Christ the Kinsman Redeemer.

[Marilyn C]

                               THE SON OF MAN.

The title, Son of Man, has a wealth of value and honour because of the responsibility involved. It involves both the nation of Israel and humanity.

`the Son of Man did not come  to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.` (Matt. 20: 28)

 

Loss of Man`s Inheritance.

Dominion of the Earth.

When God made man He gave him dominion over the earth and everything in it.

`Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living things that moves on the earth.` (Gen. 1: 28)

 

Dominion Forfeited.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God thus giving heed to Satan`s lies and coming under his sway. They forfeited their inheritance and relationship with God.

`…the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one.` (1 John 5: 19)

 

Divine Law of Restoration.

However, the divine law that was given later said that land and life could be recovered. The benefactor however, must provide legal evidence to prove his close relationship to those in adversity. Then he could redeem land and life.                                                                                                                                                                                                       

`The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land.

If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession and if his kinsman-redeemer comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother has sold.` (Lev. 25: 23 - 25)

 

Thus, in order to fulfill this important function as kinsman-redeemer on behalf of Israel and humanity, the Saviour of the world was manifested as the Son of Man.

 

 

 

[Marilyn C]

Kinsman-Redeemer.

 

Illustration of Ruth and Boaz.

God`s word gives us a wonderful illustration of the function of the kinsman-redeemer in the life of Ruth and Boaz.

There was a famine in the land of Israel and a certain man of Bethlehem, called Elimelech and his wife, Naomi went to live in the country of Moab. Elimelech, however died and left two sons. They took wives of the women of Moab, Ruth and Orpah. Then the two brothers also died leaving  Naomi and her two daughters-in-law.

After many years Naomi decided to return to the land of Judah. She told her daughter-in-laws to go back to their families. Orpah did go to her family, however Ruth chose to go with Naomi to Judah. When they returned to Bethlehem they were very poor. Ruth had to glean barley grain after the men reaped the field, so they could make it into bread.

Naomi decided to sell the estate of her deceased husband and pay off any debts owing. Now only a near kinsman could step forward to buy the land. However, with the land came the man`s son`s wife, (Ruth) a Moabite, with the requirement to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

 

When Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi`s husband looked at the facts he determined to undertake the duties of a kinsman on behalf of Ruth. However there was a closer kinsman that needed to be addressed.

 

These are the four requirements that Boaz needed to do to acquire the land and Ruth.

 

1.           Proof of Relationship.

Boaz was a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech. He was a kinsman. (Ruth 2: 1)

 

2.           Uphold God`s Law.

Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city to oversee the transaction. (Ruth 4: 2)

 

3.           Clear the debt.

Boaz asked the closer kinsman if he desired to redeem the parcel of land of his brother Elimelech. He also said that the transaction included the marriage to Ruth. The closer kinsman declined to redeem the land and Ruth thus not becoming the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz however, chose to redeem the land and to take Ruth as his wife. (Ruth 4: 4 - 12)

 

4.           Consummate the marriage union.

Boaz took Ruth for His wife and she bore a son to him, Obed, and he begat Jesse the father of David.  (Ruth 4: 13 - 22) From this line Jesus was born. (Matt. 1: 1 - 16)

 

 

[Marilyn C]

Christ as the Kinsman-Redeemer for Israel.

 

In relation to the Lord being the kinsman-redeemer for Israel and the world, He needed to fulfill each requirement. The four gospels represent Christ fulfilling these great functions in regards to Israel and the four visions in Revelation reveal Him fulfilling them for humanity.

1.    Proof of Relationship.

God`s Law required that the person desiring to be kinsman-redeemer, must first prove His right on the ground of relationship with Israel, for no stranger was permitted to act.

`In all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possessions, and if his kinsman-redeemer comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother has sold.` (Lev. 25: 24 & 25)

Christ`s genealogy is therefore recorded - as son of Abraham and son of David. (The two great covenants - promise and kingship). (Matt. 1 - 17)

 

2.         Uphold God`s Law.

Next the Lord had to vindicate the law. This He did by fulfilling all legal demands. In Mark we see that Christ maintained the rights of God`s law. In doing so He came up against the usurper who dominated the heritage. Christ took authority over demonic possession, sickness, social inequality, and false teachings. (Mark 3: 1 - 5)

 

3.         Clear the Debt.

To clear the debt in order to redeem Israel and ransom the estate, Christ did fully and finally by being the Lamb of God. Zacharias prophesied of this -

`And you child, (John), will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins.` (Luke 1: 76 & 77)

 

4.         To Consummate the Marriage Union.

The last transaction awaits achievement. Christ must come and take His bride, consummating an eternal union. This means that Christ needs to connect again with Israel and for them to come under His rulership.

In John`s gospel we read, `He who has the bride is the bridegroom,` (John 3: 29). So Christ is expected to return and consummate the union.

`Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.` (Rev. 19: 7)