Monday 16 March

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

Mark 10:45

There can be few experiences more terrifying than being held hostage. The closest most of us will get to tasting it will be through reading the news or watching a film. But we can all imagine the fear - the darkness, the terror of captivity, the dread of the unknown.

“Fear” is not the first word that comes to mind to describe James and John’s emotions as they approached Jesus on the way to Jerusalem. “Ambition” may be more appropriate. In their minds Jesus was on his way to 10 Downing Street. The most important question for them was who would live next door in number 11.

And yet fear is precisely what they should have been feeling. Not just the fear of their master being betrayed to the ruling authorities - as he’d so clearly been warning them - but far more importantly the fear of what captivity to their sin could bring. Having lived side by side with Jesus for three years they hadn’t fully grasped what his ministry was all about. They were still blind to the truth.

They were hostages, slaves to self-seeking and ambition. So are we. They needed a ransom to be paid for their release. So do we. The price was extraordinary. But Jesus was on his way to settle the account - on their behalf and on ours.
 

Father God forgive me for my foolishness and blindness. Help me to see my desperate need for forgiveness. Thank you for Jesus, who paid the ultimate price, so that I can be set free to serve. Amen.

	Written by Ian Roberts, Chief Executive Ian joined the team as Director of Resources, taking on his current role in 2011. He studied Economics at Bristol and Evangelism at Trinity College, Bristol and currently lives just outside London with his family. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM