Dear Christian friends:

People try very hard to have a happy life, but most fail. People are not satisfied and are not happy with their life. They do not know the secret of a happy life. We Christians should know that secret, but often we forget it and are not happy, too.

So what is the secret of a happy life? President John Kennedy in his inaugural speech in January of 1961 said these famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” President Kennedy knew the secret of a happy life.

In our text Jesus says almost the same words about Himself. Jesus knew the secret of a happy life. He says in, Matthew 20:28, "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”


Remember how much Jesus served us when He gave His life for us. Jesus served to save us by walking the way of the suffering servant. In our text we read how Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem. His last trip there. Jesus knows now this will be His last trip to Jerusalem. He knows what terrible things will happen to Him there. He says to His disciples:

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:17-19)

Although Jesus knows very clearly what terrible grief He must suffer in Jerusalem, He goes there. He does not try to escape or avoid it. He knows that is His heavenly Father's will for saving sinners.

Because Jesus loved us and all sinners, He goes to Jerusalem to serve God, to give His life on the cross. Jesus paid the ransom so we can become free: free from sin and blame, free from Satan's rule, free from eternal death, and have eternal life. We could not pay the ransom ourselves. (Psalm 49:78)

He says in Matthew 2:28, "I give My life a ransom for many." And Peter writes:

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

That is how wonderfully Jesus has finished serving you and me and all people. And Jesus still serves you and me today. How? He is very patient with us. Although we often forget Him and do not thank Him and do not obey Him. He still is patient and loves us and sends pastors to preach and remind us and urge us. He calls us to faith through the Gospel. He keeps us believing through sacraments and He prays to His heavenly Father for us that Satan can't conquer us.

The first secret of a happy life is knowing and remembering how much Jesus loved us and served us, and is still serving us today.

The second secret of a happy life is remembering Jesus saved us so we can serve. Jesus is our example of serving. St. Paul says:

"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross." (Philippians 2:3-8)

We must not have a selfish, proud heart like James and John and their mother. We read in our text how the mother asked Jesus something for her two sons: "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21)

She wants honor for herself and her two sons, but they did not earn that honor. Jesus Himself receives honor and glory because He served and earned that. But James and John did not earn what they are asking. So Jesus tells them, "You don’t know what you are asking." (Matthew 20:22)

We must have a heart like Jesus, humble, full of love for God and people, even love for our enemies and all those who sin against us.

We must be ready to suffer like Jesus. Suffer for doing God's will and work. That is what Jesus tells James and John in Matthew 20:22-23) Later on James and John did suffer much for Jesus' work. King Herod killed James, we read in Acts 12:2. And we know that John was put on the island of Patmos as a prisoner, exiled. He never can come back to his home.

We must not have a heart like unbelievers in the world and like many government people who always want power over others and enjoy using force and power like Nixon, Ehrlichman and Halderman and many others still in power today. They are not interested in serving and helping people. They only want to earn easy money and show their power over others, bureaucrats, "drone bees." Jesus says in Matthew 20:25-27 (read it).

We can serve in this way, because Jesus has ransomed us from sin's power. We no longer obey desires of a sinful heart that is selfish, greedy and proud. Now we have a new heart like Jesus Christ, humble, kind, patient eager to serve and help others in their trouble and need.

Also, we do not need to have honor and praise from this here world. We have honor and praise from Jesus and from our heavenly Father. God, Father, He calls us His children and Jesus, He calls us His brothers and sisters. (Galatians 3:26, Matthew 12:49) And in heaven we will receive more honor and praise from God and from Jesus, the Lamb and before all holy people and angels.

How? He is very patient with us. Although we often forget Him and do not thank Him and do not obey Him. He still is patient and loves us and sends pastors to preach and remind us and urge us. He calls us to faith through the Gospel. He keeps us believing through sacraments and He prays to His heavenly Father for us that Satan can't conquer us.

The first secret of a happy life is knowing and remembering how much Jesus loved us and served us, and is still serving us today.

The second secret of a happy life is remembering Jesus saved us so we can serve. Jesus is our example of serving. St. Paul says:

"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross." (Philippians 2:3-8)

We must not have a selfish, proud heart like James and John and their mother. We read in our text how the mother asked Jesus something for her two sons: "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21)

She wants honor for herself and her two sons, but they did not earn that honor. Jesus Himself receives honor and glory because He served and earned that. But James and John did not earn what they are asking. So Jesus tells them, "You don’t know what you are asking." (Matthew 20:22)

We must have a heart like Jesus, humble, full of love for God and people, even love for our enemies and all those who sin against us.

We must be ready to suffer like Jesus. Suffer for doing God's will and work. That is what Jesus tells James and John in Matthew 20:22-23) Later on James and John did suffer much for Jesus' work. King Herod killed James, we read in Acts 12:2. And we know that John was put on the island of Patmos as a prisoner, exiled. He never can come back to his home.

We must not have a heart like unbelievers in the world and like many government people who always want power over others and enjoy using force and power like Nixon, Ehrlichman and Halderman and many others still in power today. They are not interested in serving and helping people. They only want to earn easy money and show their power over others, bureaucrats, "drone bees." Jesus says in Matthew 20:25-27 (read it).

We can serve in this way, because Jesus has ransomed us from sin's power. We no longer obey desires of a sinful heart that is selfish, greedy and proud. Now we have a new heart like Jesus Christ, humble, kind, patient eager to serve and help others in their trouble and need.

Also, we do not need to have honor and praise from this here world. We have honor and praise from Jesus and from our heavenly Father. God, Father, He calls us His children and Jesus, He calls us His brothers and sisters. (Galatians 3:26, Matthew 12:49) And in heaven we will receive more honor and praise from God and from Jesus, the Lamb and before all holy people and angels.

For us Christians serving others is not duty, but pleasure and happiness. We want to do God's will. David says in Psalm 40:8, "And I delight to do your will, my God, for your law is written upon my heart!”

The secret of a happy life is not wanting others to serve us, but wanting to give service to others. That means following Jesus' example. He gives you a new heart and spirit so you can do it!

Today is our Annual Meeting. This afternoon we will hear reports about our work and service during 1977. We will also elect the Board of Trustees to serve during 1978. This sermon (preaching lesson) should help us with a right, true heart and spirit for our Annual Meeting.

May God give each of us the humble heart and spirit of Jesus so that we have a really happy life in serving others.

Amen.