Mark 10:41-45 (NIVUK)
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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.’
Maybe today the idea of redeeming a slave by paying a ransom price is not an illustration that works for us, maybe we’re more familiar with the idea of paying a ransom for a kidnap victim to be released (think of the payment of historic British debts to Iran in order to have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released recently). This is a common theme in TV thrillers, with a bag of money being left at a place dictated by the kidnapper over a muffled phone call in order for their prisoner to be released. At the end of today’s passage we have the same idea, only with a twist. We’re cast as those who have been kidnapped, and Jesus is the one who receives the call. He agrees to pay the ransom, and pays, only, not with a bag of money, but with himself. He becomes the ransom, so that we might be set free (this is only an illustration, don’t push try and push it any further).
Thank you Jesus that you gave yourself for me – Spirit, help me to echo this through serving others.
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