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As we celebrate the Savior’s birth, may the Lord speak to you in a very special way, through His word, to make this day memorable. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. In order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. [Galatians 4:4,5] The law is good, but there is no struggle between law and grace. The law is good, and given that man may keep it, for his good. But something went wrong, when man succumbed to sin, and the fall happened. What followed was multiplied chaos, down through the generations, for the sin principle in man, was working against him, when it came to keeping the law completely. ‘Nothing wrong with the world; but, everything wrong with me’, is how the writer G. K. Chesterton has honestly and succinctly diagnosed it, establishing the need for a Savior, precisely because every man’s problem is internal, the sin principle within him.
God sent His Son – Identification:
He came to redeem humanity from the clutches of sin. In being born of a woman, God became man, so that by receiving Him into our hearts, we may become more like Him. Blood had to be shed, for the remission of sin. It was why He took on flesh and blood; He identified with you and I, mortal beings that we are, so that we can identify with Him. [Hebrews 2:14,15]
And therefore, HE understands:
He is able to sympathize with your weaknesses. He knows what it means to be sorrowful and in pain. He understands, and is not a spectator. He enables you to come out of your problem. [Hebrews 4:15-17] Job in the scriptures, feared God and was blameless in His sight. But then, the truth is that the righteous face peculiar problems. And in the midst of his unimaginable turmoil, finding none to offer him true comfort, he longed for a mediator, who could speak on his behalf before God. But it need not be your story.
Mediator:
For, there is one God; There is also one mediator between God and humanity. The man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. [1 Timothy 2:5] The sin problem of man was overcome by the Savior, who shed His Blood, and gave His life on the Cross, as ransom. And to overcome the effect of sin in your life, the negative and the ungodly manifestations of it, He is the God of compassion, helping you to change, to overcome your challenges, and brings you out to a place where you can worship, even in the midst of sorrow. He is your Saviour.
Savior:
For at the right time, while we were still weak and helpless, Christ died for us, to save us. And God proved His love for us, when Christ died for us while we were still sinners. While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, through the death of His Son on the Cross of Calvary. [Romans 5:6-10] For what can a sinner do to help himself, when he himself is caught up in it? Precisely nothing! He needed a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, born to take away the sins of the world. It is the gospel, the good news of salvation, that involves redemption.
Redeemer:
For, there is also the enemy, the devil who takes advantage of man’s sinful nature, and the sin principle in him, to take him captive, keeping him in bondage. And the Lord Jesus Christ is the Redeemer; a redemption that involves- 1. rescue 2. restoration 3. reigning and ruling.
1. Rescue:
The rescue operations that take place after severe flooding that leaves people helpless and unable to step out, describes it very aptly. Peoples’ lives are saved, but invariably they lose all their worldly possessions, and find themselves in dire straits on account of it. And what you and I have lost on account of sin is far and incomparably greater.
2. Restoration:
Therefore, God never stops with rescue from sin. He brings restoration. And man’s efforts towards restoration would be minuscule when compared with God’s, even as you find that redemption takes on new meaning. It was how Job was able to declare, ‘I know my Redeemer lives’ in the midst of chaos, having lost everything that he had held dear in his life, and engulfed with physical suffering too, and had none to give him comfort or consolation. When the philosophy of his friends only confused him, he found clarity in knowing that his Redeemer is God Almighty. He is alive; and He would intervene in his life’s painful situation, that no purpose of His would be thwarted. [Job 42:2] And you can call Him ‘Father’! Job’s latter days were far more glorious than his former. And it can be the restoration in your life, that becomes your experience, even as you acknowledge, ‘I know my Redeemer lives’.
3. Reigning and ruling:
Bereavement though is a loss that cannot be replaced; the void could be there physically. But it is when the grace of God steps in to compensate, provide consolation as only He can. Even after going through hardship, you could wonder whether your life would ever be the same again, but when God redeems, He does a complete work, even as you go to Him in trust and obedience. If because of the one man’s trespass death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace, and the free gift of righteousness, reign in life through the one Man, Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:17] Trusting and resting in His abounding grace, you can reign in life through Christ who strengthens you. He rescues you, restores you, even as He Himself makes you to lie down in green pastures, and after receiving His gift of grace, you reign in life, rising above your difficulties, instead of bowing down to them in defeat. When you are in a deep valley, you may not be able to see behind, to remember all the good that He has done in your life, and you cannot see ahead, to the top of the valley, see all the good that He has in store for you. But the Lord will walk with you; He held you while you were in your mother’s womb; He will carry you to the end. In your weakness He will give you the strength to walk. You have a long way to go, in His path ordained for you. And, you have a Redeemer, who will never leave you or forsake you. He lives in you. Jesus is His Name. And oh what peace we often forfeit, and needless pain we bear, all because we do not take it to the Lord, God Almighty in prayer. We thank Thee Father, that in the fullness of time, you gave us Your Son to redeem us. We bow before your throne of grace, in submission and surrender, laying all our questions at Thy feet, to say, I know my Redeemer lives. And may we rest in the promise that our latter days are going to be more glorious, to walk in the privilege of living our lives, that we will be blessed to be a blessing in the lives of others. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
