Real Hope: Why Jesus Came to EarthSample

Give His Life As A Ransom For Many

Recently I found myself talking with a friend about the role of President of the P&F at school. It’s a role that provides leadership to parents who are keen to contribute to the community life and fundraising for my kids’ school. It’s an amazing opportunity to serve the school community, but the first thing my son asked me was, ‘Are you going to be the President?’ He wanted to know if we’d be moving into a big house and if we’d have security guards with us all the time. For him, being President was about the pomp and ‘glamour.’.

When we think about Jesus our King, it would be understandable for someone to think that Jesus came to get the acknowledgment He was due as God’s Son. However, today’s verses make it 100% clear that this is not the case. There will come a time when Jesus will be acknowledged for who He is (Philippians 2:10–11), but that is not WHY He came to earth. Jesus, although He is the King of Kings, came to ‘serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.’ That’s what He did and that’s how we can all be in a relationship with God. Through Jesus paying the penalty for our sins.

At the time Jesus said these words to His disciples, James and John had asked for the honour of sitting at Jesus’ left and right in glory (heaven). They were asking for the best seats at the party. Jesus’ response reminds them that He has come to serve and, if they want to follow the way of Jesus, they must have servant hearts too. When faced with a chance to follow King Jesus, the servant, how does your heart respond?

Written by KATIE SMITH