Day 10 of #DailyMark (no, not based on my name!).
Mark 10 is another very full chapter (have you noticed how Mark moves quickly from scene to scene?), and it contains what is likely the key verse in the entire book. Mark 10:45 says, “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” (again, in contrast to the disciples).
It is here in Jesus’ description of himself that we see the essence of his mission. Jesus, as God in human form, came to humanity to give his life as a ransom. Wow, that implies a lot of things, doesn’t it? It implies that humans are held captive. It implies that humans cannot save themselves. It implies that Jesus has the power and ability to save us.
In terms of the teaching of the Bible, each of these implications is correct!
The problem is sin (the inherent nature of it, our propensity to do it, and our inability to overcome it), the solution is Jesus (eternal power and victory over sin and brokenness, as we have seen throughout the first ten chapters), and the result (if we accept both the problem and the solution) is a restored and reconciled relationship with God. In other words, Jesus offers us eternal freedom!
Jesus saves me because I can’t save myself. Wow, what a powerful reality! That changes everything, doesn’t it. How has it changed you?
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