100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,000Save the World200:00:03,000 –> 00:00:09,000The Bible says that the death of Jesus was a ransom for many and that it was a ransom for all.300:00:09,000 –> 00:00:15,600When God says it was a ransom for many, he’s reminding us that some people will not be saved.400:00:15,620 –> 00:00:19,299Not everyone will be saved.500:00:19,299 –> 00:00:25,700And when he says the ransom was for all, God is reminding us that all can be saved.600:00:25,700 –> 00:00:29,500Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.700:00:29,500 –> 00:00:31,500I’m glad you could be with us today.800:00:31,500 –> 00:00:34,599Colin, our message today is from Mark 10,900:00:34,599 –> 00:00:38,200And it addresses the question, why did Jesus come?1000:00:38,200 –> 00:00:42,099Jesus’ answer to that is absolutely astonishing.1100:00:42,099 –> 00:00:47,400The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, He says.1200:00:47,400 –> 00:00:51,700Imagine this, Christ was served by millions of angels,1300:00:52,660 –> 00:00:56,400to be the servant and to do something for us,1400:00:56,400 –> 00:00:58,200and then what is it He’s going to do?1500:00:58,200 –> 00:01:01,099To give His life as a ransom.1600:01:01,099 –> 00:01:04,300The price paid to set people free.1700:01:04,300 –> 00:01:06,800Here is what the cross is all about.1800:01:06,800 –> 00:01:11,000He’s paying a price, and what a price that was!1900:01:11,000 –> 00:01:16,300Giving His life in order that we may be brought into all the freedom2000:01:16,300 –> 00:01:18,099of the sons and the daughters of God.2100:01:18,099 –> 00:01:21,500It’s absolutely marvellous why Jesus Christ came into the world.2200:01:21,500 –> 00:01:24,199We’re going to explore that in today’s message,2300:01:24,199 –> 00:01:26,800so if you can join us in Mark chapter 10,2400:01:26,800 –> 00:01:28,500as we continue the message2500:01:28,500 –> 00:01:32,199Jesus demonstrates His power by serving and giving.2600:01:32,199 –> 00:01:33,400Here’s Colin.2700:01:33,400 –> 00:01:35,199Let’s get this into our minds!2800:01:35,199 –> 00:01:37,900The objective of Jesus in coming into the world2900:01:37,900 –> 00:01:40,500was not to demand something from you,3000:01:40,500 –> 00:01:42,500but to accomplish something for you.3100:01:42,500 –> 00:01:45,400It was not to get you to do something for Him,3200:01:45,400 –> 00:01:48,000it was so that he should do something for you.3300:01:48,000 –> 00:01:51,300The gospel is not about what you are doing for Jesus,3400:01:51,300 –> 00:01:53,300but about what Jesus has done for you3500:01:53,300 –> 00:01:56,099and what Jesus is doing in your life.3600:01:56,599 –> 00:01:59,300Now, how does Jesus serve us?3700:01:59,500 –> 00:02:03,000Is it by making our lives exactly as we think they should be3800:02:03,000 –> 00:02:04,300or want them to be?3900:02:04,300 –> 00:02:05,500No! Of course not!4000:02:05,500 –> 00:02:07,500That’s a mistake James and John made4100:02:07,500 –> 00:02:09,500back in verse 35, when they said4200:02:09,500 –> 00:02:11,699we want you to do for us, whatever we ask.4300:02:11,699 –> 00:02:13,699How does Jesus serve us?4400:02:13,699 –> 00:02:16,199Well, he tells us in verse 45,4500:02:16,600 –> 00:02:19,500by giving his life4600:02:20,199 –> 00:02:22,399as a ransom for many.4700:02:22,399 –> 00:02:23,699That’s how he serves us.4800:02:24,199 –> 00:02:25,800That’s what he came to do.4900:02:27,800 –> 00:02:30,000Now this is one of the most important statements5000:02:30,000 –> 00:02:31,399in all of the New Testament5100:02:31,399 –> 00:02:33,100so let’s ponder it5200:02:33,600 –> 00:02:36,100and try to get it into our minds and our hearts5300:02:36,100 –> 00:02:39,000so that we understand the message of the Bible well.5400:02:40,899 –> 00:02:42,100A ransom.5500:02:42,600 –> 00:02:45,899The Son of Man came to give his life5600:02:45,899 –> 00:02:48,399as a ransom for many.5700:02:49,500 –> 00:02:51,000Now we know what the word ransom means,5800:02:51,000 –> 00:02:53,000we hear it if there’s a kidnapping5900:02:53,699 –> 00:02:55,699or if someone is taken hostage6000:02:55,899 –> 00:02:57,500then a ransom6100:02:57,800 –> 00:03:00,600may be demanded for the release of that person.6200:03:01,100 –> 00:03:03,800So, it’s used in the case of a hostage.6300:03:04,699 –> 00:03:07,800In the Old Testament ransom was used in two other ways.6400:03:07,800 –> 00:03:09,800One was that it could be money that was paid6500:03:09,800 –> 00:03:11,500for the release of a slave.6600:03:11,699 –> 00:03:13,800So you’ve got a hostage or a slave.6700:03:14,699 –> 00:03:15,899And then a third way6800:03:16,199 –> 00:03:20,600and you find this in Exodus, chapter 21 and verse 30 and following6900:03:21,100 –> 00:03:24,100there were certain circumstances under which if someone7000:03:24,399 –> 00:03:26,899was facing the death sentence.7100:03:27,600 –> 00:03:29,000If they were on death row7200:03:29,100 –> 00:03:31,500and they were facing capital punishment7300:03:31,600 –> 00:03:33,100in Old Testament Israel,7400:03:33,100 –> 00:03:35,500there were some circumstances under which7500:03:35,600 –> 00:03:37,699ransom money could be paid7600:03:37,800 –> 00:03:40,699And the death sentence would be relieved,7700:03:40,699 –> 00:03:42,500would be taken away.7800:03:43,300 –> 00:03:45,199So these are the three ways in which7900:03:45,500 –> 00:03:47,000the word is used8000:03:47,100 –> 00:03:51,000and all three of them play into the New Testament meaning8100:03:51,300 –> 00:03:52,899of the word ransom.8200:03:53,199 –> 00:03:55,800If you want one place where this is brought together8300:03:55,800 –> 00:03:58,300I think Ephesians, chapter 2 would be the place8400:03:58,300 –> 00:04:00,100that explains it most clearly.8500:04:00,600 –> 00:04:04,000Firstly, by nature, we are hostage to an enemy.8600:04:04,500 –> 00:04:07,600We are held in the kingdom of this world8700:04:07,800 –> 00:04:10,899that is under the rule and the influence8800:04:10,899 –> 00:04:13,300of the prince of the power of the air, Satan.8900:04:13,699 –> 00:04:17,600And Jesus Christ has died to liberate this creation9000:04:17,899 –> 00:04:20,100from its bondage to decay9100:04:20,399 –> 00:04:24,399and to release us from the gripping power of Satan9200:04:24,600 –> 00:04:27,899in all the ways in which he lays hold of our lives.9300:04:28,500 –> 00:04:30,299More than that, we are slaves,9400:04:30,899 –> 00:04:32,299slaves to ourselves.9500:04:32,700 –> 00:04:36,000In Ephesians 2, Paul says we follow by nature9600:04:36,299 –> 00:04:41,000the thoughts, the desires and the cravings of our own hearts.9700:04:41,000 –> 00:04:42,299That’s just what we do by nature.9800:04:42,799 –> 00:04:45,000We follow our own thoughts, our own desires,9900:04:45,399 –> 00:04:46,600our own cravings10000:04:47,000 –> 00:04:49,100and Jesus Christ came to pay the ransom10100:04:49,100 –> 00:04:50,500to get us out of that slavery10200:04:50,500 –> 00:04:52,100because that’s a terrible way to live10300:04:52,100 –> 00:04:55,399just to be driven by impulses in yourself all the time10400:04:55,500 –> 00:04:57,000and nothing higher than that.10500:04:58,239 –> 00:05:01,600And then thirdly, by nature we are offenders against God10600:05:01,799 –> 00:05:04,100and therefore under the sentence of death,10700:05:04,100 –> 00:05:05,899Paul says in Ephesians chapter 210800:05:06,100 –> 00:05:08,500that we are objects of God’s wrath10900:05:09,299 –> 00:05:10,899and it is for this reason also11000:05:10,899 –> 00:05:12,600that Jesus paid the ransom11100:05:12,600 –> 00:05:17,100that that death sentence may be lifted from us.11200:05:17,899 –> 00:05:18,299Now he says,11300:05:18,299 –> 00:05:19,899Jesus, I came to serve,11400:05:20,500 –> 00:05:22,299I came to accomplish for you something11500:05:22,299 –> 00:05:25,100that you could never accomplish for yourself.11600:05:25,100 –> 00:05:26,700I came to pay the ransom.11700:05:27,399 –> 00:05:30,200I came to break you out of Satan’s power.11800:05:30,799 –> 00:05:33,000I came to deliver you from a life11900:05:33,000 –> 00:05:34,700that’s simply following your own thoughts,12000:05:34,799 –> 00:05:36,500your own desires, and your own cravings12100:05:36,500 –> 00:05:37,799because that’s a terrible,12200:05:37,799 –> 00:05:39,299terrible way to live.12300:05:39,600 –> 00:05:42,700And I came supremely to pay the ransom12400:05:42,700 –> 00:05:45,500so that the death sentence of the wrath of God12500:05:45,500 –> 00:05:47,700that was upon you would be lifted.12600:05:49,000 –> 00:05:50,299It is for all these reasons12700:05:50,299 –> 00:05:53,500that Jesus paid the ransom.12800:05:54,500 –> 00:05:54,799And I said,12900:05:54,799 –> 00:05:56,019Well, what was the ransom?13000:05:56,019 –> 00:05:58,899What was the payment that had to be made?13100:06:00,200 –> 00:06:02,000Well, notice that Jesus says here13200:06:02,700 –> 00:06:06,100that he gave his life as the ransom.13300:06:06,799 –> 00:06:08,200The price of the ransom13400:06:08,200 –> 00:06:10,399was the perfect life of Jesus13500:06:10,399 –> 00:06:11,799poured out13600:06:12,299 –> 00:06:14,000in his death.13700:06:14,700 –> 00:06:17,299The Son of Man has come to give his life13800:06:17,899 –> 00:06:19,100as a ransom13900:06:20,200 –> 00:06:20,899for many.14000:06:22,500 –> 00:06:23,000Now,14100:06:24,000 –> 00:06:26,799Jesus uses two pictures in this passage14200:06:26,799 –> 00:06:28,100to help us understand14300:06:28,100 –> 00:06:31,600what his unique death actually involved14400:06:32,200 –> 00:06:34,100he talks about the cup14500:06:34,700 –> 00:06:37,299and he talks about a baptism14600:06:37,500 –> 00:06:40,299and he refers to both of them in verse 38.14700:06:40,899 –> 00:06:43,000Can you drink the cup I drink14800:06:43,299 –> 00:06:45,399or be baptized with the baptism?14900:06:45,399 –> 00:06:47,399I am baptized with15000:06:49,000 –> 00:06:51,399Now the cup of wine in the Bible15100:06:52,000 –> 00:06:55,399is often used as a symbol or a picture15200:06:55,899 –> 00:06:57,200of God’s wrath15300:06:57,200 –> 00:06:59,600or God’s judgment being poured out.15400:06:59,600 –> 00:07:02,500You find that both in the Old Testament and the New Testament,15500:07:02,799 –> 00:07:05,100let me give you perhaps the most striking example15600:07:05,100 –> 00:07:06,899would be from the book of Revelation15700:07:07,299 –> 00:07:09,600chapter 14 and verse 10.15800:07:10,299 –> 00:07:12,600And here we have these extraordinary words15900:07:13,600 –> 00:07:15,100that the wine16000:07:15,899 –> 00:07:17,600of Gods fury16100:07:18,500 –> 00:07:21,100is poured full-strength16200:07:21,700 –> 00:07:22,899into the cup16300:07:23,500 –> 00:07:24,600of his wrath.16400:07:24,600 –> 00:07:26,700That’s Revelation 14 in verse 1016500:07:27,000 –> 00:07:28,700and what it’s saying in Revelation is16600:07:28,700 –> 00:07:31,500that on the last day those who rebel against God16700:07:31,500 –> 00:07:33,700and remain in the rebellion throughout their lives.16800:07:33,700 –> 00:07:34,500They drink it.16900:07:35,700 –> 00:07:39,299The wine of God’s fury poured full-strength17000:07:39,299 –> 00:07:41,500into the cup17100:07:42,200 –> 00:07:43,200of his wrath.17200:07:44,100 –> 00:07:45,299Now you think about this.17300:07:46,600 –> 00:07:48,100When Jesus died17400:07:49,500 –> 00:07:51,700the wine of God’s fury17500:07:52,600 –> 00:07:56,880was poured full-strength into the cup of his wrath17600:07:56,880 –> 00:07:59,200and Jesus drank it.17700:08:01,799 –> 00:08:04,500And he describes what he endured not only as a17800:08:05,399 –> 00:08:07,100the drinking of a cup, but17900:08:08,100 –> 00:08:09,700the enduring of a baptism.18000:08:09,899 –> 00:08:12,700Baptism, of course, speaking of being plunged, overwhelmed.18100:08:12,700 –> 00:08:18,299There was a wave of suffering that overwhelmed his own soul18200:08:19,500 –> 00:08:21,500and his own body.18300:08:22,299 –> 00:08:25,700And that is how he paid the ransom.18400:08:27,600 –> 00:08:29,640That is the price18500:08:29,640 –> 00:08:33,400that had to be paid to release you from the power of Satan18600:08:34,299 –> 00:08:37,140and this cosmos from his great rebellion.18700:08:38,619 –> 00:08:42,739That was the price that is to be paid to release you from a life18800:08:42,739 –> 00:08:46,700that’s just following your own thoughts and desires and the cravings of your own heart,18900:08:47,880 –> 00:08:49,880following your own impulse.19000:08:50,419 –> 00:08:53,619That’s what had to be done to release you19100:08:53,619 –> 00:08:58,619from the wine of God’s fury being poured full strength19200:08:58,880 –> 00:09:02,679into the cup of his wrath and you drinking it, it’s awesome.19300:09:04,619 –> 00:09:07,239So this is why I came into the world, Jesus,19400:09:07,239 –> 00:09:09,460is saying, forget any idea that I came19500:09:09,460 –> 00:09:12,059into the world to get you to do stuff for me, my goodness.19600:09:14,179 –> 00:09:16,500No, no, no, says Jesus, I didn’t come to be served by you,19700:09:16,500 –> 00:09:19,179I came to serve, I can to give my life19800:09:20,739 –> 00:09:25,739as a ransom to drink this cup and to endure this baptism19900:09:28,840 –> 00:09:32,080is what it took to pay the ransom for you and for me.20000:09:33,200 –> 00:09:35,440You’re listening to Open The Bible with pastor Colin Smith20100:09:35,440 –> 00:09:38,400in a message called Jesus Demonstrates His Power20200:09:38,400 –> 00:09:40,280by Serving and Giving.20300:09:40,280 –> 00:09:43,419Is part of the series called The Gospel According to Jesus20400:09:43,419 –> 00:09:45,400which is