A Ransom for Many
The Ransom Work of Christ
Good morning! As a church in Mt Pleasant, our ordinary practice is to work through books or passages of the Bible chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Because we want to embrace everything that the Lord has spoken to us in His Word. We don’t want to skip over the hard parts. We don’t want our engagement with God to be overly shallow. But as a church, we want to grow in Christ. We want fuller understanding, deeper love, and greater readiness to be ambassadors for Jesus.
And so this morning, we’ll be leaning in, and we’ll continue working through a part of the Bible, called Mark. As we’ve gone through the book of Mark, we’ve seen key events in the life of Jesus. And all of these events – his teachings, his miracles, his predictions, his integrity, his authority – all of these things have been held out to us as proof that Jesus isn’t just an ordinary man. But, in fact, he’s the divine Son of God, who has come down in human flesh.
Now, if you’ve been around Christianity for a while, this may not sound like a big deal. But really, it should strike us as strange. Why would the God of heaven stoop down and do something like this? Why would he take on human flesh, and become subject to the scandals and suffering of our fallen world? Because that’s what Jesus did. In fact, strangely enough, suffering is actually at the heart of what he came to do, as we’ll see in our text. So let’s press into these questions. And if you have a Bible nearby, please turn with me to Mark Chapter 10. If you’re using one of our church Bibles, you can find our text on page ______. I’ll be reading Mark Chapter 10, starting at verse 32. But before I read our text, let’s ask that the Holy Spirit would shape our minds, and stir our hearts as God’s Word is proclaimed this morning. Let’s pray:
[Pray and Read Text]
Success or Suffering?
You’ve maybe heard the advice before – it’s not necessarily what you know, but it’s who you know that matters. Of course, when you’re applying for a job, you still need to know your stuff. But often it’s those personal connections that’ll set you up with a key interview. Or knowing someone inside the company might give you an extra star next to your name. And so people with major career ambitions usually spend a lot of time expanding their social network – because they want to get their big break, and be a CEO, or a CFO, or some powerful business guy in the corner office.
Now, this way of thinking may sound very modern to us. But if you consider what we just read, clearly there’s nothing new under the sun. Because when we consider this episode from Jesus’s life 2,000 years ago, we see the same sort of ambition. Two of his disciples – two brothers, named James and John – they identify Jesus as the sort of guy who could really help them achieve their dreams and ambitions. After all, Jesus is insanely powerful. He’s a profound thinker. And James and John have figured it out – Jesus is the ultimate king who’s ushering in the kingdom of God. It’s been predicted throughout the Old Testament, and now Jesus is the one making it happen!
And it just so happens that Jesus is their guy. They’re part of his inner circle. And since these two brothers assume that Jesus’s plan is to set up a right-here, right-now earthly kingdom, they want the first shot at getting the best positions. Jesus you can be king. But can I be the royal advisor? Jesus, can I be in charge of the royal treasury, or the army? They’re already day-dreaming about how exciting it will be to have money, and servants, indulgences and influence, palaces and power. They can’t wait to be great.
But as it turns out, James and John have entirely missed what Jesus is coming to do, and what real greatness in his kingdom actually looks like. So what Jesus does over the course of our text – is he further impresses upon his followers that true greatness isn’t a matter of indulging yourself or advancing yourself. But it involves sacrificing yourself – giving yourself in service to others. Jesus himself embraces this posture of serving others – even suffering for others. And he teaches that this self-sacrificial attitude should really shape the lives of his people.
So as we go through our text, there are four main ideas we’ll see, that’ll help us to better appreciate the unique suffering of Jesus, and the example that it sets for us. Four main ideas.
And we’ll take them a bit out of order. We’re going to start with last verse in our text, verse 45. Because it explains, in Jesus’s own words, why he came. Why did the divine Son of God stoop down to earth? Well, it’s because Christ’s sacrifice was a ransom for many. Understanding this helps us to understand everything else. So that’ll be the first main idea we look at. Then we’ll go back to the beginning of our text, verse 32. And we’ll see our second main idea – that Christ suffered willingly. Third, we’ll see that the Christian life involves suffering. And then fourth and finally, we’ll consider how Christlike service reflects true greatness.
So that’s where we’re headed. Those big ideas will be our four main points as we work through the text.
Christ’s Sacrifice Was a Ransom for Many
So first, Christ’s sacrifice was a ransom for many. When Jesus says this in verse 45, it’s one of the most important statements in the book of Mark. Because this is where Jesus most clearly explains why he has come. We can’t understand Jesus and his mission, without understanding these words: “For even the Son of Man” (that’s Jesus, referring to himself) “for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
It’s significant that Jesus uses this “Son of Man” language to talk about himself. Because back in the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel used that phrase – the “Son of Man” – to describe a great king from heaven. Daniel Chapter 7, verse 13: the “Son of Man” described there comes on the clouds of heaven to receive dominion over all the peoples, nations, and languages of the earth. And so it’s actually quite stunning that Jesus takes that vocabulary, and he applies it to himself. Though he’s truly human, the son of man, he’s also truly the divine Son of God and the rightful king of the world. More than any emperor or president, Jesus deserves royal treatment from us. He deserves to be served by every human being on the face of the earth. He’s the Son of Man.
