We’ve all heard of ‘hoi polloi’. Literally the many, it is a word used to describe the mass of people, the proletariat, the citizenry at large. In the New Testament it is translated as ‘the many’ and it occurs in a significant phrase that is worth knowing by heart. In full it goes: ‘he did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. The last three words of the Greek are easy to remember: ‘lutron anti pollon’.
In jocular use the phrase is familiar but in this instance (Mark 10.45) it goes to the heart of Jesus’ aim and purpose. Jesus was a story-teller, a healer, thought-provoker but he was more than that. He made it possible to take the poison out of the system. He renounced power. He submitted. He took upon himself the worst that could be done by human beings to each other.
We talk a lot about leadership, about what it means to show the way to the common people, hoi polloi. But leadership is usually accompanied by means to gain ends. It is not ordinarily understood as forfeiting the tools for the job. Yet the example set by Jesus has been enough to inspire generations. ‘What would Jesus do?’ may be an inappropriate question but it invites any suggestion about anything better.
Governments and big companies deny paying ransom money. They regard it as a dishonourable way out of an impossible situation. The ransom-payers think differently. They concentrate on the victim and on rescue action. If we tighten up that reaction, we find that the victim’s friend, the ransom-payer, becomes another victim.
In Mark 10.45 Jesus sees himself as a universally selfless. His life of service for others is accomplished by his own ill-treatment and finally his rejection and crucifixion. This is what we mean when we refer to him as Saviour. It was he who performed the great rescue operation for mankind. Such an undertaking is unique. Those three Greek words are at the heart of it.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.