based on the book of Mark.20500:09:45,400 –> 00:09:47,760And if you’ve missed any of the series up to date20600:09:47,780 –> 00:09:50,179or if you want to go back and listen again20700:09:50,179 –> 00:09:54,479you can come to our website at openthebible.org.uk20800:09:54,479 –> 00:09:58,080and find any of the previously broadcast messages there.20900:09:58,080 –> 00:10:00,280You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching21000:10:00,280 –> 00:10:01,919and messages as a podcast21100:10:01,919 –> 00:10:02,799and those are available21200:10:02,799 –> 00:10:04,419on all the major podcast sites21300:10:04,419 –> 00:10:07,119or by following a link from our website.21400:10:07,119 –> 00:10:09,440Open The Bible is supported for this program21500:10:09,440 –> 00:10:10,859and on the website21600:10:10,859 –> 00:10:13,880by the financial generosity of our listeners.21700:10:13,880 –> 00:10:15,799And if that’s something you’re considering doing21800:10:15,799 –> 00:10:17,640for the first time this month21900:10:17,900 –> 00:10:21,559we’d like to offer you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book22000:10:21,559 –> 00:10:23,059the advent of glory22100:10:23,059 –> 00:10:24,460as our way of saying thank you22200:10:24,460 –> 00:10:27,200for supporting the work in this way.22300:10:27,200 –> 00:10:29,179I’ll be talking to Colin further about this22400:10:29,179 –> 00:10:30,280later on in the program22500:10:30,280 –> 00:10:32,039so I hope you will stay with us.22600:10:32,039 –> 00:10:33,280Back to the message now,22700:10:33,280 –> 00:10:34,520here’s Colin.22800:10:34,520 –> 00:10:37,000So this is why I came into the world, Jesus22900:10:37,000 –> 00:10:38,960is saying forget any idea23000:10:38,960 –> 00:10:40,000that I came into the world23100:10:40,000 –> 00:10:41,359to get you to do stuff for me,23200:10:41,359 –> 00:10:42,440my goodness no.23300:10:44,640 –> 00:10:47,320Then I want you to notice who benefits from this,23400:10:47,359 –> 00:10:48,760at the end of the verse23500:10:49,799 –> 00:10:51,559whose life will be changed23600:10:51,559 –> 00:10:53,659by Jesus Christ laying down his life23700:10:53,659 –> 00:10:54,500to pay the ransom?23800:10:54,500 –> 00:10:55,799Who’s going to be set free?23900:10:55,799 –> 00:10:59,280Whose life is going to be changed?24000:10:59,280 –> 00:11:01,059Now there are two statements24100:11:01,059 –> 00:11:03,119about the ransom in the New Testament24200:11:03,119 –> 00:11:05,099that need to be put side by side24300:11:05,099 –> 00:11:06,619and I think you’ll see the significance24400:11:06,619 –> 00:11:07,960of them straight away.24500:11:07,960 –> 00:11:09,700The first is here in Mark Chapter 1024600:11:09,700 –> 00:11:11,880in verse 45 where Jesus says24700:11:11,880 –> 00:11:13,780the Son of man came24800:11:13,780 –> 00:11:15,820to give his life as a ransom24900:11:16,000 –> 00:11:16,840for who?25000:11:16,840 –> 00:11:17,880for many, for many.25100:11:20,260 –> 00:11:23,979That’s Mark Chapter 10 and verse 45.25200:11:23,979 –> 00:11:26,260In 1 Timothy Chapter 225300:11:26,260 –> 00:11:28,580in verse 5 and 6 we read25400:11:28,580 –> 00:11:29,619that there’s one Mediator25500:11:29,619 –> 00:11:30,820between God and man.25600:11:30,820 –> 00:11:32,059That’s Jesus Christ25700:11:32,059 –> 00:11:33,820and he gave himself notice25800:11:33,820 –> 00:11:38,239as a ransom for all.25900:11:38,239 –> 00:11:40,080So two statements in the Bible,26000:11:40,080 –> 00:11:40,919very clear.26100:11:40,919 –> 00:11:42,520You need to put them side by side.26200:11:42,520 –> 00:11:44,659One says that Jesus gave his life26300:11:44,719 –> 00:11:46,219as a ransom for many.26400:11:46,219 –> 00:11:48,539The Other says Jesus gave his life26500:11:48,539 –> 00:11:50,179as a ransom for all.26600:11:50,179 –> 00:11:51,359And both26700:11:51,359 –> 00:11:52,179of these truths26800:11:52,179 –> 00:11:53,559we desperately needs to hold to.26900:11:54,960 –> 00:11:56,340The Bible says that the death27000:11:56,340 –> 00:11:58,179of Jesus was a ransom for many27100:11:58,179 –> 00:12:00,260and that it was a ransom for all.27200:12:00,260 –> 00:12:02,700When God says that it was a ransom27300:12:02,700 –> 00:12:03,979for many.27400:12:03,979 –> 00:12:05,000He is reminding us27500:12:05,000 –> 00:12:07,500that some people will not be saved.27600:12:07,500 –> 00:12:08,979Not everyone will be saved.27700:12:10,619 –> 00:12:11,739And when he says27800:12:11,739 –> 00:12:13,739that the ransom was for all27900:12:13,739 –> 00:12:14,780God is