But Jesus explains – he didn’t come to be served, but to serve. And Jesus tells us specifically, what primary act of service he has come to do, in the second half of verse 45. Jesus says that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many.” That’s the climax of Jesus’s work. That’s the center of his mission. He came to give his life. He came to die for us.
And Jesus explains why that death was necessary. He tells us why he went through the trouble to stoop down out of heaven to go to the cross. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom. It was a ransom payment. I think for most of us, we hear that ransom language, and we immediately think about hostage situations. Right? A criminal is demanding that a payment needs to be made, or else he won’t let his hostages go free. That’s normally what we think of. But in Bible times, the ransom payment described here was actually the price someone had to pay for the freedom of a slave.
And so when Jesus says he came to give his life as a ransom – he’s giving us some important pieces of information.
For one thing, Jesus is telling us something important about the human condition. He’s saying that apart from his intervention, all people are debtors and slaves. The reason why we’re in that situation is because the first man and woman rebelled against God, and plunged the human race into corruption and sin. As a result, we’re spiritually bankrupt. We’re unwilling and unable to give God the love and obedience that we owe to him. And we often don’t even see all the ways we fall short, because we’re too busy slaving away to serve our own selfish ambitions and sinful desires. And so at the same time, we’re both criminals and captives – we’re sufferers and we’re sinners. And the only way we can be free to have life with God, is if a ransom is paid that will set us free from the curse of death, and from our captivity to sin.
Of course, there’s a second piece of information, though, that Jesus gives here. He also explains the price of our freedom. Jesus had to give his life. Jesus needed to live for us, to perfectly fulfill God’s law on our behalf. And Jesus needed to die for us, so that there’d be no more debt and death penalty standing against us.
And make sure you understand – it had to be Jesus. It had to be the divine Son of Man. It had to be someone who was truly human, in order for this ransom payment to extend to mankind. And yet it also had to be someone who was truly divine, in order for the ransom to be an acceptable payment in the eyes of a perfect and just God. No other payment can save us, or make us free. And this is why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lowered himself to the dust of the earth to suffer and die. Because it was necessary, in order for you and I to be made right with God.
Just think about it, if it were possible for you and I to do what God wanted – to do what he required, and to make our way into heaven – why would we need Jesus? Why would it be so urgent for the heavens to be torn open, and for God to come down to save his people? We wouldn’t need a ransom payment from heaven if we could just help ourselves!
And yet I’m concerned that many people have a distorted idea of Christianity. I think many people assume they’re mostly okay, and that God’s main mission is just to help them get a little bit better. It’s largely assumed that just about everyone is going to heaven, and in the meantime we just need a little bit of advice from God about how to live in the meantime. But that’s not Christianity. That’s not what the Bible teaches!
No human being is mostly okay. But because of our darkness, because of our slavery, because of our sin, there’s only one rescue payment that can raise us into God’s embrace. Jesus had to give his life as a ransom. And because of what Jesus did, whoever relies on him is free – free from the penalty of sin. Free from the power of sin. And there’s even future certainty of being free from the presence of sin. Whoever trusts in Jesus and his ransom is free. But if you’re not trusting in Jesus, in his ransom payment, then you’re still in your slavery.
If you go to the gas station, and you try to pay for gas with a McDonald’s gift card, it doesn’t matter how good you think that card is. It doesn’t matter how much you swipe that card at the pump. That card can’t make the payment for your gas. You need to rely on the right card. Otherwise, you won’t get any gas.
And in the same way, it’s only by relying on Jesus’s payment that you and I can have a right relationship with God. Jesus has paid the price in full. And he wants us to trust him. He wants many to trust him.
In fact, notice, there’s one more key piece of information that Jesus gives at the end of verse 45. He explicitly says that he came to give his life as a ransom for many. The payment Jesus has made – isn’t just one soul in the place of one. It isn’t even just one life in the place of several. But we’re told that the result of Jesus’s payment, is that he has paid for the everlasting freedom of many. This is a big work Jesus has done.
And so this should give you and I confidence – there are many people out there for whom Christ died. And as the good news of Jesus proclaimed, there will be many who are spiritually restored, many who respond with saving faith. We don’t need to be discouraged when it seems at times that the gospel’s advance and the growth of the church is slow. But we can speak eagerly, and pray expectantly. Because our Savior insists that he has given his life as a ransom for many.
