Ransom

Cross Series 

“Ransom”

“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

Following closely to our last “Cross” study on the subject of debt is this study on the subject of Christ being our “ransom”.  Few words identify Christ on the cross with such  sacrificial thought as does “ransom.” Praise God, when sin demanded justice for our soul, a ransom was paid instead!

“Ransom?” Of certainty, Satan was not “paid off” when Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sins. While we were held captive by the wages of sin, Satan did not profit by the dying of Christ on our cross, but rather destroyed. Hebrews 2:14 says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”  This verse reveals the very purpose of Christ’s birth… to die that both Satan and the power of death would be destroyed.

Ransom? To whom?

So, if Satan did not receive the ransom of Christ’s payment for the wages of our sin, who did?  To find an answer for this great question, we must research the very need for a ransom in the first place.

• Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” In this we see Who sin causes to be shortchanged: God.
• Romans 3:19 tells Who we are accountable to as a result of our sin: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
• Romans 2:2 says, “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.” 
• Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:”

In these verses we so what judgment of which we need a releasing: the judgment of God. On the cross, Christ freed us from the judgment of God!

The Bible is clear that God was the one “paid off” by the death of His Son… for it was God who was “ripped off” by the fall of man.

• Ephesians 5:2 says, “…as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God…”
• Hebrews 9:14 says, “…Christ… who through the eternal Spirit offered himself …  to God…”

Many?

Throughout the Bible we see clearly to whom the sacrifice of Christ was for: “For God so loved the world that whosever…” (John 3:16)  So why then does Mark use the word “many” instead of all? This word “many” shows even greater how precious the sacrifice of Christ truly is. Knowing that not “all” would come to Him, Christ gave no more thought to His own death. He died the same for “many” as he would have for “all”. Praise be to His Name!