reminding us28000:12:14,780 –> 00:12:17,099that all can be saved.28100:12:18,140 –> 00:12:21,539So you can, without any hesitation,28200:12:21,539 –> 00:12:23,880look any person you meet this week28300:12:23,880 –> 00:12:24,719in the eye28400:12:24,719 –> 00:12:25,760and you can say to them28500:12:25,760 –> 00:12:27,020whatever they have done,28600:12:27,020 –> 00:12:29,159however difficult their life,28700:12:29,159 –> 00:12:32,179believe in the Lord Jesus Christ28800:12:32,179 –> 00:12:35,039and you will be saved,28900:12:36,239 –> 00:12:37,080for all.29000:12:37,080 –> 00:12:39,080You can say that to any person29100:12:40,260 –> 00:12:41,559without hesitation.29200:12:44,299 –> 00:12:46,119But remember that what you’re saying29300:12:46,119 –> 00:12:50,159is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ29400:12:50,159 –> 00:12:51,520and you will be saved.29500:12:52,719 –> 00:12:54,940And you see, that’s the urgency, isn’t it,29600:12:54,940 –> 00:12:56,380of sharing the gospel,29700:12:57,559 –> 00:12:59,859that as Christ has died,29800:12:59,859 –> 00:13:02,000but there is a step of faith,29900:13:02,000 –> 00:13:04,000of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ,30000:13:04,000 –> 00:13:05,640of embracing this redeemer,30100:13:05,640 –> 00:13:06,719of you trusting Him30200:13:06,719 –> 00:13:08,900and of following Him,30300:13:08,900 –> 00:13:11,559that you need to make30400:13:11,559 –> 00:13:13,559if you are going to be saved30500:13:15,239 –> 00:13:19,640and many come to Him in this way,30600:13:19,640 –> 00:13:20,780but not all.30700:13:21,859 –> 00:13:24,239So the payment paid by the shed blood of Jesus30800:13:24,239 –> 00:13:26,000is sufficient for all30900:13:26,000 –> 00:13:28,320and saving for many.31000:13:29,400 –> 00:13:31,640And the many are those who come to Him31100:13:31,640 –> 00:13:33,840in repentance and in faith.31200:13:33,840 –> 00:13:34,739Many have come31300:13:34,739 –> 00:13:36,359and many will come.31400:13:36,359 –> 00:13:38,859The question is are you among the many?31500:13:38,859 –> 00:13:39,700And if you’re not,31600:13:39,700 –> 00:13:41,900why should you not come and be among the many today?31700:13:41,900 –> 00:13:44,619Because His death is sufficient for all.31800:13:44,619 –> 00:13:45,599By His death,31900:13:45,599 –> 00:13:46,520think about this.32000:13:46,520 –> 00:13:50,679Jesus Christ is bringing many sons and daughters32100:13:50,679 –> 00:13:52,539into glory for all eternity.32200:13:52,539 –> 00:13:55,299And why shouldn’t you be among them?32300:13:55,299 –> 00:13:56,539Why wouldn’t you join us?32400:13:56,539 –> 00:13:59,780Why wouldn’t you commit yourself to this Jesus Christ32500:13:59,780 –> 00:14:02,179and trust him because he came into the world32600:14:02,179 –> 00:14:05,880to pay a ransom that is sufficient for you.32700:14:06,520 –> 00:14:10,020Why would you stay at a distance from Him today?32800:14:12,080 –> 00:14:15,119So we’ve looked at the human condition.32900:14:15,119 –> 00:14:19,219We’ve looked at what Jesus Christ came to do about it.33000:14:19,219 –> 00:14:23,239Let’s look lastly now at the change33100:14:23,239 –> 00:14:25,719that Jesus Christ can bring in our lives today.33200:14:25,719 –> 00:14:26,840This is wonderful.33300:14:27,979 –> 00:14:30,640Let’s look at the whole verse 4533400:14:30,640 –> 00:14:32,159together for just a moment.33500:14:33,000 –> 00:14:34,679Notice how it begins.33600:14:36,739 –> 00:14:41,739”Even the Son of Man did not come to be served33700:14:42,640 –> 00:14:47,640”but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”33800:14:48,239 –> 00:14:50,039Now, remember that Jesus is speaking33900:14:50,039 –> 00:14:53,039to His disciples at a moment where they’ve really34000:14:53,039 –> 00:14:56,440displayed how self-absorbed they are,34100:14:57,919 –> 00:15:00,919and Jesus says to them, verse 44.34200:15:01,320 –> 00:15:02,640Here’s what you need to grasp.34300:15:02,640 –> 00:15:07,280Whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.34400:15:07,280 –> 00:15:11,239And then He says, ”For even the Son of Man34500:15:11,239 –> 00:15:13,299”did not come to be served, but to serve34600:15:13,299 –> 00:15:17,140”and to give His life as a ransom for many.”34700:15:18,080 –> 00:15:20,760So clearly there is a model,34800:15:20,760 –> 00:15:24,260there is a pattern that Jesus is setting out here.34900:15:25,440 –> 00:15:29,739If serving and giving35000:15:31,239 –> 00:15:35,799is the mission even of the Son of Man,35100:15:36,799 –> 00:15:40,239then how