He Who Had No Sin...

“(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, ‘Buy it yourself.’ And he removed his sandal.” Ruth 4:7-8.

My commentary states that the three qualities of a kinsman-redeemer are next of kin, able to redeem and willing to redeem. This man was the closest living relative to be given the opportunity to redeem Ruth and her future. He was also very much able to redeem as he was in a financial place to bless her. However, he lacked the third quality which was his unwillingness to redeem and bless her life. Ruth went on to birth a son which placed her forever in the lineage of Christ. We can see by his quick response that no time was spent in prayer or even in consideration. He based his decision from the focus of his own selfishness. His blessings would have come from the decision to bless her. I’ll bet he couldn’t remove his sandal fast enough!

Jesus Christ qualifies in every area of being our kinsman-redeemer. He is our next of kin through God the Father. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…’ Romans 8: 16-17.

Jesus Christ was able to redeem as He was free of sin. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ 2 Cor. 5:21.

He was and still is willing to redeem our lives. He left the comforts of His home in heaven, stepped down into our world and willingly dwelled among us, giving up His life for us. ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ John 1:14.

As you can clearly see, Christ is the only one who qualifies to redeem our lives, both eternally and spiritually. He will never ask us to ‘do it ourselves’. To complete the transaction between us He gave up much more than His sandal…He gave up His life.