REDEMPTION by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 8, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 36.

REDEMPTION

By T. E. Bowen

THIS implies that something has been lost. Before anything can be redeemed, it must have fallen from the favor or position once occupied. As applied to man, we find that he sold himself into slavery, having lost the purity, innocence, and exalted position he had when he came forth from the hand of his Creator. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3:23, 24.

There are certain principles underlying this redeeming process brought to view in the Scriptures in connection with the instruction given to ancient Israel, which are worthy our earnest study.

God said the land was His, but given out by lot to Israel. This should not be sold. If a brother, however, became poor, and involved in debt so far that all his personal property was sold, it was a custom that even his person could be sold to the creditor. This was a great calamity, and so the Lord arranged that every fiftieth year, everybody thus sold should go free. Because of the joyfulness, it was called the year of jubilee.

It was possible, in case this servant, doomed to serve until the year of jubilee, had a rich relative, and this relative’s heart could be touched, for the man to be redeemed. “After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him; either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee; and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.” Lev. 25:48–50.

First, the redeemer must be of his brethren. Secondly, one of near kin. Thirdly, the price must be reckoned at the regular wages of a servant from the time he was sold unto the year of jubilee. This was a fair transaction. The creditor could not grumble at this, for his stern requirements were fully met. At the year of jubilee the man would go free anyway. And, again, before that year the man might die, so in some respects the creditor would be the gainer in case the man was redeemed. If he were able, he might redeem himself. But

when all a man has is sold, and his very person thrown in, how could he possibly redeem himself?

Were all these specifications fully met by the great Redeemer? First, is He our brother? After Jesus rose from the dead, He spake to Mary as follows: “Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” John 20:17. Where two individuals have one common father, they must be brethren. He also calls us “My brethren!” “For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.” Matt. 12:50. In this the specification is fully met, for our own Brother is of near kin, able to redeem.

Did Jesus Christ pay our wages through until the year of jubilee?—Yes, fully. What are the wages for which we hired ourselves out?—“For the wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. Our Brother was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21), and because of that fact, He had to receive our wages, which was death. “The Lord hath made the iniquity of us all to meet on Him.” Isa. 53:6, margin. In His precious life was more worth than all the lives ever lived by humanity, from Adam on down to the end of the world, or unto the ushering in of the eternal jubilee.

Glorious redemption! Precious Redeemer! Will you not accept the offers of this rich elder Brother to fully redeem you from the cruel grasp of your enemy? Will you not let Him place you back into the glorious home you have squandered away for naught? While Jesus is saying, “Come,” and the Spirit is saying, “Come,” and the bride is saying, “Come,” let him that heareth the invitation come, even whosoever will, “let him take the water of life freely.” T. E. BOWEN.

Newburg, W. Va.