What Jesus Did! 'To Be a Ransom!' — Matthew 20:28

Friday, September 26, 2025

[Jesus continued,] "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
— Matthew 20:28 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus left heaven with one key purpose in mind: He would come to earth to pay the ransom demand of Satan for our souls. He would pay that price with humiliation and rejection and being mocked and beaten. But that is why he came. Not only did he know how desperately we needed to be saved; he also knew how important it was that we have a Savior! Because he paid our ransom, he can also plead our case as our advocate before the Father. Because he paid the price to redeem and ransom us, we can not only trust what he says but also know that he hears us and cares for us when we struggle. Jesus came and lived and died as both ransom and mediator, sacrifice and High Priest, Savior and friend.

Today's Prayer

Holy and Righteous One, God Almighty whose holiness I can neither comprehend nor approach - I thank you for Jesus. I thank you for your plan to send him to redeem me and atone for my sins. I thank you for his faithfulness to you and your will. I thank you for his courage and compassion as he died for me while being mocked, spat upon, and belittled. I want my life to honor his sacrifice. While I know I can never be worthy of such a great gift, I want passionately to honor you, and not have sins and shortcomings because I am lackadaisical in my discipleship. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for saving me. In the name of Jesus, my mediator who paid my ransom price, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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3 Related Resources by Heartlight

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We all need a 'Someone-For-Us' Friend! Phil Ware reminds us of Jesus' idea of greatness and challenges us to follow the example of the often forgotten Onesiphorus, a "One-Who-Is-For-Us" friend.
When You Lead
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Serving to bless is also the foundation on which we lead. Rubel Shelly reminds us of the real definition of a leader as someone who serves others because leadership is always for the sake of others.
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Without understanding the cross, we turn Christianity into another human contest about self-importance. Phil Ware shares his third post on The Question, Peter's confession of Jesus and how he had to be broken before he could really understand what his confession meant.

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 20:28 NLT — [Jesus continued,] "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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