“A Ransom for Many”...the Wayfarer 1/20/14

“A Ransom for Many”

1/20/14

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

(Mark 10:45)

Today, I would address the purpose and scope of ministry,

The word itself, as defined by Webster’s is derived from the Old French for servant; the first definition listed is agent.

The first obligation of any “Minister,” is to be a servant, and an agent…first of Christ Jesus, and to those he has been called to serve.

The opening verse for today comes in light of questions asked of Jesus by James and John, and a selfish, impertinent request made by them:

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand in thy glory.

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.”

(Mark 10:35-39)

These two staunch disciples had a zeal in their efforts to follow, and to please Christ. They were also fallible human beings, subject to the foibles and, and failures of all humanity.

They expressed a desire to be exalted above all others by having a place of honor at Jesus’ side.

What they really requested was immediately discerned by Christ, to have a glory of their own, an authority of their own, and a placement above what they had been called to do.

As with so many glory seekers today, they allowed the greed of the flesh to take precedence over the mission given them, not quite yet comprehending that they were not called to rule, but to serve!

Jesus’ question was quite prophetic, when he asked them whether they could drink of the same cup from which he had been given to drink, and their ability to have the same baptism.

The cup of which He spoke was the persecution that He had endured, and the ostracism and eventual martyrdom that eventually befell all the disciples as they continued to preach the Word and spread the Gospel.

John, though eventually dying a natural death, was boiled in oil in attempt to kill him before being exiled to Patmos, and endured, to live on and give further testimony, suffering the majority of his remaining life for the Gospel’s sake.

They did not receive the glory they thought to have on this earth, and the only authority they were given was to teach and to reach out and spread that Gospel.

None of the disciples died rich men, by the standards of worldly riches, but, like Christ Himself, were paupers, who embraced their poverty knowing that the riches to come were eternal, and any glory to come also eternal, and was only that which was merited in the sight of God himself.

This realization and commitment came, however, only after having fully understood what the kingdom spoken of by Christ really was!

Naturally their request was met with more than a little jealousy and anger from the others among them, who saw themselves as equals to these two brothers:

“And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

But so it shall not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

And whosoever of will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

(Mark 10:41-45)

How many among us is willing to accept the cup that Christ asked them about? How many have actually accepted that baptism he spoke of?

How many comprehend the true meaning of ministry, and all it entails?

The time has come for ministers to minister… not to themselves for their own profit and glory, but to provide the service and agency that is required of any claiming to be a minister.

That ministry is to be to those ministered to by Christ, as he walked the earth, with the same agenda held by our Savior. It is to show the love as we were told to do by His single commandment left us by Him. It is to seek out and rescue those in need, both physically and more particularly spiritually through all means available to them. It is to provide for the needs of those to whom they are sent to minister, not their own selfish wants. It is to be done with an attitude of service, not for self-glorification or enrichment. 

This act of service, that is required, will reap the same derision and persecution endured by the disciples, and Christ as well, simply because, in order to achieve it, the natural and animal desires of the flesh must be overcome, and replaced with the need to fulfill the commandment to love one another to the point of willingness to lay down our own lives if necessary to make the Way, Truth and Life of that Gospel known to those in need… which is all mankind, though far too many of those in need refuse to accept or even admit that need.

It is a requirement to stand fast in faith, despite those who deny the Truth of that faith.

It is a requirement to light up, and show the Way, to those lost in the darkness of a world where immediate gratification of wants and lusts take precedence over the needs of an eternal soul for most about us.

It is a requirement to both live a Life acceptable to Christ, and to show others the rewards of that Life, not only here and now, but yet to come when all the things of this world have passed, and all the “treasures” and “pleasures” have long been gone, corrupted, and rotted away along with the physical body inhabited by an eternal soul.

Ministry extends to the NEEDS of that physical body, but far more importantly to the absolute and eternal NEEDS of that soul, which must be the first priority of that ministry.  

That ministry must extend beyond the comfort zone of those we find of like mind, and of our own specific peer group, church, association, denomination or other man made institution.

It may begin within those, but cannot end there. It must be expanded to include all.

As I stated in a prior message, we are indeed at war with the world, a war in which either love will win each battle fought, or greed and disdain for the needs around us will win.

That war has already determined the winners, and we know who they are in the end. 

My question to the “ministers” among us is; how many losers will there be because of the lack of true ministry? How many more could have been winners if the obligations of that ministry were recognized and were actually given as required of us?

That ministry begins, and ends with the necessity to proclaim as did Christ the foremost need to: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” while meeting those other obligations, of a true and abiding love for our Savior as given through His teachings constantly between that beginning and end. 

That obligation begins with the need to first meet the obligation and requirement of repentance ourselves, constantly and consistently, if we are to be able to show others the available redemption that may only be obtained through that repentance.

I close, with the love of my Savior for all willing to accept the blessings offered by Christ, and able to accept the terms required to achieve those blessings.

I remain both your humble servant, and most importantly His servant, still nothing more than that which I was born, seeking no authority, seeking no glory, seeking no riches other than those given me by Him, a simple sinner saved by grace through faith, called into His service long ago, striving to meet the requirements of that service despite the humanity of this body, and its inherent inability to be perfect in that service. I remain the soldier for my Lord, willing to fight the battles set before me as long as he allows, with the knowledge that the greatest weapon in that fight was, is, and will continue to be, not my own, but His  love and saving hand which cannot fail.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen.
the Wayfarer