Daily devotion – a ransom for many…
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The Bible nowhere teaches that Satan had to be paid off in order for sinners to be saved. When Jesus Christ died as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world, Satan was not paid but defeated.
Remember Jesus Christ was born in human flesh so that “through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” – Hebrews 2:14. There was no negotiation!
When Jesus says He came to “give His life as a ransom,” the focus is not on who gets the payment. The focus is on His own life as the payment, and on His freedom in serving rather than being served, and on the “many” – you and I, who will benefit from the payment He makes.
Well, who got the ransom – the Biblical answer would have to be God the Father. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ “gave Himself up for us, an…offering …to God.” Ephesians 5:2. Jesus “offered Himself without blemish to God.” – Hebrews 9:14. There was a need for a substitute to die for sinful man because “all of us had fallen short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23. Because of our sin, the whole world is held accountable to God – Romans 3:19
So when the Bible tells us that Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for us, the Bible says that we are freed from the condemnation of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1 The ultimate and final captivity from which we need release is from the “judgment of God.” – Romans 2:2 – Revelation 14:7.
The ransom price for this release from God’s condemnation is the life of Jesus Christ. But not just His life, but His life given up in death! Jesus told His disciples over and over, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.” – Mark 9:31.
Jesus used this term the Son of Man both to identify with us but more importantly because it had the ring of mortality about it. Men can die. That is why God had to become a man.
Jesus paid the price freely, without coercion, He laid His life down at His own accord.
But who did Christ effectively ransom from sin? The Bible tells us He came to “give His life as a ransom for MANY!” But not everybody will be ransomed from the wrath of God! But the offer is for everyone.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Today, have you received the gift that Jesus offers you? No one is excluded from this salvation who will bow down their hearts and accept the wonderful treasure of the ransoming of Jesus Christ.