GAVE HIMSELF [as] A RANSOM. 1st Timothy 2:6. He gave Himself for all; there was no more that He had to give and no broader scope than “for all.” The sacrifice of Christ offers universal hope of salvation from sin to everyone who seeks the Lord with all their heart. A ransom was paid for every person; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Mediator, God, chose to bridge the great gulf between us by giving His own blessed Son to die for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The fact that He gave Himself for us makes His work feel much more personal and close to us. When we understand this, it’s wise to think about it. This wasn’t just an event that only affected people in the distant past who saw Him and heard Him speak. The ransom the Lord Jesus paid is for all generations, from the beginning to the end, for all humanity. His sacrifice as the only Mediator was “unto all” but only “upon all that believe.” He gave Himself for me. He knew me and loved me. His death and crucifixion were such a work that I received eternal salvation through Him. When He died for me, God counted me as having died too, so I now live in Christ, embracing a new life.
He gave Himself for our sins, which had separated us from God. He performed a gracious, sacrificial act to deliver us from this present evil world. This was God's sovereign, eternal plan, not an act of divine desperation. By giving Himself as a ransom for all, He created a unique generation of believers in Him. We are no longer independent and lost; instead, we live a new life in Christ. We are blessed with eternal life, which He gave us so we can enjoy fellowship with Him now and be with Him forever. Now, we spread a message through which we testify – “In Christ, we are accepted with God; for it was for us He died.”
The Lord Himself came to free bondslaves, setting an example for all. He became the Bond Servant of Jehovah. Humility isn't usually linked with kingdom leadership. When the Lord was here, He used an incident as a "teaching moment" to show all the disciples a fundamental principle. He used Himself as an example everyone could understand. He was serving them, not the other way around. He met the needs of everyone who came to Him - the poor, the sick, the sorrowing - and addressed their needs. Then, He explained the greatest benefit: He came to give "His life as a ransom for many." The ultimate act of leadership is to give one's life for others. Many will be saved because God is willing to save them by His grace, but sadly, not everyone is willing to accept God’s offer of salvation.
Servanthood comes with a cost. We often prefer to be served rather than to serve others. We tend to reach for the highest place rather than the lowest. We enjoy it when people look up to us instead of ignoring us or looking down on us. But in the kingdom of heaven, the way up is down. The way to win is to lose. The way to get is to give. The way to live is to die. And the way to lead is to serve.