Listen to Sermon
“Ransom” Mark 10:45
Pastor Tom Johnson, October 21, 2018
It seems that we spent a number of Sundays hearing the disciples argue about who is the greatest in the Kingdom, jealousy toward other workers, not valuing the little ones, and this morning James and John’s desire to be in a position of power. Jesus tells them that they do not know what they are asking for. He reminds them how the world works. Earthly leaders like to lord it over their subjects. We see that today in the upcoming fight for more seats in congress so that the party who wins the majority can possess more power. Jesus turns the whole discussion around. Greatness in the Kingdom is not about ruling over others or making all the important decisions that impact others. Jesus says that is the way of the world—“their great ones are tyrants over them,” he says. Jesus says human leaders often misuse and abuse their power.
In contrast, Jesus says of himself, that “even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom to many.” And in that beautiful description of himself he includes a word that has its roots in one of the greatest abuses of power—human trafficking. When we hear the word ransom today, we may think of kidnapping and the money it takes to buy the freedom of those being held in captivity. But in Jesus’ day it was the money used to purchase, sell, and traffic in human beings. And so it is in our day. This would include child and adult prostitution, child soldier recruitment, forced labor, forced child labor, debt labor or bondage, domestic servitude, and selling of human organs. One statistic says there are over 20,000 people trafficked in the Chicagoland area each day.
Many of you will remember that our very own Sara Dornacker made it her passion to bring an end to human trafficking in Chicago—particularly prostitution by reaching out to them and working toward their freedom. Sadly, Sara’s life was cut short but her impact on me an many others still goes on. But what Jesus really wants us to see, in addition to all the abuse of world leaders is how we can also be little tyrants in our own circles. James and John want to sit in power with Jesus in glory. We may not be as ambitious as they are but Jesus wants us to learn what it is not to be served but to serve. Human trafficking is an extreme example of using another human being as a piece of property, exploiting them, and not seeing their value and dignity as human beings—that they also bear the image of God. Any time we see another person as a means to our ends, we are wanting to be served rather than to serve. Our own sense of worth, greatness, and pride may be the driving force behind this just as it was behind James and John’s request.
Jesus charges us to become slaves and to serve others. So any manipulation of others, micromanagement, overexertion of authority, not respecting boundaries, or selfish gain goes against what Jesus tells us we should be like. We should remember what Jesus says: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Church leaders are charged with “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). As the Church leader, Jesus encourages us to not seek to be served but to serve. To put it simply, Jesus says to James, John, and to all of us. It is not about you. It is not about me. It is about loving God and neighbor. It is about serving God and serving neighbor. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom to many.”
It is an amazing vision of the way things should be. The eternal Son of God became human. He did not come to throw his weight around. He did not come to subject creation to himself in a well-executed maneuver of power. As Creator of heaven and earth, he came to bring to completion the good work he has begun in us. He came to serve creation. He is the One who created and now sustains the universe by the Word of his power. He served us by listening to us, seeing us, healing us, doing good, preaching good news, challenging our unhealthy thinking and attitudes. He served us by suffering in-justice, death upon a Roman Cross, and rising again from the dead. His life upon the Cross of Calvary is our ransom. Just as a person could have their freedom purchased in Jesus day, in the days of slavery in the United States, and even in our day, so Jesus bought our freedom. And the means of our redemption and release from bondage is not gold and silver but his precious Blood. It is the greatest service ever given to the world—to free us from all that holds us captive—our sin, evil in the world, and even death itself.
But now the bonds of death are burst,
The ransom has been paid;
You now ascend the Father’s throne
In robes of light arrayed
O let Your mighty love prevail
To purge us of our pride
That we may stand before Your throne
By mercy purified.
“O Christ, Our Hope, Our Hearts’ Desire” (LSB 553, vv. 3,4)
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