The Servant King

Graham Kendrick's “The Servant King” follows the life of Jesus through his service. The first verse starts with the incarnation: “From heaven you came, helpless babe, entered our world, your glory veiled,” and states the purpose, “not to be served but to serve, and give Your life that we might live.” The chorus gives the song's title and a call to action, asking listeners to bring their lives “as a daily offering of worship to the Servant King.”

The middle verses go to Gethsemane and the cross. In the garden of tears he chose to bear a heavy load, his heart “with sorrow was torn,” and he said, “Yet not My will but Yours.” Then comes the invitation to “come see His hands and His feet, the scars that speak of sacrifice,” with the contrast that these are the hands that “flung stars into space,” and are now surrendered to cruel nails. The last verse applies it: serve one another, “each other's needs to prefer, for it is Christ we're serving.”

The opening statement of purpose is from Mark 10:45. The humility of the incarnation echoes Philippians 2:7, and Jesus' prayer in the garden is Luke 22:42. Serving one another follows John 13:14.