Service: The Most Excellent Way

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all.

TEXT - Mark 10:35-45

1. The “Drum Major Instinct” is real.

• Mark 10:35-37

• Philippians 2:3-4

2. Jesus models “the most excellent” way.

• Mark 10:42-44

• 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

3. We demonstrate love by “laying down our life.”

• Mark 10:45

• John 15:12-13

• Romans 5:8

• Isaiah 53:5

NEXT STEP: Serve someone.

JOURNAL - Who will I serve?

REFLECTION - In April 1945, Staff Sergeant Henry "Red" Erwin flew 10 missions as a radio operator aboard a B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific. During low-level bombing missions, Erwin’s additional duty was to drop white phosphorus smoke bombs to mark targets for the trailing formation. On his 10th mission one of the bombs exploded prematurely, shot backward, and struck Erwin directly in the face. The chemical instantly blinded him and engulfed his body in flames.

White phosphorus burns at roughly 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit and cannot be easily extinguished as long as oxygen is present. The B-29 immediately filled with thick, blinding smoke that obscured the pilot's vision and sent the massive aircraft into a dive. Realizing the plane and everyone on board would perish if the bomb ignited the aircraft's ammunition, Erwin took action. He picked up the molten, burning canister with his bare hands. Blind and burning alive, he crawled forward through the narrow fuselage, holding the bomb tightly between his forearm and his torso.

He stumbled into the cockpit, located the co-pilot's window, and threw the bomb out. His 22 seconds of heroism saved the plane and 11 crew members. Erwin suffered critical injuries which he was not expected to survive. But he did. He spent 30 months in the hospital and underwent 41 surgeries, ultimately regaining his eyesight and the use of one arm.

“Greather love has no one than this.”