much more should it be the pattern of our lives?35200:15:41,320 –> 00:15:44,400If even the Son of Man didn’t come in the world35300:15:44,400 –> 00:15:46,840to be served, but rather to serve,35400:15:46,840 –> 00:15:49,179why should we think that we would go through our lives35500:15:49,179 –> 00:15:51,840looking to other people to be serving us all the time35600:15:51,840 –> 00:15:53,619and doing things for us?35700:15:55,280 –> 00:15:56,780Well, you may say, you know,35800:15:56,780 –> 00:15:59,320that’s a long way from the reality of my life35900:15:59,320 –> 00:16:03,500or of our home or the world in which we live36000:16:03,500 –> 00:16:06,099to be thinking that the pattern of life36100:16:06,099 –> 00:16:08,599is really primarily about serving others.36200:16:09,700 –> 00:16:13,020That’s why we need the spirit of Jesus in us.36300:16:14,460 –> 00:16:18,820That’s why we need the servant spirit of the Redeemer.36400:16:20,219 –> 00:16:22,020Jesus is saying, look, I came into the world36500:16:22,020 –> 00:16:25,320to storm you life, to set you free,36600:16:26,280 –> 00:16:29,119to pay the ransom that actually would liberate you36700:16:29,119 –> 00:16:32,000at the points where you are bound.36800:16:33,020 –> 00:16:36,760And salvation is receiving from Jesus Christ36900:16:36,760 –> 00:16:41,179so that we may become increasingly like Jesus Christ.37000:16:43,799 –> 00:16:44,979See, does it work?37100:16:47,039 –> 00:16:52,039Can this Redeemer who paid the ransom37200:16:52,039 –> 00:16:54,880really set you free from a life37300:16:54,880 –> 00:16:56,880that is simply following your own thoughts37400:16:56,880 –> 00:16:59,159and your own desires and your own cravings?37500:16:59,159 –> 00:17:02,820Can He really change you at that level?37600:17:04,040 –> 00:17:06,020To make you someone who grows in love37700:17:06,020 –> 00:17:08,339and becomes sensitive to other people,37800:17:08,339 –> 00:17:10,719could He change you at that level?37900:17:11,599 –> 00:17:13,800You see, if you believe the gospel,38000:17:14,839 –> 00:17:16,800if you trust Jesus Christ,38100:17:16,800 –> 00:17:18,660your answer to that question is yes.38200:17:19,140 –> 00:17:21,819There’s a lot of people who go through life38300:17:21,819 –> 00:17:23,780and are in church and they’ve signed off38400:17:23,780 –> 00:17:25,780and they say, oh yeah, I believe the gospel,38500:17:25,780 –> 00:17:27,160but you don’t really believe the gospel38600:17:27,160 –> 00:17:29,079because you don’t think that Jesus Christ38700:17:29,079 –> 00:17:31,719can actually change you, not at this level.38800:17:31,719 –> 00:17:35,520Not at the level of making you a person38900:17:35,520 –> 00:17:37,859who grows in what it means to love39000:17:37,859 –> 00:17:42,359and to be sensitive and to change39100:17:42,359 –> 00:17:44,300so you’d be a different kind of a husband,39200:17:44,300 –> 00:17:46,739a different kind of a wife, a different kind of a kid,39300:17:47,660 –> 00:17:49,780a different kind of an employer,39400:17:49,780 –> 00:17:51,800a different kind of a business person.39500:17:53,560 –> 00:17:54,400You see, Jesus is saying,39600:17:54,400 –> 00:17:56,520that’s precisely what I came in the world to do,39700:17:56,520 –> 00:17:59,540to save you from the kind of life39800:17:59,540 –> 00:18:01,859where you’re simply going with your own thoughts,39900:18:01,859 –> 00:18:05,280your own desires, your own cravings, and that’s it.40000:18:09,060 –> 00:18:12,619When you walk with the Redeemer,40100:18:12,619 –> 00:18:15,660the servant spirit of Jesus will be reproduced40200:18:15,660 –> 00:18:18,079in your life over time.40300:18:20,119 –> 00:18:21,540And, you know, wonderfully that is40400:18:21,540 –> 00:18:23,560what happened to James and John.40500:18:24,800 –> 00:18:28,000I mean, we saw from verse 35, back at the beginning,40600:18:29,020 –> 00:18:33,339these young guys with the height of insensitivity,40700:18:34,979 –> 00:18:39,699no real ability to befriend Jesus,40800:18:39,699 –> 00:18:41,380even really at this point.40900:18:44,300 –> 00:18:45,439What happened to them?41000:18:46,560 –> 00:18:49,339Do you know that James was the first apostle41100:18:49,339 –> 00:18:51,060to lay down his life as a martyr?41200:18:51,060 –> 00:18:52,699The first apostle to do that.41300:18:52,699 –> 00:18:55,579You can read about it, it hardly gets a mention.41400:18:55,579 –> 00:18:57,760Acts, chapter 12, in verse two, it just says41500:18:57,760 –> 00:19:00,619that Herod put James to death by the sword.41600:19:01,719 –> 