In this series we will be examining the BELIEFS of the Lord Jesus. By “beliefs” 
we do not mean His opinions, His perspectives, or His thoughts about this or that. The term “belief” can mean those concepts, but the word can also refer to one’s firm conviction based on evidence. The beliefs of Jesus, the Son of God, were declarations of reality, incontrovertible, not open to debate (although many challenged His beliefs at every point).
The first critical issue we must discuss is His BELIEF about Himself. How did He view Himself? If He were to take a “selfie,” what would He see?
Several Scriptures give us strong clues as to His perception, belief, declaration of His own identity! The text that immediately comes to my mind is Mark 10:45 which says, “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.”
This incredible declaration by the Lord Jesus indicates that He knew the purpose for which He came. As the Second Person of the Trinity He “came” into the world He created. Why does He say He did not come to be served? The immediate context of this statement shows the request of James and John to sit at Christ’s right hand in His glory (v. 37). Jesus questions whether they realize the cost they will incur in being His fully committed followers (v. 38), then tells them that those places of honor aren’t His to give out. The other disciples become indignant with James and John (probably because they were going to ask Jesus the same favor), and Jesus tells them that the one who would be great must be the servant of all. Then the Lord Jesus says, “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.”
The key to greatness in the Kingdom of God is servanthood. But Jesus goes on to say, “. . . and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus’ self-identity involved coming to “give His life as a ransom for many.” He came to die. He came to be the ransom price to buy us out of our sins.
Questions:
1. How might you show your servanthood today as you live for Jesus?
2. Don’t you imagine that a kidnapped person for whom the ransom has just been paid would be overjoyed, relieved, elated that he or she was now free? Do you feel any of those emotions with your salvation?
Dr. Larry Dixon