What was scandalous to the Roman world was that slaves were fully welcomed into Christian communities. Further, slaves partook of common meals and the Lord’s Supper along with the rich. What was shocking about Jesus’ teaching was that all of us are to be slaves to all. We like “servant of all” better because it does not shock us as much; yet, Jesus word was “slave to all”. The early Christians became slaves to slaves. Think about how that, within itself, began to do away with human enslavement. If we truly saw ourselves as slaves to all, think how it would affect the way Christians relate to each other in the church and in the world.
“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43–45 ESV).
