“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” – 1 Tim 2:5,6
I’ve been giving a lot of thought, meditation, and reading on the biblical statements concerning Jesus, becoming a ransom for men.
The scripture truly discloses a beautiful metaphor concerning the death of Christ as a ransom, which was His work to free mankind from the slavery of sin. The ancients could relate to this image, as a ransom was generally a price paid to free a prisoner or to free a captive slave from bondage and servitude. In the same way, Jesus’ death on the cross was a payment made to free us from the bondage and slavery of sin and death.
The Bible says that Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6). This means that he willingly died in our place, taking on the punishment that we deserve for our sins. His death was a sacrifice of love, and it made it possible for us to be forgiven and reconciled to God, by faith in the finished work which Christ accomplised.
Jesus Himself taught that He (though the King and Lord of all, came to serve others and to “give Himself as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). We understand from Christ’s words that He willingly and freely gave up his life to pay the price for our sins, by His sacrificial death on the cross. This act of atonement and ransom was done by Christ out of His great love for us, but also because He knew that His death would reconcile us to God, so that we through faith in His work would be able receive the gift of eternal life.
The metaphor of a ransom to some is confusing, because this picture is not meant to be understood as a literal fact. Rather, this illustration from God was a way of understanding the spiritual significance of Jesus’ death, in that He became the victor over sin and death, and that He opened the way for us to be forgiven and restored to a relationship with God.
The ransom metaphor is also a reminder that our salvation is not something we can earn, merit, or deserve, and this is becuase a ransom paid was always something that someone else did for an enslaved individual. Christ’s ransom paid for our salvation, which is a great inestimable gift from God. We cannot earn it, but we can only receive it by faith.
The ransom metaphor is not the only way that the Bible describes the work of Jesus on the cross. It also uses other metaphors, such as “propitiation” (Romans 3:25), “redemption” (Ephesians 1:7), and “atonement” (1 John 2:2). These Biblical terms require study and insight, but simply understood, the ransom metaphor is very helpful because it reminds us that Jesus’ death was a payment made to free us from our bondage to sin.
The ransom metaphor also helps us to understand the cost of our salvation. Jesus’ death on the cross was agonizing, both physically, spiritually, and emotionally. While the earth became dark for 3 hours at midday, He cried out (in fulfillment of the sciptures,) “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me.” – (Matt. 27:46; Ps. 22:1) His death was a torturous experience, but He was willing and wanthing to endure the agony of the cross for our sin and shame before GOd. Christ’ death and ransom for the entirety of the human race was ultimate act of love, which made it possible for us to have eternal life with God.
Have you received Christ? The ransom payment of your redemption has been paid, so that you and I can be free from the guilt, shame, and penalty of sin, and that we might have eternal life with God!
Passages for Study:
Matthew 20:28
1 Peter 1:18-19
Mark 10:45
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Romans 3:25
Ephesians 1:7
1 John 2:2
Photo: Istiklal Street, Taskim, Istanbul, Turkey – Charles Curtis