00:19:04,819And so, what an immense change in James41700:19:04,819 –> 00:19:07,400who was so interested in himself41800:19:08,739 –> 00:19:09,939that he got to the point where41900:19:09,939 –> 00:19:12,939he laid down his life for Jesus Christ.42000:19:13,760 –> 00:19:16,500And, John, what about John?42100:19:16,500 –> 00:19:17,459What happened to him?42200:19:17,459 –> 00:19:20,540Well, John lived a very, very long life.42300:19:20,540 –> 00:19:22,900We know that he suffered a great deal,42400:19:22,900 –> 00:19:25,199he had a ministry among churches in Asia,42500:19:25,199 –> 00:19:28,939and he was imprisoned, many of you know,42600:19:28,939 –> 00:19:31,180on the island of Patmos, and he was used42700:19:31,180 –> 00:19:34,219by the Spirit of God to write the gospel of John,42800:19:34,219 –> 00:19:37,180three letters of John and the book of Revelation,42900:19:37,180 –> 00:19:39,939five books in the New Testament.43000:19:39,939 –> 00:19:41,900And, you know, as the Spirit of God43100:19:42,380 –> 00:19:43,819speaks through the personalities43200:19:43,819 –> 00:19:45,619of the different bible authors,43300:19:45,619 –> 00:19:48,939you know, Paul, and John, and Peter, and so forth,43400:19:48,939 –> 00:19:52,479of all the New Testament writers,43500:19:52,479 –> 00:19:55,560John speaks more about love than the others43600:19:55,560 –> 00:19:59,640and does so with a greater depth43700:19:59,640 –> 00:20:01,540and sensitivity than you will find43800:20:01,540 –> 00:20:03,959anywhere else in the New Testament.43900:20:03,959 –> 00:20:06,719If you want to expand your own heart, read John.44000:20:08,219 –> 00:20:10,260Let me just read you a couple of verses44100:20:10,260 –> 00:20:13,420and try to get into your mind the contrast44200:20:13,420 –> 00:20:17,339between this self-absorbed youngster44300:20:17,339 –> 00:20:20,719and now this older man who, under the inspiration44400:20:20,719 –> 00:20:22,780of the Holy Spirit, can write like this.44500:20:23,719 –> 00:20:25,8391 John chapter 3.44600:20:25,839 –> 00:20:27,979This is how we know what love is.44700:20:29,339 –> 00:20:33,280Jesus Christ laid down his life for us44800:20:33,280 –> 00:20:36,660and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.44900:20:37,619 –> 00:20:41,939If anyone has money and sees his brother in need45000:20:41,939 –> 00:20:46,459but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?45100:20:46,459 –> 00:20:50,020Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue45200:20:50,020 –> 00:20:54,359but with actions and with truth.45300:20:55,500 –> 00:20:58,160Says this really the same guy45400:20:58,160 –> 00:21:00,760who was so insensitive to Jesus?45500:21:02,300 –> 00:21:04,660See, this is the work of the Spirit45600:21:04,780 –> 00:21:06,819that comes in the life of a person45700:21:06,819 –> 00:21:10,180who walks with Jesus Christ over time.45800:21:11,260 –> 00:21:13,060John became a different person.45900:21:14,400 –> 00:21:17,319His whole heart, his capacity to love,46000:21:17,319 –> 00:21:21,979his sensitivity, his depth grew46100:21:23,119 –> 00:21:26,920through the years walking with Jesus.46200:21:27,920 –> 00:21:32,479And if Christ the Redeemer can do that for John,46300:21:32,479 –> 00:21:35,180Christ the Redeemer can do that for you.46400:21:36,619 –> 00:21:40,300And think of the difference that would make to a marriage.46500:21:42,599 –> 00:21:46,260Think of the difference that would make to a family,46600:21:47,420 –> 00:21:51,500for you to grow in that kind of depth of love46700:21:51,500 –> 00:21:55,339and sensitivity and of seeing that life46800:21:55,339 –> 00:21:56,739is not about you being served,46900:21:56,739 –> 00:22:00,699but learning to serve and to give in ministry to others.47000:22:00,699 –> 00:22:02,079Think of how that would transform47100:22:02,540 –> 00:22:03,699the hope of the church.47200:22:03,699 –> 00:22:05,640Think of how many people would be reached47300:22:05,640 –> 00:22:10,160if Christians were remolded by this Spirit47400:22:10,160 –> 00:22:13,040in significant degree over time.47500:22:14,199 –> 00:22:18,040See, salvation is about you receiving from Christ47600:22:18,040 –> 00:22:22,500in order that you become increasingly like Christ.47700:22:24,119 –> 00:22:26,280You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith47800:22:26,280 –> 00:22:27,680on Open the Bible.47900:22:27,680 –> 00:22:28,959And a message called,48000:22:29,060 –> 00:22:32,599Jesus demonstrates His power by serving and giving.48100:22:32,599 –> 00:22:34,359It’s