Who Provides The Ransom?

Only Jehovah could provide "the Lamb . . . that takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) But God did not send just any angel to rescue mankind. Instead, he sent the One who could furnish the ultimate conclusive answer to Satan's charge against Jehovah's servants. Yes, Jehovah made the supreme sacrifice of sending his only-begotten Son, "the one he was specially fond of." (Proverbs 8:30) Willingly, God's Son "emptied himself" of his heavenly nature. (Philippians 2:7) Miraculously, Jehovah transferred the life and the personality pattern of his firstborn heavenly Son to the womb of a Jewish virgin named Mary. (Luke 1:27, 35) As a man, he would be called Jesus. But in a legal sense, he would be called the second Adam, for he corresponded perfectly to Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47) Jesus could thus offer himself up in sacrifice as a ransom for sinful mankind.

To whom would that ransom be paid? Psalm 49:7 specifically says that the ransom is paid "to God." But is not Jehovah who arrranges for the ransom in the first place? Yes, but this does not reduce the ransom to a pointless, mechanical exchange-like taking money out of the pocket and putting it into another. It must be appreciated that the ransom is, not a physical exchange, but a legal transaction. By providing for the payment of the ransom, even at enormous cost to himself, Jehovah affirmed his unwavering adherence to his own perfect justice. -Genesis 22:7, 8, 11-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 1:17.

In the spring of 33 C.E., Jesus Christ willingly submitted to an ordeal that led to the payment of the ransom . He allowed himself to be arrested on false charges, judged guilty and nailed to a stake of execution. Was it really necessary for Jesus to suffer so much? Yes, because the issue of the integrity of God's servants had to be settled. Significantly, God did not allow the infant Jesus to be killed by Herod. (Matthew 2:13-18) But when Jesus was an adult he was able to withstand the brunt of Satan's attacks with full comprehension of th issues. By remaining "loyal, guileless, undefiled, separated from the sinners" in spite of horrific treatment, Jesus proved with dramatic finality that Jehovah does have servants who remain faithful under trial. (Hebrews 7:26) No wonder, then, that at the moment before his death, Jesus cried out triumphantly: "It has been accomplished! -John 19:30.

Next time: Finishing His Redemptive Work

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002