For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NABRE
His apostles ask a question giving Jesus another chance to provide a lesson in discipleship. He has explained discipleship several times previously, here He compares the leadership of the Gentiles, secular society. In ancient and modern times authority is naturally assumed to entail perks and benefits for those who wield it, and the powerful often get their way. Jesus command is stark in comparison, He says it will not be that way among His disciples. His disciples are to display a radical and a counter cultural attitude toward leadership. There is no place for self-promotion, domineering conduct or competitive rivalry among those who follow Jesus. The entire mentality of leadership in Jesus church is exercised as service, acting entirely for the benefit of others, making ourselves available for others, caring for others, remaining humble and lifting up those around us. Jesus reinforces this idea with one of the most important sayings in the Gospels, summing up the purpose of Jesus’ messianic mission, He did not come to be served but to serve and ransom His life for many. Jesus’ own coming into the world was not for His sake or for His benefit, but only to serve His Father and all people. He will ransom Himself, paying a price to benefit others, to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free and bring good news to the poor. Jesus gives his life, a gift of infinite value for us.
As disciples we should work to serve others and seek nothing for ourselves. We are to lend our life and work to the mission of Jesus, to serve and give our lives for the ransom of at least one other. Our life can have no greater meaning than to serve.
How do you serve others? How can you ransom someone?
We are to lend our life and work to the mission of Jesus, to serve and give our lives for the ransom of at least one other. Our life can have no greater meaning than to serve. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #ransom #serve #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways