I hope that you are as excited as I am today to look at Jesus as our Kinsman-Redeemer! My heart is so full when I think that so many years before Christ, God orchestrated the beautiful story of Ruth and Boaz. It’s not only a happily-ever-after for Ruth, a grieving widow who has trusted a God she is only beginning to know. It is also a beautiful story of redemption and renewal for Naomi, the pleasant one, who had to change her name back from Mara—full of bitterness. We leave her rocking her grandson Obed on her lap and living out the rest of her days taking care of the son of her son.
As if that is not enough, this story is a type or ‘kind of allegory’ of what Jesus will come and do for us. He is the fulfillment of the Kinsman-Redeemer of mankind in the New Testament.
A kinsman-redeemer is needed when the plight of someone is desperate and they are destitute and lost. Hope is brought onto the scene through the one redeeming. This will never be truer than with humankind, in our desperate and destitute situation, lost because of sin in our lives and in the world. We are seen as Israel, or the bride of Christ, and He becomes our Kinsman-Redeemer.
- He must be kin. Only a relational tie of the ‘same family’ can redeem another. And so, we have John 1:1,2,14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…and Matthew 1:5,6,16…Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth and Naomi is in the line of the greatest Kinsman- Redeemer of all, Jesus Christ. Because Christ came to the world in flesh and blood, became fully human and fully Divine, He was of the same kin. He is able to be the Kinsman-Redeemer for mankind.
- He must have a willing heart. This requirement brings tears to my eyes. Listen to the willing heart of the Son of God in the following. Take note that Jesus knew the cost of being the Kinsman-Redeemer: As you know, the Passover is 2 days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified…this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Matthew 26:2, 28,29). The following is spoken in prayer to the Father the very night that Jesus was betrayed and shows us just how willing His heart was: Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ And He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’ (Matthew 26:39, 42)
Jesus was oh, so willing to do what the Father required of Him as our Kinsman- Redeemer. He didn’t look to the cross with joy and anticipation, but He did go with a willing heart to fulfill what God required to purchase us out of our lost and hopeless state. ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!…Friend, do what you came for…Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legionsof angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ (Matthew 26:45,50,53,54) There has never been a more willing heart, called upon at so great a cost to redeem. Before we even knew that we needed redeeming, before we were even born, God set into motion that He Himself would pay the price willingly and be our Kinsman-Redeemer. Alleluia, Amen.
- He must be able to redeem. …he [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17) Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18,19) Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) Jesus is able to redeem because He is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. He is able to make atonement for the sins of the people because He Himself is sinless; a perfect sacrifice without blemish. He meets all the requirements of being able; holy and sinless, He is the only one able to be our Kinsman-Redeemer!
- The price must be paid in full. Wow! What good news this is for us. The resurrection of Christ is like God’s stamp of approval that all Jesus did in dying on the cross in our place was enough. He did not stay in the grave. We need do nothing except accept the gift of His redemption by faith; by believing. The Easter message, the Passover message is He is risen indeed! “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.’” (Matthew 28:5,6) ‘Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save COMPLETELY those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’ (Hebrews 7:24,25,27)
This theme of Jesus as Kinsman-Redeemer can be further developed. He is the bridegroom and we as the church are His bride. We are safe in the refuge of His love. His heart is kind and good and generous and gentle. God sent Him into our family of humankind that we might be redeemed and given a new life, hope and a future. Although we could study forever, no more
needs to be said than this, “Praise God who is our perfect Kinsman-Redeemer.”
Our song fot today is Jesus, My Redeemer by Chris Tomlin