. Simple and complex. Five talents and one talent. Traveled and untraveled. Rich and poor. Black and white. Together, we become the body of Christ. We need each other and there is a place for everyone. Seeing people as Jesus does kills arrogance. Grab the towel and start washing feet, even the toes of those you do not like. Jesus washed the feet of those who would deny Him and betray Him.
The way we welcome everyone sends the message of what we are about. A visitor in some places feels the cold, silent stares. What are you doing here, is felt very clearly. You are not one of us, is understood. In the kingdom, there is no upstairs and downstairs people.
Third, had Jesus never descended, we would never be able to ascend to Him. He came into our world so we could live forever in His world. That message needs to be available to all people. God wants all saved, even the people we may not like.
Don’t be too good to visit a nursing home. But, I don’t like the sights and smells, someone says. So, go anyway. Don’t be too good to sit with a family in the surgery waiting room. But, it could take most of the morning, someone says. Go anyway. Don’t be too good to stop by the funeral home. But, I think funeral homes are creepy. Go anyway. Don’t be too good to take some food or give a gift card to someone who has been struggling. But, I don’t know them very well, someone says. Do it anyway. Don’t be too good to talk to someone who seems to be standing all alone. But, it’s awkward, someone says. Go and speak, with a smile anyway.
Can you imagine the Lord saying, “I don’t like touching the toes of other people, especially when they are dirty.” He washed anyway. Can you imagine the Lord saying, “Judas isn’t worthy of this.” He washed anyway.
Upstairs and downstairs only works on English shows. There is no place for that spirit within the kingdom of God.
Roger