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A Ransom Paid
This morning as we prepare to remember our Lord’s death until He comes again, I want us to have our minds set on the cross. I want us to particularly think about the RANSOM aspect of Christ’s atoning work for us.
Our text this morning will be Mark 10:35-45:
Mark 10:35
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
Well, who wouldn’t want that? When a statement like that is made it can’t end well!
Mark 10:36-37
And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."
They are jockeying for position. They know what they want, but they have no idea as to what goes into being in that position.
Mark 10:38
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
Jesus already knows the answer to this. He is pointing out that they can’t do it. So really Jesus is saying you are not able.
Mark 10:39
And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,
While they would not and could not suffer a “sin bearing” death, they would suffer for the kingdom. But even this would not get them the position they desired.
Mark 10:40
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."
God alone decides who has what position in His kingdom. It is not based on selfish ambition like much of our business world is.
Mark 10:41
And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.
The others were upset with James and John because James and John asked Jesus for the position they wanted. That is why they were upset. It was not righteous indignation.
Mark 10:42-44
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "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.
Jesus makes the point that servant leadership is what God’s kingdom is about. Pastors and other church leaders are not called to be dictators who rule over people with an iron fist. But we are to serve God together.
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."
Now let’s consider 5 important questions regarding this RANSOM:
1. What is a ransom?
A ransom is a payment for the release of a captive or hostage. In biblical times it was used of a slave being set free because someone paid a ransom for them, bought them. This is where it is applicable to every human being who is ever conceived. We are all slaves of sin. Therefore we must be bought out of that slavery. So we need someone to pay a ransom for us, because we cannot pay it ourselves.
Now any time you have a ransom being paid, you ask: 1) who is paying the ransom?; 2) and to whom is ransom paid?
2. Who paid the ransom?
Obviously v. 45 makes it clear that Jesus came to pay a ransom. No mere man could pay this ransom. This ransom was not monetary, but spiritual.
3. Who is paid the ransom?
There is a false theory, ironically enough, called the Ransom Theory of the Atonement. It says that the ransom was paid to Satan to satisfy any claims that he had against man. That is not the teaching of Scripture at all.
This ransom was paid by God, the Son, to God, the Father. It is God that man has sinned against, and so it is God whose wrath must be satisfied.
4. Who was the ransom paid for?
Jesus says He came to pay a ransom for “many,” in our passage and in Matthew 20:28
Matthew 20:28
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
But then in 1 Timothy 2:6 we read that Christ gave Himself “a ransom for all.” And so how do we reconcile the the “all” with the many. Some try to limit the “all” of 1 Timothy 2:6, by pointing out that that vv. 1-2 speak of all “classes” of individuals, and not every individual. But consistent exegesis will not allow for that interpretation. And so I do think that the “all” means all without limitation. In fact, I think that John MacArthur has spoken well on how we reconcile the “many” with the “all.” Listen to what he has said:
1 Timothy 2:6
who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
"Although His ransom is sufficient for every person, it is valid only for those who believe in Him. It is in that sense that His redemption is for MANY, rather than for all. The Lord was not teaching limited atonement, the idea that He died only for the sins of a select few. Paul makes it clear that Christ died for whole world. (The man Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself as a ransom for all - 1 Tim. 2:5-6)" [From page 246 of MacArthur's commentary on Matthew]
It also interesting to note what Calvin says about the word “many” In our passage and in Matthew 20:28: “The word many is not put definitely for a fixed number, but for a large number; for he contrasts himself with all others. . . Paul does not speak of any part of men, but embraces the whole human race. [Page 427 of Calvin’s commentary]
So Christ’s death, in general, provides benefits for all people, but only the believer is no longer a slave to sin.
And so if you are here this morning and you have trusted in Christ as your Savior, then you have been ransomed.
5. What is the result of the ransom being paid?
The result of Christ payment of a ransom for us is that we have eternal life, as we are no longer a slave to sin. That is what we are focusing on this morning. There, indeed, are many wonderful results for the believer. We are focusing on the fact that all that we do in church as believers is only possible because of what Christ did for us in ransoming our souls! Our great hope and certainty of eternal life is only possible through Christ ransoming our souls on the cross!
