This lent season begins by meditating on the redemption that Jesus Christ has given to mankind. It is a time for repentance and reconciliation. Let us use this time to remember the love of God who redeemed man through Christ. Redemption which shares a close relation with salvation is an important subject in the Bible. In the Old Testament the two words ‘Padha’ and ‘Ga’al’ are the two words that denote redemption. Israel’s redemptive God ‘Ga’al’ has been illustrated in many places (Isaiah 41: 14, 43: 14). Redeeming by paying a price or ‘Padha’ is also used (Exodus 13: 13; 34: 20). In ancient Israel, articles and life were redeemed by paying an ample price. Since the Israelite firstborns were liberated from Egypt’s slavery, the firstborns belonged to God. Therefore the firstborns need to be redeemed with money (Exodus 13: 13- 15). According to the law, if a man by himself becomes a slave or loses his freedom, if a close relative is in a position to redeem him, he shall be redeemed (Leviticus 25: 25- 27; 27: 27; Ruth 4: 1 -12). Israel being saved from Egypt is their redemption (Exodus 6:6, 15:3). Thus Jehovah became their redeemer (Psalm 78: 35, Isaiah 43:3; Job 19: 25; Deuteronomy 23: 10, 11; Psalm 130: 8). Redemption of man’s life is valuable indeed (Psalm 49: 7-9; Isaiah 59: 20; Romans 11: 26).
1. Holistic Redemption (Isaiah 58: 1- 14)
God redeems us from sin and all sorts of bondage. “Everyone who sins is a slave of sin” (John 8: 34). He was sold as a slave to sin says St. Paul ( Romans 6: 17, 23; 7: 14). Through the cross God ordained a holistic redemption. There should be a liberation and redemption from all forms of bondages. Real lent is a prayer for redemption from all forms of bondages. Isaiah 58 verses 5 and 6 says, “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is it not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”. There should be a liberation from every bondage be it personal, spiritual, mental and societal. That is the holistic liberation that pleases God.
2. Redemption through Jesus (John 5: 1-9)
“Do you want to get well” is a criterion for redemption (John 5: 1-9). We should believe in the redemption that is received through Jesus Christ. The New Testament word for redemption is the Greek word, Apolutrosis. In the New Testament this word has been used 10 times. Pay a price and liberate a slave, is what the word means. This is the price that God paid for our redemption (Ephesians 1: 7; Romans 3: 24). He gave His own blood as a price and bought us (1 Corinthians 6: 19; 7:22). He bore our curse and gave us his blessing. We should have a heart to live in this redemption.
3. Redeemed to Redeem
The redemption price is the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. His blood is our redemption price (Ephesians 1:7). All are justified by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3: 24). He gave His own blood as a price and bought us. Bought with a price, is the phrase that is used (1 Corinthians 6: 19; 7: 22). He bore our sins in our place and redeemed us. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3: 13). The redeemed are God’s own. “Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6: 20). Since redemption is attained by paying a huge price, believers should be careful not to get tangled in the bonds of slavery, says St. Paul. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5: 1). By the redemption that has been given to us we should live in purity otherwise we will have to face judgment (Romans 2: 3-5). Each will receive according to his/ her actions. Therefore the Scriptures exhort us to live according to the redemption that we received and bring others also to this divine redemption.
Translation : Neena Kishor, Ph.D Scholar, Department of English, University of Kerala