But with humility, we also need to keep in mind that Jesus hasn’t given his life as a ransom for all. Though many people will trust in Christ and be saved, there will also be many who suppress the truth, who deny their need for God, and who end up in the fires of Hell. And so this isn’t something you can be complacent about. God has performed an extraordinary act of loving service. He’s paid the full price needed for your freedom and salvation. And if you ignore this, if you don’t rely on the work of Christ – then you’ve pushed aside the only chance you have to gain freedom and eternal life. You need his ransom. Jesus came to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Christ Suffered Willingly
So that’s our first point – which declares why the Son of God came down – the very heart of Jesus’s mission. But there are three more important ideas from our text that relate to this. So go back to verse 32. And we’ll notice here, how Jesus went about paying our ransom. We see evidence here that Christ suffered willingly. (That’s our second main idea – Christ suffered willingly).
Because the first part of verse 32 says this: “And they –“ (Jesus and his disciples) “– they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them.” Now keep in mind, before this, Jesus and his disciples had spent most of their time teaching and traveling in Galilee. That region, Galilee, was in the North. But now Jesus is going south, to Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been the ancient capital city of the Jews – it was the city of kings. For the Jews, it was also the main religious center. The temple, the priests, and the sacrifices were there. And it was also a major hub for the Pharisees – that class of Jewish scribes and teachers. And so Jesus is now on his way to Jerusalem. In fact, Mark goes out of his way to tell us that Jesus is leading the way. He’s walking toward Jerusalem out in front of his disciples.
And his disciples respond in an interesting way. Picking back up in verse 32, Mark says, “And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.” Now why would they be afraid? Well, a couple reasons why: for one thing, the disciples at this point had some idea that Jesus was the great king sent down from heaven. And so as Jesus marched along to the city of kings, to Jerusalem, some of the disciples were probably excited, but nervous. Is this when Jesus will usher in his kingdom? Will he lead a revolution? Will he battle with the Romans, and overthrow them? You can see how this would cause that sort of fascination and fear that we see in verse 32.
But there’s also the possibility that his disciples were a bit anxious, because by this point, the main enemies of Jesus were the Jewish priests and many of the Pharisees. Jesus had told them that they weren’t understanding the Scriptures correctly. And they hated him for it. And yet now, Jesus is making a beeline to Jerusalem, which was their home base. It would be unsettling, and amazing. How can Jesus go on so confidently, even with all the uncertainty?
And yet what’s even more amazing, is that Jesus actually isn’t uncertain about his future in Jerusalem. He knows he’s going to suffer and die there, and yet he goes anyway. You can tell, based on what Jesus says in verse 33. He says, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles (the non-Jews). And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
It’s obvious from this – Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen! He knew he was walking into a death trap. And yet – the amazing thing God wants us to see here, is that Jesus didn’t drag his feet. He didn’t complain. No one had to force him into this. But Jesus went to the cross for you willingly, eagerly. He wanted to do this for you. You can see how perfect his love is here.
Because honestly, we struggle to serve people like this. Adults, young people – my guess is when you serve around your home, doing dishes, caring for animals, taking out the trash, whatever – sometimes you grumble. Sometimes there are just certain jobs around the house that you’re really not willing to volunteer for. There are certain chores we don’t want to stoop down and help with. Our service is often limited because our love is limited.
But Jesus offers himself up willingly for the most difficult chore of all – not just to scrub the pots, or to clean the toilet – but Jesus offers himself up to die. Willingly. Because he loves you! When Christ suffered for your sins, he did so willingly.
The Christian Story Will Involve Suffering
And as Jesus leads his disciples on the road to suffering. He makes it clear that this is a road that Christians should expect to follow on. This brings us to the third main idea from our text – that the Christian Story will involve Suffering.
As James and John are marching with Jesus to Jerusalem, it would seem that from among the disciples, they were some of the people who imagined that Jesus was on his way to confront the Romans, and to set up an earthly kingdom. And so these two brothers make a request to Jesus. “Teacher, we want you to do for whatever we ask of you.” Of course, Jesus isn’t going to hand them a blank check. He’s too smart for that. And so in verse 36, Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” And in verse 37, these two brothers ask Jesus to give them the best places in the kingdom after Jesus – the 2nd and 3rd place – the position on Jesus’s right hand and left.
But Jesus’s entrance into his kingdom isn’t what James and John expect it to be. In Jerusalem he won’t be raised up onto a throne. He’ll be raised up onto a cross. And the positions on his left and right won’t be positions of splendor. But they’ll be places of suffering.
