A Ransom for Many

J.J. Stark

March 2016

Week 8

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

A Ransom for Many

“²⁶Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  ²⁷And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – ²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28 (NKJV)

“…But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  ²⁷And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave…”  Oh the numerous times I find myself guilty of this mindset…How often do I think I am something big and great?  How many times do I take pride in “my” accomplishments and seek praise for “my” ambitions and aspirations?  In reality, I am microscopic small…I think it is safe to say the human mind is not physically capable of even beginning to comprehend the weight of what Jesus has done for us.  I know I can’t.  It is a constant struggle with my flesh, as this is the nature in which it manifests itself – overconfidence in my capabilities, and yet the truth of the matter is, is that the Lord created me and blessed me with such gifts and abilities.  The magnitude of it is like that of God, unfathomable in depth and immense in breadth, too great to measure.  The Lord Jesus Christ, “the Son of Man,” displayed that love to me and the rest of the world by coming to this earth and “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” If He, not being of this world, came down here to serve and make Himself low, how much more must I lay down myself and serve with humility?  Thank you Lord for becoming not only “a ransom for many,” but paying the ransom for me!!

Application:  Today I will be the last one through all the meal lines.