Ransom Prophecy

~~~ 1 Peter 1:18-25 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Mark 10:32-45 ~~~

Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct,
handed on by your ancestors,
not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious Blood of Christ...

I have never been held for ransom, but it does
actually happen in our world today.
I know of two ransom situations that
happened to a couple friends' family members.

The kidnappers demanded money in these two cases.
The money was unfortunately paid and the
people were thankfully released.
But there is not always a happy ending.

We were not ransomed by Jesus for sack of gold coins.
We were ransomed by Jesus because we were
being held prisoner by our sins.

The death of Jesus released us from the chains of death.

...the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus came to serve. He did this by paying
the price with his life for our offenses.

Jesus took the idea of serving beyond
 a customary understanding.

You might say that you serve others in your life.
Some people thrive as long as they are in a servants roll.

During the Christmas season we sing
of Emmanuel coming to ransom captive Israel.
At the time of the birth of Jesus the prophecies
 of the prophets were being fulfilled.

God the Father sent Jesus to serve us,
 to save us, to ransom us...
Jesus came to free us...
Jesus came humbly 

to secure our entry into heaven.

 ...the flower wilts;
but the word of the Lord remains forever.

Our ransom remains intact forever...
it will never perish, rot,
wilt, or decay.

We can be confident in our salvation
which was ransomed for us
by the second person of the Trinity.

You have been saved by the one who
 came to humbly serve.

Blessed to be free.
~~~ Peace ~~~