Читать книгу The Scandal of God’s Forgiveness - Edmond Smith - Страница 10

Mark 10:45 is very similar to Matthew 20:28. Mark’s whole account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:7–24) also is very similar to Matthew’s account. Therefore, refer to what has been written in Redemption in Matthew about the two passages, though a word can be added for further understanding of what constitutes a ransom.

God’s ancient people were acquainted with the concept of redemption with respect to persons. The stipulations for what was to be done for an insolvent man in the light of the Year of the Jubilee are found in Leviticus. A poor man may have been forced to sell himself to someone who was an alien and thereby lose his freedom. Unless he became rich again, he was in an utterly helpless state. Yet, one of his brothers, or an uncle, or any other close relative of his clan, could ransom him by buying him back at a price, the price being determined by the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee, when he would be automatically set free if no relative had redeemed him before the time.

Some in the Early Church speculated as to whom the ransom by Christ was paid to. Was it the devil? We would not press the analogy of the ransom too much, except to say that the slavery from which the ransomed by Christ are redeemed is an alien state we are in until our redemption takes full effect sometime in our life by placing faith in Christ. Until we are ransomed in full effect, we are in a helpless state and only Christ can deliver us, as only he could afford the cost for it. He has already redeemed the many in mind as a fait acclompli. The transaction was of his will alone for the many.

In connection with the years leading up to the Jubilee, note the redeemer knew who he was redeeming. He had the means to redeem, personally knew who he would redeem, and paid the price to release his helpless relative. Does this not speak of Jesus and his ransoming power? He knew who he was going to redeem, and then was prepared to pay the price. The price being paid, the transaction was done. The impoverished believer is set free of his helpless state, somewhat in the manner of what transpired under the Old Covenant.