As a human, the mind of Christ is perhaps the greatest thing we can acquire. It doesn't come easily.

The mind of Christ was demonstrated openly in the life of Jesus Christ when he was a human. His manner was the polar opposite to that of everyone else of the day, especially the religionists and ruling people. The manifestation of this kind of mind came at a great price to Jesus the Christ. He "made Himself of no reputation, and took on the form of a bondservant, coming as a human." (Philippians 2:5-7) He humbled Himself, Paul says. Nobody made Him do it. However, he submitted Himself to the Father's will completely, even dying a humiliating and excruciating death, thereby "consecrating a new way through .... His flesh" (Hebrew 10:20). Most people know about Jesus Christ, but few understand His mind, and His way of life. Without this way of life firmly fixed in our lives, we will not be in Christ's Kingdom.

No more vividly is Jesus Christ and His way expressed for us each year than in the Passover Service.

We reverently take the bread and wine, the symbols of His own body that suffered and bled. We reflect on His willingness to die and suffer in our stead. We also follow his example by washing each other's feet as he washed His disciples' feet. He was clearly showing a way of life in the foot washing part of the Passover Service, and on the night that began this terrible suffering and death. I believe we can get the idea of how important this was to Christ: for each of us to not just observe, but emulate Him. This is what Paul meant when he said, "Christ, who is our life .... (Col. 3:4).

This "mind of Christ", is the only one that can be sustained in the universe for all time. This is the mind that is eternal. Any other mind or mindset will come to an end. "No flesh shall glory is His presence, but of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that as it is written, "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:29 -31).

We should understand this is the way that should be our whole life. It works for our church relationships, our business relationships and any other relationship. You just can't have a church face and be different at other times. It just wouldn't be genuine. Jesus was exactly the same way in front of His disciples and in front of Pilate. Pilate claimed power of life and death over Jesus. Jesus knew better and told Pilate, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it been given you from above". His submission to God was complete. His humility before men was perfected.

This He taught His disciples and they built the church on these principles. James and John, the ones who were vying for top position, especially learned the true way. Read the letter of 1 John with this in mind. You will see what was most important to that apostle.

Most troubles come from the fact that these principles are not lived throughout a person's life. Let us not jump from Christ's way and then to another when the situation suits us.

We observe the Passover annually. It brings us back regularly each year to that which is most important to God – not only belief in Christ, but Christ Himself in us. It must be genuine, total, forever.