R.C. Sproul

To be covered by the atonement of Christ.

I'm sure that there were times in Jesus' life, particularly toward the close of his earthly ministry, when touching his human nature, he just had to be super frustrated.

When he made his last trip from Galilee down to Jerusalem, he had an extended tour, as it were, of speaking along the way.

He constantly focused attention on his coming hour and prepared his disciples for the fact that he was going to Jerusalem to die.

And somehow it just didn't get across to them.

They fought him every step of the way.

And we read in Mark's gospel in the 10th chapter, after Jesus tells them again, he says in verse 32, they were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way.

And the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid.

And again, this is again he does it, he takes the 12 aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

We are going up to Jerusalem, he said, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law.

They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him and spit on him, flog him, and kill him.

Now, five minutes later, the disciples start arguing over who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom of God.

Can I sit at your right hand or can I sit at your left hand?

Here is Christ preparing to enter into his grand passion and his closest friends are already arguing about the inheritance.

And it was in this context that Jesus says something that is very significant for our understanding of the atonement.

He said, you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.

And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

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.