SEPTEMBER 11, 2014
Born
To Rescue
Read: Mark
10:35-45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many. —Mark
10:45
After the terrorist
attack and the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City on September 11,
2001, Cynthia Otto took care of the search-and-rescue dogs. Years later she
established a Working Dog Center where young pups are put through specialized
training to prepare them to help victims of disaster.
Otto made this comment
about these rescue animals: “There are so many jobs now that dogs are being
used for . . . and they can save lives.” Otto said that these puppies will one
day give vital aid to people in life-threatening circumstances. They are “born”
to rescue others.
The Bible tells us of
the Messiah who was born to rescue humanity from the penalty of sin. What He
did rises above all earthly comparison. Two thousand years ago, God Himself
became human in order to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. When
Jesus became a man, He understood and proclaimed that He was born to rescue
(John 12:27). “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Let us praise our
wonderful Savior—Jesus Christ—who was born to save all who will accept His
offer of salvation.
Use us, Lord, and make
us humble,
Rescue us from foolish
pride;
And when we begin to
stumble,
Turn our thoughts to
Christ who died. —Sper
Christ came to seek and to save the lost.
Insight
James and John’s
request to be allowed to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand in the kingdom,
followed by their audacious claim that they could indeed “drink the cup” that
awaited Jesus (Mark 10:38), reveals that they failed to fully understand the
gravity of what that cup entailed—Christ’s upcoming crucifixion.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
