Toy Stories: Ken — Servant vs. Selfish - Friday
Today’s Verse
Matthew 20:28
“...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (ESV)
Every fall, I carve out some time to read through one of my favorite fictional series, The Hunger Games. I’m not sure if author Suzanne Collins is a follower of Jesus, but there are some undeniable biblical themes and gospel undertones in her writing.
If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, The Hunger Games is an annual event in which one boy and one girl are selected by lottery from each district in the nation of Panem to compete in a televised battle for survival. In the opening chapters, protagonist Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place as the female tribute for the upcoming Hunger Games.
As the story unfolds, Katniss begins to wrestle with not only the physical and psychological toll of the Games, but also the emotional weight. The male tribute from her district, Peeta Mellark, is a former classmate who fed Katniss’s family when they were starving after her father’s death. Throughout the series, Peeta continues to sacrifice for Katniss, resulting in a feeling of indebtedness on her behalf.
What’s my point? It’s difficult for me not to see this through the lens of the gospel. Both elements of sacrifice and debt echo this idea of ransom mentioned in our verse today. The word ransom refers to the price paid in order to free someone from bondage.
Is your gospel bell ringing yet? Let’s press in.
When we were held captive by sin, Satan, and death, Jesus sacrificially served us by denying Himself, volunteering to take our place, and dying the death we deserved on the cross to pay the debt we owed. And in doing so, not only are we free from sin, we’re also free to serve.
Here’s the question we have to wrestle with in light of this biblical reality: With our blood-bought freedom, will we sacrificially serve others the same way Jesus has served us? And I want to clarify what it means to sacrificially serve…
We often communicate that we want to be the “hands and feet of Jesus”. While the sentiment behind this is well-intentioned, what we sometimes forget is that His hands and feet were pierced with nails. In other words, following Jesus comes at a cost. So as we wrap up this week, I’ll leave you with this final thought: What has following Jesus cost you lately?
APPLICATION
One of the most tangible ways we can look like Jesus is by sacrificially serving others. Want to learn more about volunteer opportunities? Visit southland.church/volunteer to start the conversation.
PRAYER
Father, as I navigate the self-seeking culture around me, strengthen my resolve to crucify the desires of my flesh. Empower me with the Holy Spirit to deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow Jesus daily.