part of a series called,48200:22:34,359 –> 00:22:36,199the Gospel According to Jesus,48300:22:36,199 –> 00:22:37,920based on the book of Mark.48400:22:37,920 –> 00:22:39,880And if you’ve missed any of the series,48500:22:39,880 –> 00:22:42,540you might want to go back and listen again perhaps48600:22:42,540 –> 00:22:47,140by coming to our website, openthebible.org.uk48700:22:47,140 –> 00:22:51,160or by following Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast48800:22:51,160 –> 00:22:52,680and those are available either48900:22:52,680 –> 00:22:54,760by following the link from the website49000:22:54,760 –> 00:22:57,020or by going to your favorite podcast site49100:22:57,040 –> 00:22:59,880and searching for openthebible.uk.49200:22:59,880 –> 00:23:01,859Pastor Colin’s teaching is also available49300:23:01,859 –> 00:23:05,199in the form of a two to three minute daily reflection49400:23:05,199 –> 00:23:07,900and that’s called Open The Bible Daily.49500:23:07,900 –> 00:23:11,380It’s on our website, openthebible.org.uk49600:23:11,380 –> 00:23:13,680and available as a podcast.49700:23:13,680 –> 00:23:16,939Open the Bible is a listener-supported ministry.49800:23:16,939 –> 00:23:20,060We’re able to make the program and podcast available49900:23:20,060 –> 00:23:22,900as well as all the things that happen behind the scenes50000:23:22,900 –> 00:23:25,160because of your financial support.50100:23:25,160 –> 00:23:28,880So thank you for giving to and supporting the ministry.50200:23:28,880 –> 00:23:30,880If that’s something you haven’t done until now50300:23:30,880 –> 00:23:34,280but you’d like to begin by setting up a direct debit50400:23:34,280 –> 00:23:36,479of five pounds per month or more50500:23:36,479 –> 00:23:38,959or a one-off gift of 50 pounds,50600:23:38,959 –> 00:23:41,040you’ll not only be supporting the work50700:23:41,040 –> 00:23:42,880but also we’d like to say thank you50800:23:42,880 –> 00:23:46,380by sending you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book50900:23:46,380 –> 00:23:47,800The Advent of Glory.51000:23:47,800 –> 00:23:50,35924 Devotions for Christmas.51100:23:50,359 –> 00:23:52,459Colin, some people will be so familiar51200:23:52,459 –> 00:23:53,880with the Christmas story,51300:23:53,939 –> 00:23:55,439we feel we know it so well.51400:23:55,439 –> 00:23:58,300So how would this book be beneficial?51500:23:58,300 –> 00:24:00,119Well the challenge when we’re familiar51600:24:00,119 –> 00:24:01,319with the Christmas story51700:24:01,319 –> 00:24:04,199is that we can very easily take it for granted.51800:24:04,199 –> 00:24:07,040And so what we need to do is to stop51900:24:07,040 –> 00:24:10,760and to think, and to wonder, and to worship.52000:24:10,760 –> 00:24:13,300And this devotional by R.C. Sproul52100:24:13,300 –> 00:24:16,800is just a marvellous help for being able to do that.52200:24:16,800 –> 00:24:19,699He’s picked out 24 words52300:24:19,699 –> 00:24:21,680that are at the heart of the Christmas story.52400:24:21,680 –> 00:24:22,520I mean, they’re words52500:24:22,520 –> 00:24:24,959like virgin and mother and Bethlehem52600:24:24,959 –> 00:24:28,579and King and Room and Angel and Glory.52700:24:28,579 –> 00:24:31,359And he has just four pages on each of these.52800:24:31,359 –> 00:24:36,219There’s insight so that the story comes fresh to you.52900:24:36,219 –> 00:24:39,520It’s an absolute delight and it will be a gift,53000:24:39,520 –> 00:24:43,719I think, for anyone to use in preparation for Christmas.53100:24:43,719 –> 00:24:46,540Well we’d love to send you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book,53200:24:46,540 –> 00:24:47,819The Advent of Glory,53300:24:47,819 –> 00:24:50,540to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit53400:24:50,540 –> 00:24:52,219to the work of Open The Bible53500:24:52,939 –> 00:24:54,000for £5 per month or more53600:24:54,000 –> 00:24:56,760or a one off gift of £50.53700:24:56,760 –> 00:25:00,140Full details and terms and conditions are on our website53800:25:00,140 –> 00:25:02,500that’s openthebible.org.uk53900:25:02,500 –> 00:25:04,119and you can give online.54000:25:05,020 –> 00:25:07,119For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,54100:25:07,119 –> 00:25:08,819I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able54200:25:08,819 –> 00:25:10,739to join us again next time.54300:25:16,819 –> 00:25:19,380What kind of fruit is Jesus looking for54400:25:19,380 –> 00:25:21,040in the church today?54500:25:21,040 –> 00:25:23,760Find out next time on Open The Bible.