✝️ Mark 10:45 | The Ransom Foretold

together with

Happy Thursday, {{first_name | everyone}}!

Thanks to The Voice of the Martyrs, Malachi Daily subscribers can get a free copy of the children’s book Stephen: God’s Courageous Witness. More on that below or if you can’t wait, click here.

After that, we’ll connect our memory verse to the larger story of Scripture!

In today’s email…

✉ subscribe here | support our work 👐

For ____ the ___ of ___ ____ ___ to __ ______ but to _____, and to ____ ___ ____ as a ______ ___ ____.

Mark 10:45

God's Courageous Witness

Stephen is known as Christianity’s first martyr. Full of faith in Jesus, Stephen performed miracles, boldly told others about Jesus, and served with others to help widows in their time of need.

Then, his courageous witness was silenced. But that wasn’t the end of his legacy. His martyrdom helped spread the gospel outside the walls of Jerusalem and into the surrounding regions.

Stephen: God’s Courageous Witness is a children’s book that tells his story and reminds us of the Holy Spirit’s power when we face opposition for the sake of Christ. Click below to get your free copy while supplies last!

Our partners help us keep Malachi Daily free for everyone. If you want to support our work or you’d prefer an ad-free experience, click here.

The word "ransom" doesn't show up for the first time in the gospels.

It runs like a thread throughout the whole Old Testament.

In Exodus, Israel is enslaved in Egypt, and God rescues them through the blood of the Passover lamb.

Every home marked by blood over their doorpost was spared (Exodus 12:13). In that scenario, freedom and salvation came through the life of a lamb, sacrificed.

But release from Egypt was never the deepest problem the Israelites faced. Like all of us, Israel needed rescue from sin itself.

Centuries later, Isaiah looked ahead to a servant who would do exactly that:

A servant who would carry the sins of many and buy them back at the cost of himself.

Sound familiar?

That's the servant Jesus points to in Mark 10:45.

He is the true Passover Lamb and the suffering servant Isaiah saw.

Peter says it plainly: we were ransomed "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

From the doorframes in Egypt to a hill outside Jerusalem, it's one story.

God rescues his people, God provides the sacrifice, and the sacrifice is his own Son.

What an awesome God.

You were bought back at the highest price, and that kind of freedom was meant to be shared with others. Who in your life is in need of rescue from sin, shame or fear? Pray for them today, and ask God to give you an opportunity to have a gospel conversation with them.

🙏 Pray

Father, I was a slave, and you bought me with the blood of your Son. Let that truth sink deep. Make me quick to tell others about the freedom you offer, and give me courage to speak to the one person you put on my heart today. Amen.

We’re doing something new with the community spotlight!

One of the biggest encouragements to me is hearing how God is moving in the lives of other people I know. It reminds me that God is active and moving every single day.

To that end, we would love to hear how God is moving in your life!

Simply fill out this 30-second survey and tell us what you’ve seen God do!

"I am well pleased with the way Malachi Daily encourages me to grow in the Word of God. I am getting revelation now, when in the past the Bible was difficult for me to learn. I thank Jesus for this newsletter!"

"God has been helping me be bold in sharing the gospel. I met a young homeless couple at a laundromat, shared the gospel, and gave them my phone number. They've been coming to church with me for a month, and both have turned their lives over to the Lord!" — Jen, Alabama

HUGE thank you to John, Mark, Evelyn, Sarah, Karen and everyone else who chose to pay-it-forward to support our work and help us keep operating!

Your support allows us to keep Malachi Daily free and accessible to everyone!

p.s. If you’d like to give a custom amount to support our work, you can do that here.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45