For

“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

For –  A lot of theology is in prepositions.  So many times we find that small prepositions make all the difference.  Think of the importance of words like “with” (“I am with you always”) or “into” (“Those who believe into me”) or “through” (“every word that passes through the mouth of God”).  Here is another critical preposition: anti. 

We have many English words that begin with this Greek preposition:  antisocial, antibiotic, antidote, antipathy, antioxidant, etc.  Anti is usually translated as “set against” or “in opposition to”.  That’s how we think of these English terms.  But Greek has some other meanings that become very important.  In Mark 10:45, the use of anti does not mean “in opposition”.  It means, “in exchange for” or “in benefit of”.  Take a look at 1 Timothy 2:6.  You will see both substitution and exchange.  

Jesus is the anti-sacrifice:  the sacrifice in exchange for and to the benefit of many.  His one act brought redemption, atonement and release for many.  His one death was the exchange for all of us.  His one sacrifice was for the benefit of everyone.  Our translation “for many” doesn’t quite capture all that is implied.  This is the biggest “for” that the world has ever seen.  This little bit of anti opens heaven to sinful men and women. 

David cried out, “God, if you counted our sins against us, we would all be condemned.”  He was right.  None of us has a chance without Jesus.  There is no other standard than holiness.  There are no “exception” clauses.  Without Jesus’ sacrifice, only the first meaning of anti applies:  God is set against us.  But Jesus changed the definition.  Now I can stand before my Creator and hear His welcome.  Jesus changed “set against” to “in benefit for”. 

There is another tiny lesson here.  If the Son of Man came to change the meaning of anti for me, do you suppose that I am exempt from making the same change in the lives of others?  If He came to serve, am I not also to serve?  Am I changing “set against” to “in benefit for” in all that I do?