[Wednesday's Devotional] - Ransomed

In ancient times, you might find a member of your family had fallen on hard times and had been taken on as a slave.  To rescue them from this awful state of affairs, you could redeem them by paying a sum of money – a ransom.

To redeem something means 'to buy back'.  So slaves, property, animals and so on could be redeemed by the payment of a ransom.  The first born males of all livestock belonged to God.  But some of them could be redeemed (bought back) by paying a ransom.  This was a decisive and often costly thing to do.

Jesus, in Mark's gospel [Mark 10: 45] says,

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus is saying that we as human beings are held in captivity as slaves; only the payment of a ransom can free us, and that ransom is the costly death of Jesus on the cross.  We had become slaves to sin – we were not free.  But Christ gave up his freedom in order for us to be released.

O Perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Lord Jesus, thank you that you paid the ultimate price for our sins in giving up your life.  Thank you that we are no longer slaves to sin, but free to serve you.

David Long