HIS LIFE, MY RANSOM
By Ray Prinzing
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for man.” (Matt. 20: 28)
We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (Peter 1:19). It is also written, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (Lev. 17:11). It was HIS LIFE which was poured out for us, and it is age-abiding, sufficient for our needs this very day.
An example of being a ransom is found in Acts 7:35, where we read, “This Moses whom they refused say, Who made thee a ruler and judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer.” The word “deliverer” is the same Greek word in this case which is translated RANSOM.
How was Moses a ransom for Israel in Egypt? Did Moses pay a price to Egypt for Israel’s redemption? Did he promise anything in return for allowing Israel to leave? No! Moses paid Egypt exactly nothing. It was his own life which he poured out for Israel, it was the freely giving of his life for Israel which led them up out of Egypt, as God through Moses made a way.
When Jesus Christ became our ransom, He didn’t have to take an offering to God, and say, “Here, God, is a price for the people.” Nor, did He go to the Devil, and say, Here, Devil, is a ransom-price, now you let creation go.” Never! He poured out His life and freely gave it to the people. We are the ones who are receiving the ransom, and receiving of His life, we are able to get up and leave the filth of the old world behind, and walk in the higher realms of His life.
In the natural, we pay the kidnapper the ransom money, but God does it the other way around, He gives of His life to us who are in bondage, and then we have the resources, the strength to arise and return to Father’s house. We cannot do it on our own, we are weak and helpless but when He gives of His life, and fills us with His strength, then THROUGH HIM we are able to return.
A ransom He came for me, His life He freely gave,
Poured out, and yes, effective, too, triumphant o’er the grave.
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