Thursday, February 2, 2023
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Seek to SERVE - not to be served
Jesus lived His life as an example for us. He was royalty but instead of living like a king, He lived like a normal person. He gave up His throne and the glory of Heaven to come to earth to die on the cross so we can have eternal life. His whole life was the Gospel lived out in real life.
One of the most important messages of the Gospel is to serve others, and Jesus served others with His whole life. He served while He lived as a man on earth, instead of demanding to be served because He was the Son of Man. Jesus said that He came, not to be served, but to serve, which is what the first 10 chapters of Mark’s Gospel is about — Jesus as a servant to all. He served people – all people – and met their needs. He served people that others would not even speak to because they were considered too lowly or unclean. They were not too lowly or unclean for the King of Kings to serve.
Jesus’ example of serving was for those He was with and those who were watching Him, but it was also for us. He wanted us to know that if He was willing to serve others – all people – then we should be willing to do the same. It is a key part of the Gospel, and we cannot be living the Gospel out if we are not serving others. His message to us in the example He gave is to seek to serve, not to be served.
The greatest act of service that Jesus did was to give His life as a ransom for many. He not only came to serve others, but to redeem and to save us all. He was a Servant, Redeemer, and a Savior. This sums up Jesus’ ministry and life. God mad a way for us to be redeemed by providing for our sins through Jesus. He stands in the place of guilty sinners and offers Himself as a substitute for them. This verse gives the purpose for Jesus’ service and sacrifice.
Ransom is a term we usually hear in association with someone who is being held hostage. They have been taken and are being imprisoned and cannot do anything to get themselves out of the situation they are in. There is payment required by the kidnappers and that payment is the ransom that will free that person. In the case of a kidnapping, the person has done nothing that caused them to be held hostage. Sin on the other hand, holds us hostage, but unlike a kidnapping, we have participated in the behavior that causes us to be held. But we cannot do anything to free ourselves. No amount of money on earth will pay the ransom. No amount of time served, or good deeds will pay the ransom. We are stuck, imprisoned in our own sin, completely helpless with no hope. Jesus came to pay this ransom for us – to free us from our prison of sin. He paid the price with His life, a ransom for many, and freed us from the debt we could never pay.
Real ministry is about service, and sometimes service in the trenches - with the woman at the well and the leppers. It is not about Sunday morning and Wednesday night. It is the phone call, the meeting for coffee, the meal dropped off, the ride to the doctor, the chair at the bedside in the hospital room or waiting room. Real ministry is service – taking care of people in the midst of the hard circumstances. Sometimes it is an inconvenience - Jesus was inconvenienced daily, and gladly inconvenienced to die for us. He gave us the example we need to serve others the way He did and the way He commanded us to do as well. Who can you serve in your life? Have an open heart and open eyes to who crosses your path that you can minister to today.
LC