And so in verse 38 Jesus explains, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Now for some of us, it may seem strange that Jesus talks about drinking from a cup and baptism at this point. But these are both references to Old Testament ideas. When people received punishment from God for their sins, the prophets often described this as people drinking the cup of God’s judicial wrath. And just as the earth was penalized and purified of sin by the great flood in the days of Noah, certain washings or baptisms in the Old Testament conveyed that same idea of serious purging. And so with Jesus’s reference to the cup and to baptism, he’s getting at the idea of suffering.
As a brief side note, too – it’s not the main focus, but this idea of suffering is also connected to Christian baptism, and the cup we drink when we observe the Lord’s Supper. In two ways, actually. These are signs of the special covenant relationship God has initiated toward us. And so on the one hand, for people in the Church who despise God’s covenant through unbelief, one thing these covenant signs do, is they give a warning of judgment and ultimate suffering for those who reject Jesus. And yet for the believer, these covenant signs confirm to us the blessings that come to us in Christ. And they also, secondarily, confirm that Christians are called to share with Christ in his sufferings. So that’s a bit of a side note – but all that to say, the reference to the cup and baptism here conveys this idea of suffering.
And so Jesus is asking these brothers, “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized like me? Are you prepared to suffer?” Now, it’s not really clear if James and John understand the question. But in verse 39 they make the claim, “we are able.” Yes, Jesus, we can do it!
Now, of course, they can’t suffer in exactly the same way Jesus did. They can’t suffer for the sins of humanity. They can’t drink the cup of God’s wrath against sin. Because Jesus is about to do that fully at the cross, down to the last drop. And yet, Jesus still assures James and John that their story – that the Christian story – will still involve suffering. Jesus tells them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left Is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
In other words, Jesus promises that his disciples, coming after him, are going to suffer in a similar way that he did. In another setting, in John 15, Jesus makes the point, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” This is just part of what it means to belong to Christ.
And I’m aware, this could sound discouraging at first. But it actually should be really comforting. Because Jesus wants you to realize – if you’re seeking to love your fellow Christians, and serve Christ, and if your life actually gets harder instead of easier – if the devil seeks to bring extended suffering instead of allowing easy success – it doesn’t mean Jesus has failed you. It’s not a sign that you’re out of step with God. But in fact, your sufferings may very well be evidence that you’re right in step with Jesus, sharing with him in suffering and service. And being in step with Jesus – that’s right where we need to be.
So take this to heart. Because there’s a common distortion of Christianity today, where people claim that real Christians will always dominate, real Christians will always be wealthy and healthy, real Christians will always be able to name and claim whatever nice thing they want for themselves. But you need to watch out for that – because that’s not the way Jesus led his disciples. You’ll see how he leads us, here – he leads us to willingly lay ourselves down in self-sacrificial service to others, even if it sometimes means suffering.
Christlike Service Reflects True Greatness
And this brings us to my final point – a brief one: that Christlike service reflects true greatness. You may notice in our text, the other disciples found out what James and John asked for, they were upset. Verse 41 says they were indignant. And that’s because the other disciples were just power-hungry as James and John.
But Jesus sits down with his disciples and reminds them what true greatness really looks like: “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”
Now, for some context, in the days of Jesus, the Emperors of Rome had thousands of slaves and household servants. Jesus recognizes that normally, out in the world, kings use their power to be served. But Jesus insists that’s not what greatness really looks like. The greatest thing you can possibly be is the slave of all. And so clearly, Jesus is encouraging his followers to not be so selfish, and to serve other people. It’s good advice.
But there can sometimes be a temptation, when we read a text like this – we can think that the main point is just moral self-improvement. Right? After a sermon like this, it might be tempting to go home and think, the main lesson here is I just need to serve people more. But make sure you see, here, Jesus takes us further than that. And he doesn’t ultimately point you and I to ourselves. But he points us to him. Because after he encourages to be the servant of all, he reminds us why. It’s because he, even though he’s the heavenly, royal, Son of man – he did not come down to be served – even though he could have! He could have feasted in palaces, and left us to rot and die under the burden of our sin. But Jesus insists, he did not come to be served, but to serve. Our king came down to serve his peasants. The master of heaven came to give us the most precious thing he had. He came to give us himself – to give up his dying breath, so that we could be filled with His Spirit of life.
And Jesus wants us to enjoy and admire the riches of his greatness – the beauty of his live toward us. And it should be our desire for other people to see the greatness of Jesus shining out of us. Christlike service is what reflects true greatness. We aren’t pointing people to ourselves. But we have the privilege of being able to point people to the greatness of Christ. And so that’s why we serve. That’s why Christians will suffer willingly for the good of our children, for the good of our neighbor, for the good of our brothers and sisters in the chair next to us. It’s because we’re convinced of the greatness of Jesus. And we want his greatness to shine out of us. So let’s point people to Jesus this week – in what we say, and in how we serve. Let’s pray: