reading ahead

Sep 20, 2007

As i have put together the study guide for Mark, I have been repeatedly blessed by James Edward's Pillar NT Commentary.  It is the best Mark commentary I have seen (in my humble and limited experience - I use about 10 commentaries in my prep work).

Right now I am writing commentary on the power-packed verse in Mark 10.46, "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," both exploring the discipleship implications and the substitutionary atonement implications.   As to the first, Edwards says,

"The implications of diakonons and doulos for the Twelve, as well as for ministers and leaders in the church of every generation, are inexhaustible.  The Christian fellowship does not exist for their sake, but they for it.  Nor is the apostle or Christian leader above the congregation, but a part of it.  The congregation does not belong to him; rather, he belongs to it" (Edwards, 326).

And to the second:

"The death of the Son of Man on behalf of "the many" is a sacrifice of obedience to God's will, a full expression of his love, and a full satisfaction of God's justice" (Edwards, 328).

And here is what I love about these 2 quotes: in the second quote is the power to live into the first quote.  May pastors and leaders in the church today come to find the power to serve faithfully and selflessly in the knowledge and experience of Jesus' death - an obedient, loving, and justice-satisfying ransom.