Watch people on your job, in the supermarket, around your neighborhood. Do they look like captives? In view of a verse I skimmed over recently (“Who’s the Greatest?”—https://theoldpreacher.com/whos-the-greatest/), they may be. Let’s give a little more attention to what Jesus said.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Jesus, Mark 10:45).
In the 1996 movie, “Ransom”, Mel Gibson plays Tom Mullens, a wealthy father whose young son is kidnapped. After two attempts to pay the $2,000,000 ransom fail, Mullens realizes he may never see his son again. He angrily appears on TV and offers the money as bounty to whomever kills the kidnapper. The story unexpectedly twists and turns, but in the end Mullens gets his son back.
God didn’t. At least not until after crucifixion and resurrection. Because his Son was the ransom.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Jesus, Mark 10:45).
This is why Jesus’ followers must be servants: Jesus himself came to serve. Throughout his Gospel, Mark has shown us Jesus serving demonized men by setting them free, serving sick people by healing them, serving a crowd of 5000 by miraculously feeding them, serving a dead girl by raising her to life, and so on. It all leads to Jesus’ supreme act of serving— giving his life as a ransom for many.
The original Greek word is lutron. It refers to the price paid to release a slave or a captive. Hence the translation “ransom, the price of release, the means of setting free.” Writers have argued over the recipient of that ransom. Jesus doesn’t address that; he stresses the act. He would give his life as a ransom.
In that regard, Christianity is unique among world religions. Others teach various ways adherents must perform some act to attain blessings promised. Only the Gospel announces that Jesus has done what’s required to enjoy blessings promised. Jesus gave his life as a ransom to set us free.
There’s a second reason why Christianity is unique. It alone insists we are helpless, hopeless sinners who can do nothing to attain salvation. Look at Isaiah 53:4-6, a familiar prophecy that gives background for Mark 10:45 . . .
Surely he has borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace;
and with his wounds we are healed.
We all like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—everyone—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).
Isaiah calls us transgressors of the Creator’s laws and sinners (“iniquities”) against him. Consequently, we are alienated from (are not at peace with) God and sick. Like dumb sheep we’ve strayed from him. Like stubborn teenagers we’ve turned to our own way. Unflattering description. We’re better than that, right? Isaiah cements his case with this: All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (64:6). However “right” we try to dress ourselves up, before the Holy God we’re wearing filthy rags. On Judgment Day we’ll shrivel like dead leaves and be swept away.
In the only explanation Jesus gave in Mark about why he would die, Jesus told the Twelve he would give his life as a ransom for many. Of this Isaiah prophesied 700 years earlier. Messiah would pick up and carry away our griefs and sorrows. Be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. Endure punishment so we could have peace with God. Be mortally wounded so we could be healed. Jesus would give his life as a ransom for many.
The New Testament writers echo the ransom-theme. “Ransom” (some form of the Greek lutrosis) is translated “redeemed” or “redemption” in each of these verses because ransom is the means of redeeming. Just as Tom Mullens was willing to pay the ransom to redeem or set free his son, so Jesus would give his life as a ransom to redeem or set free many.
♦When John the Baptist was born his father, priest Zechariah, prophesied, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed (Greek lutrosis) his people” (Luke 1:68). John would go before Jesus to announce his coming.
♦When newborn Jesus was presented at the temple, a prophetess named Anna came up to him and began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption (Greek lutrosis) of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). According to the prophets, the holy city, now ruled by idolatrous Romans, would one day be redeemed. Anna recognized baby Jesus as the ransom.
♦Paul spoke of our Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem (Greek lutro-o) us from all lawlessness
. . . (Titus 2:14). Here Paul identifies “lawlessness” (breaking God’s laws which leads to God’s wrath) as the captivity Jesus gave himself as a ransom to redeem us from.
♦The writer to the Hebrews taught that Christ entered once for all into the holy place . . . by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption (Greek lutrosis) (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus, as the once-for-all ransom secured eternal redemption by his blood death.
♦And Peter explained, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed (Greek lutro-o) from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18,19).
Money, regardless of the amount, is an inadequate ransom. Captive to our sins and God’s judgment, our lives, however full they may seem, are ultimately empty. Jesus is the only sufficient ransom for all sins, because he is the only perfect ransom and his blood is priceless. Only he can fill our lives.
Do the people with whom we work or shop or live look like captives who need a ransom to free them? Probably not. But things are not always what they seem. Probably you don’t look like a captive either. But apart from Jesus the ransom, you are. Believe it.
If so, you’re free. To do whatever you want? No. To freely follow in Jesus’ steps and serve others for his sake.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Jesus, Mark 10:45)
Recent Comments