I've always thought I understood that word. I mean I've heard it countless times growing up. It seems like it is usually used when someone is kidnapped, and the loved one literally has to pay the kidnapper to get the person/child back. I've never thought too much about that word until this week.
I was reading Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney, and I came across a passage where he talked about "the ransom". Rather than trying to summarize I'll just transcribe what he says about this subject.
The Ransom
"This then is the background for Jesus' encounter with the proud words and actions of His arrogant and indignant disciples. And as He confronts their pride--and our own--Jesus for the first time defines the purpose of His approaching death and what it will accomplish: "The Son of Man came...to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
"Earlier in this chapter, Mark has provided additional information that deepens the meaning of this profound moment: Not long before this time, Jesus had encountered a rich young ruler who wanted to know how to earn eternal life. After hearing the Savior's answer, the disciples had been "exceedingly astonished" and had asked Him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus had looked at them and replied, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (v.27).
Having revealed the impossibility of salvation apart from God, now Jesus is revealing how God will save. The Savior describes His coming death as a "ransom." He's intentional and strategic in His use of that word.
Unfortunately, ransom has a fairly limited meaning to us. We don't encounter it much except while watching TV shows or movies with a kidnapping in the plot. But the meaning of this word was much more intense and immediate and familiar to the disciples that day. As Donald English reminds us, "Ransom was a familiar image in the Jewish, Roman, and Greek cultures. It was the price paid to liberate a slave, a prisoner of war, or a condemned person." A ransom represented the payment of a price required for deliverance from various forms of bondage, captivity, or condemnation that were common in those days.
Moreover, ransom wasn't a term associated with respectability. The person being ransomed was either a slave, and imprisoned enemy, or a condemned criminal. How does that apply to us? Only too well. As John Stott writes, the emphasis of the ransom image "is on our sorry state--indeed our captivity in sin--which made the act of divine rescue necessary." That's the focus revealed here. So to hear the Savior speak the word ransom and understand it rightly is to be freshly reminded and affected by our own serious and sorry state, our miserable lostness and wretched bondage to sin. We cannot free ourselves from pride and selfish ambition; a divine rescue is absolutely necessary.
Jesus is seeking to impress this message on each one of us: "You're lost. Your situation couldn't be more hopeless. And on your own, you're incapable of altering or escaping it." Why was the death of Jesus necessary? Because all of humanity is corrupt and condemned, and we all have an acute tendency to deny the reality of our lost state before God."
That last sentence really hit home with me. The fact is I do have a tendency to deny how wretched and evil I am. Too often I feel I'm a pretty good person doing pretty good things. I'm constantly amazed how often I neglect God's grace and mercy and salvation that he pours out. God has been trying to teach me what it means to be a humble servant for the past year, and I still struggle with pride daily. I'm trying, only by God's grace, to imitate Jesus by being a humble person seeking God's glory.
You see the difference between my definition of ransom and Jesus' is in my definition the ransomed person is innocent. Doesn't that always seem to be the case? Isn't the kidnapped, usually a child or someone who didn't deserve it. But here in human history God ransomed the most vile, wretched of all people. Me and You. It is amazing to think of the lengths God went to show us his love. This is another area that I too often neglect or I don't fully appreciate. The God that created the heavens and the earth came down in the flesh to live a normal peasant life and be persecuted, betrayed, and crucified.
As Good Friday is only one day away, remember the ransom Jesus paid so we could stand in front of the Father one day and be counted pure and holy.
Ransomed
Redeemable Rides
I will begin by saying I used to have a "minor" case of road rage. Not rage, like "man, I really want to hurt somebody", but more like "Man, I wish these people knew how to drive." It only got worse once we moved to Orlando because let's just say there's more cars on I-4 than in Mississippi on any given day (okay maybe not that many). Of course I realized maybe some of these people are saying the same thing about my driving. In any event, traffic is what really bothers me. I don't know maybe it's my lack of patience, but I would get so annoyed sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
When I drive to work it takes me about 35-40 min in the morning and about 50 min to an hour in the afternoon. I know I probably complained to Lauren more than once about sitting in traffic that long everyday, but something begin to change in me.
I decided why don't I make this time productive. So I began listening to podcasts to and from work as well as taking the time to pray for myself and others which I usually neglect to do anyway. God has truly blessed or should I say redeemed my commute. I no longer ( I should say rarely) get annoyed with traffic. It really is awesome listening to great teachings while I go about my day. I'm going to list some of my favorite preachers (podcasts) that I listen to on my way to/from work. And what's even better is you can download all of these podcasts for free on iTunes.
1. Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle:
I must admit, he is probably my favorite pastor to listen to. Lauren actually introduced him (as well as podcasts in general) to me a few years ago. I just love the way he preaches. He is so brutally honest that he probably offends a lot of people ("Religious people"). What I love about him is he preaches Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. He said one guy asked him one time, "Hey I've been coming for a couple weeks now and all you preach about is Jesus? Aren't you ever going to preach on anything else?" His simple response was "Nope." He is a Bible teaching, Jesus loving pastor. Quite entertaining also.
2. Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Church in Portland:
Here is another preacher who has a passion for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I just love the way he delivers his messages. There's just something different about the way he conveys the truth of scriptures in his messages. Another very good Bible teacher.
3. John Burke of Gateway Church in Austin:
I actually just got introduced to this pastor while attending a conference at Summit in which he spoke via satellite conference. He is a young pastor who has a fire for Jesus. After I heard him speak our group happened to do a study on his book "Soul Revolution". I talked about this book a few posts ago so I won't rehatch it, but his church's slogan is "No perfect people allowed." You have to love that because too often you hear people say they don't like church and Christians because we're so judgmental and hypocritical. That's so true, so why not say we're just as broken as you are if not more. Come on you'll fit right in!
4. Andy Stanley of Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta:
This is another preacher I just started listening to recently. I had been aware of him for a little while now, but just started listening to his podcasts frequently. Our group is currently doing a video study he created entitled iMarriage. This is another preacher who has a unique way of delivering the gospel. He talks so fast, sometimes I wonder how he never runs out of anything to say. I also like how he takes stories you've heard over and over in the Bible and directs his message at an aspect I never even considered. He also has a huge heart for Jesus.
5. Isaac Hunter of Summit Church in Orlando:
Last, but definitely not least, our pastor. I don't know what exactly to say about Isaac. His teaching and love for Jesus had a huge impact on my committment to follow Christ daily. We started going to Summit when Lauren lived in Orlando and I was in St. Augustine for school. That church showed me what it really meant to follow and love Jesus. Isaac is such a good Bible teacher, and he always delivers a message that somehow each week, speaks directly to me. One thing that Isaac always says that has stuck dear to my heart is, "All I know of me to all I know of Jesus." And he also always talks about "Your next right steps" which has always challenged me to pick up my cross daily and follow Jesus. It starts over every day. He also baptized Lauren and I in the ocean so that was a very special moment for both of us.
Well I probably could list a few more, but these are the ones that I really love to listen to. What do they disagree on? Probably more things than I can list, but what do they agree on? That Jesus is the Son of God brought into human history fully man/fully God lived a sinless life was betrayed and hung upon the cross to bear the sins of the entire world. Also that the Bible is 100% God breathed and true.
I know I used to get wrapped up about all the differences between denominations and other beliefs, but I realized it's just ridiculous to put so much value in that. That's religion, and God hates religion.
Here are a few more preachers that are good, but I didn't list: Tim Keller, John Piper, and Tim Lucas. They are all on iTunes so check it out. It will make your drive so much better!
-Preston
Do you have it?
No, I'm not talking about the old Nickelodeon show, Guts. The Aggro Crag! Yeah you know what I'm talking about. Did anyone ever notice that there was always a terrible contestant who didn't even finish most events? Oh and a down point in my life was when Lauren told me I looked like Mike O'Malley. If you don't know who that is, lets just say it would be a real stretch to take that as a compliment. Ok enough of the tangent.
What I'm talking about is humility. Something I struggle with everyday. I decided to pick up the book by C.J. Mahaney that I gave to Lauren, Humility: True" Greatness". I've only read the first two chapters, but already God has revealed some powerful truths. One of my favorite books I've read is Mahaney's "Living the Christ Centered Life" so I'm very excited about this book.
The first thing Mahaney says about himself is "I'm a proud man pursuing humility by the grace of God". I like that because no one in essence is humble because the simple acceptance of that truth is a proud statement. It's so easy to be proud about the most ridiculous things. I find myself getting proud about the dumbest arguements (e.g. directions or what movie that actor played in). I'm so glad Jesus even died for my prideful sins.
Why does God hate pride so passionatelyl? Mahaney says, "Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him." That statement definitely strikes a chord. He also says that instead of merely confessing his prideful sins (i.e. not feeling a true conviction) to God he has learned to say, "Lord, in that moment, with that attitude and that action, I was contending for supremacy with You." This week I'm going to attempt to say that to God, and to others when the Spirit convicts me of my pride.
Here are some verses about pride and humility that I'm going to attempt to put to memory this week:
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" 1 Peter 5:5
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble" James 4:6
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." 2 Chronicles 16:9
"This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2
I'm very excited to finish this book, and I'm very excited, with God's help, to pursue humility.
-Preston
p.s. One of my goals for 2009 was to journal/blog more, and you can see I'm already off to a hot start. 1 blog in 2 months. Hopefully I'll improve :)
