"even as the Son of man came not be served but to serve., and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:28, Mark 10:45

Ransom, a ransom is paid to a captor for the release of his captives. A ransom is paid by a party who is not guilty to an evil one, such as a kidnapper. Jesus ransomed us from the captivity to Satan. Jesus is our Redeemer.

Some think that a sacrifice is the same as a ransom, but it is not. A sacrifice: an offending one offers up a sacrifice to a righteous one to redeem the guilty one.

Jesus said, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."
Matt 9:13, 12:7 Jesus was not a sacrifice.

Why pay anything to Satan, let alone the life of Jesus?

The devil held people captive by the fear of death. The power of death is the fear of death. Jesus is our example, our Teacher, our Master, our Leader.

John 10:17-18, Jesus said he laid his life down of his own accord, and he had authority to take it up again.

Jesus gave us a new teaching, that is not found outside the gospels in the Bible. Some call it the Great Principle. It is an essential part of the gospel of the kingdom of God which Jesus preached. It is recorded seven times in slightly different words. Here are two:

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it." Mark 8:35

"The one loving his life will lose it and the one hating his life in this world will guard it to life eternal." John 12:25

This Great Principle applies to all, including Jesus.
Jesus had it all planned out. He wouldn't defend himself and wouldn't let others defend him either. Satan came to collect the bounty, the life of Jesus. Jesus destroyed the power of Satan and exposed him to the world very publicly. We don't have to be afraid of death anymore.

Although some may not have been afraid to die before, they did not know of the Great Principle that Jesus gave us. Satan lost his power, he is no longer ruler on the planet. Jesus became king when he was killed on the cross. Jesus went ahead of us not instead of us. See: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, on this website.

After the resurrection Jesus said,"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matt 28:18