Mark 10:45

“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 ESV). Seeing the “For even” at the beginning of the verse, directs us to look back and review the context. Doing so, we find James and John requesting positions of authority with Jesus in his coming kingdom. They wanted to sit, one at his right hand and the other at his left hand. Jesus explained that he was not the one to grant that and then explains that greatness comes, not from positions of authority, but from humble service.

Having made the connection between service and greatness, Jesus then gives an example of himself. Describing himself as the Son of Man, he then points out that he came not to be served by us, but to serve us by meeting an important need we had; a sin problem which would end in eternal death unless some qualified person died in our place. God the Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as the perfect sacrifice to die on the cross as payment for our salvation. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for us.

God is love and God was willing to sacrifice is only Son for us. Should we not then be willing to love others in a way that yields a benefit for them at maybe a cost to us? I believe that is what Jesus is teaching us and then demonstrating what greatness is.

Prayer

Father, how thankful I am that Jesus was willing humble himself and accept the shame of the cross and give his life as a ransom for us sinners who deserved eternal punishment. What an example he set before us that we should be willing serve others and even to sacrifice for their benefit, but to our shame we are all too willing to sacrifice for our own gain. Father, have mercy on us and urge us on to greater Christ-likeness.