When the Jewish leaders gathered to discuss Jesus, they assumed they were in control of the outcome. These men were power brokers in Israel. At least that’s how they saw themselves. (Rome was really in charge, but they allowed the Jewish leaders to control most parts of life in Israel). They were the people who made the tough decisions, and on this day, they decided that Jesus must immediately die.

The irony of this moment is that they thought Jesus was on trial, but in reality, THEY were on trail. From this moment on, we see the stark difference in mindset between these caretakers of Israel, who only care about their reputation in the eyes of men, and Jesus, who only cares about His reputation in the eyes of God. His mindset convicts theirs ... and ours.

So often, we live for ourselves – with our eyes locked down here. We prioritize our own desires; we treasure things that glitter and shine; we value the applause of the people around us more than the approval of God – and we suffer for it. That self-centered, earth-bound mindset separates us from God, and robs us of the peace that comes from being in fellowship with Him.

Living for God means using your power to glorify Him instead of yourself. You can use the power of your words to build someone up or tear them down. You can use the power of your money to buy luxuries for only yourself or to help someone in need. You can use the power of your influence and experience to set someone up for success, or to help them fail.

I could keep going, but you get the point, right? Someone who has the same mindset as Jesus uses his power to serve others. Jesus said, “I didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” That was His mindset. It should be our mindset, too.