The Servant Who Became the Sacrifice

But he emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:7–8

When we look closely at the servant laws in Exodus 21, something unexpected begins to surface—a quiet echo of the gospel. These verses aren’t just ancient instructions; they whisper forward to Jesus.

Exodus 21:5–6 describes a servant who, after serving his time, chooses to stay with his master because of love. He willingly gives up his freedom. His ear is pierced as a sign of lifelong commitment. At first glance, this seems like an obscure cultural detail. But take a step back—and you’ll see the outline of Christ.

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, stepped into humanity not as a conquering king but as a servant. He didn’t come to be served but to serve—and to lay down His life for many. He wasn’t forced to stay in our broken world; He chose to because of love. His body wasn’t pierced at a doorpost but on a cross. And His sacrifice didn’t just symbolize loyalty—it purchased freedom for us all.

This is the beauty of Scripture. Even in Old Testament case law, we find shadows of the Savior. God was preparing hearts and minds to understand the kind of love that lays down rights, embraces sacrifice, and rewrites destinies. The bondservant of Exodus points us to the suffering servant of Isaiah, who ultimately becomes the Lamb of God in the Gospels.

Jesus didn’t tweak systems. He didn’t make sin manageable. He took the full weight of injustice and crushed it through His own willing obedience. And because of that, we’re no longer bound—we’re free.

Reflection Question
What does it mean to you that Jesus willingly became a servant and gave up His rights to rescue you?

The servant who chose to stay out of love in Exodus was a shadow. The Savior who chose the cross out of love is the substance.

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for choosing to stay. Thank You for becoming a servant to set me free. Teach me to follow Your example—to love when it costs, to serve when it’s inconvenient, and to trust that Your sacrifice changes everything. Amen.