Craig

Mark said,

“what is going on is the reshaping of authority to be used as an exercise of service to those under authority rather than as a lording over them. My question here is – does Jesus model the kind of way of using authority that Kristen is speaking about here? Does he use it with humility? does he lay down his life, does he not exasperate us? And would she (and you) be happy with describing that as Jesus ‘laying down power’ in his relationship with us? 
I certainly wouldn’t be happy to use such language about the one I call Lord. And yet he is the model, and I don’t see it as a model of laying down power, but of using it in a servant way.”

But is Paul really reshaping authority so it is service rather than lording over? I think the same question arises in Matt 20:24-28.
Mark is rightly concerned with how the readers of the time would have understood what is said in the bible. A servant had no authority over anyone he served. Wouldn’t an exercise of service be viewed as an exercise that wasn’t with authority. When Jesus washed the disciples feet and calls us to serve one another, submit to one another, be as slaves to one another, he is not telling us how to exercise authority. Christians at that time would have understood that serving others had nothing to do with authority.
I am happy to describe Jesus as “laying down power” Phil 2. Isn’t this central to what Jesus did for us on the cross? He is the King of the universe, but He laid down His power, “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, humbling himself.”
Do others have the same sort of response to this comment of Mark’s? Is this where you were heading Kristen @162? I look forward to your further comments as you have the time.