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| Boaz making legal transaction with sandal. |
Bankruptcy is something most people hope they never face. One day your debts are bigger than you can pay back so what do you do? Moses wrote laws about this because it was a problem even back then. The land was an inheritance from the Lord, and was to remain forever in that person's family. If a man got into overwhelming debt, he could sell his land, pay off his debts and use the rest of the money to support his family or he could 'sell' himself as an indentured servant (Lev. 25:23+). Laws were also written to redeem the land or person from this situation. It takes a special person known as a kinsman redeemer.
Ga'al is the term seen in Hebrew and is quickly defined as to redeem according to law of kinship, purchase, ransom, redeem, revenge. The term designates a male relative who delivers or rescues (Gen. 48:16; Ex. 6:6); redeems property (Lev. 27:9-25) or person (Lev. 25:47-55); avenges the murder of a relative as a guiltless executioner (Num. 35:9-34); and receives restitution for wrong done to a relative who has since died (Num. 5:8). This emphasis of redemption/ salvation/ vindication associated with the kinsman-redeemer is the fact that this action is carried out by a kinsman on behalf of a near relative in need. The Book of Ruth clearly illustrates this concept.
Four attributes/conditions marked a kinsman redeemer:
he had to be a kinsman
he had to be free
he had to be able
he had to be willing
Lets look at the fulfilment of Jesus as our Redeemer.
Jesus is our near kinsman.
Jesus, who sanctifies, is not ashamed to call us brothers. Heb. 2:11 (all MKJV)
For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother. Mt. 12:50
(Jesus was the) ...First-born among many brothers. Rom. 8:29
Jesus called the Father Abba (Mr. 14:36) as can we, his adopted children can (Gal. 4:6).
Jesus was free.
No man born fully human is free from sin for all are born under Adam:
Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned: Rom. 5:8
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever practices sin is the slave of sin. Jh. 8:34 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23
Jesus was free from sin:
For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2Cor 5:21
(Jesus was) ...in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15
And you know that He was revealed that He might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. 1Jh. 3:5 (also 1Pt. 2:22)
Jesus was able.
No man could ever redeem us for they are not able. Only Jesus, because of His unique status as 'God come in flesh' could become our Mediator (1Tm. 2:5; Heb. 12:24).
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb (by the Holy Spirit Lk. 1:35), and will bear a son. And they will call His name Emmanuel," which being interpreted is, God with us. Mt. 1:23
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Col. 2:9
I and the Father are one! Jh. 10:30
Gal. 4:6; Jh. 3:16 proclaim God sent Jesus- as the sacrifice for our sins.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us... Gal. 3:13
Jesus was willing.
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Jh. 10:11
Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I might take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down from Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I have received this commandment from My Father. Jh. 10:17,18
By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us... 1Jh. 3:16
No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jh. 15:13
Was willing to obey the Father's will (Heb. 5:7-9; Lk. 22:42)
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| Jesus willingly laid down His life to redeem us! |
And so we see that Jesus is the only one who can truly be our Redeemer, for only He fulfills the requirements of the law. Only He could pay the kofer (the price of redemption) as only He was a blemish free/spotless Lamb (1Pt. 1:19). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins..." (Eph 1:7) for He "...gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify to Himself a special people... (Tt. 2:14). Jesus did 'not come to be served' but "...to give His life a ransom for many."
(Mt. 20:28).
So says Jehovah, your Redeemer,
and He who formed you from the womb,
I am Jehovah who makes all things;
who stretches out the heavens alone;
who spreads out the earth;
who was with Me?
Is. 44:24