Today is Good Friday, also known as Redemption Friday. This acknowledges the day that all believers in our Lord, Jesus Christ, were redeemed for our sins.
A youngster that I work with asked me what it meant to be “redeemed.” I was reminded of an explanation given by my rabbi, Pastor Michael. I had just processed some coupons for a customer.
With coupons, the customer turns them in, or redeems them, for some product or for a reduced price on that product. My employer then submits them, or redeems them, to the original issuer of the coupon. The customer benefits, my employer benefits and the issuer of the coupon gains increased business. It is the issuer of the coupon that bears the cost of this series of transactions, known as redemption.
In the ancient world, slaves could be “redeemed” if they or someone else paid the price for them to gain their freedom.
Carnal humans, we are all slaves to sin. On the hill at Golgotha we were redeemed at an extremely high price. Jesus humbled Himself, obediently dying on the cross to purchase us, redeem us from our slavery to sin.
| 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) |
| 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. (1 Corinthians 7:22-24) |
Good Friday is the darkest day in the history of mankind. The price was so very high to free us from our sins, to redeem us. Would any of us pay such a price?
Why?
| For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) |
A radical love. A love with intensity such as the world had never seen. Complete, selfless love of His greatest creation, mankind.
Be worthy of the price of your redemption! The cost, such a high cost, was borne entirely by the Father and the Son. Grace, unmerited and undeserved, is given freely to each of us. In your slavery to Christ Jesus, you ARE FREE!
Shalom, Art 
Alive in The Word
NOTE: Unlike the coupon pictured above, our redemption has no expiration date.
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Your closing sentence made me think of the opening words of an old hymn:
“Make me a captive Lord, and then I shall be free:
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.”
ONLY as we walk in the love and will of our Father do we find complete freedom – and victory!
Thank you for causing us again to consider God’s radical love and to praise Him.
What an amazing God!
Oh, Glory Hallelujah, Brother Art–a MOST radical love does our Father have for us to give His only begotten Son to be crucified on that Cross of Calvary for the sins of the whole world. All we who come to Him, even as the thief on the cross, confessing and believing are REDEEMED! What a coupon!
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Redeemed how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus
His child and forever I am.
Thank you Art for a good look at Good Friday.