The suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross, His death, and resurrection was not capital punishment. The devil, working through those who persecuted Him, might have thought so but God intended it for our redemption. It was the will of God for Jesus Christ to suffer, to die, and resurrect. The process Jesus Christ went through at crucifixion made our redemption possible. Without Jesus Christ’s suffering, there would be no salvation or Christianity. Sin had plunged us into slavery or the kingdom of darkness but Jesus Christ lay down His life for our deliverance from sin and death. Jesus Christ paid the price for our redemption.
‘Redemption’ means bought back. The Greek word for ‘redemption’ is Apolutrosis which means, to be delivered from the slave market of sin. It is an act of buying back and regaining the original status or position. It is the process of getting us back to the original place where God had intended us to be initially. ‘Redemption’ has similar usage with the word ‘Ransom’ which means paying a price for the redemption of an item or to regain the original status. We had fallen short of God’s glory but He redeemed us. The following verses illustrate the process of redemption:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV)]
This scripture reveals the love of God, for us sinners, through Jesus Christ whereby it cost Him the death of His only begotten son. The blood of Jesus justified us and saved us from God’s wrath. The bible states in Romans 4:25 that:
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 5:25 (NKJV)]
Romans 4:25 underscores the purpose of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. He died because of “our offenses” and was raised from the dead so that we would be justified. For this reason, if you have not appropriated the work of redemption at the cross, get saved. His redemptive work was meant for you and I. Jesus Christ took upon himself all that was leveled against us. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 further explains the redemptive work of the cross:
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
The scripture above highlights reconciliation to God as the key reason why Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. Accepting Jesus Christ as our savior gives us the opportunity to reinstate our relationship with God. Our trespasses are not imputed on us. Jesus bore the blame for us. (How loving and kind of our Lord and savior!) In the book of Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree and found themselves naked. The Doxa (Hebrew) – the glory of God had left them. See the verses below:
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was [a]pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves [b]coverings. 8 And they heard the [c]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the [d]cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” (Genesis 3:5-11)
Because Adam and Eve allowed the devil to tempt them into challenging the commandment of God, they become naked. They were devoid of God’s covering hence they were compelled to hide from His presence. This reflects our lives if we disobey and violate God’s instructions. God’s voice is continually calling to us “Where are you?” We need to appropriate the work of redemption at the cross. This calls us to evaluate our lifestyle and return to God to enjoy His fellowship “in the cool of the day”. It is our sins that have separated us from God. Isaiah 59 explains this position of separation as follows:
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you So that He will not hear.3 For your hands are defiled with [a]blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.4 No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive [b]evil and bring forth iniquity. [Isaiah 59:1-4 (NKJV)]
The above verses indicate that God is conscious and able to act in our life situations. He can save; He can hear. God has already provided a window for our salvation through Jesus Christ. It is time to surrender to God because He is willing to save if only we repent of our sin. Q. What did Jesus pay the price for?
Redemptive Privileges:
- It is through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that our salvation became possible. John 3: 16 clearly unveils the love of God for us.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. [John 3:16 (NKJV)]
Everlasting love is the status from which we were cut off due to our sinful nature. Our sinful nature denied us the status of being the children of light and instead became the children of darkness. We were cut off from God’s covenantal promises but Jesus Christ bought us back with his precious blood. The redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ works for those who believe in Him and they “will not perish but have everlasting life”.
- It is through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we attained Divine protection. Exodus 13:21 The Israelites are God’s people of the covenant. Although they were in bondage in the land of Egypt, God had purposed to deliver them from the hands of Pharaoh. Before the exodus, they had been instructed to kill a lamb and apply its blood on the doorposts of their houses. The angel of death passed over the houses marked with blood and they were saved from the hand of death. This is what was referred to as the Passover. After the Passover, they left Egypt and God assured them of his presence in their journey to Canaan. The presence of the Lord accompanied them in the form of a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud during the day. This is illustrated in Exodus 13:21 as follows:
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. [Exodus 13:21 (NKJV)]
The lamb, that the Israelites had killed in Egypt and applied its blood on their door posts, was a foreshadow of what was to come in the new dispensation; the new covenant. As demonstrated in John 1:29 below:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [John 1:29 (NKJV)]
The given verse depicts Jesus as the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is crucified for our redemption from all the snares of the enemy. When we plead the blood of Jesus the enemy cannot harm us; he has to ‘Passover the blood of Jesus’. We are a people of covenant, the apple of God’s eyes. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and word of our testimony. (No weapon fashioned against us can prosper. Isaiah 54: 17 states that:
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. [Isaiah 54:17(NKJV)]
From the above scripture, it is evident that we are the righteousness of God; our righteousness is from Him. Therefore, divine protection is our heritage. The reason why the weapons of the enemy cannot materialize in the lives of the children of God is because Jesus Christ paid the price for their protection. Even though, as children of God, we are exposed to danger, fiery darts of the enemy, attacks, persecution and all forms of snares, the enemy cannot overcome us because he sees the blood of Jesus. This is clearly stated in Revelation 12:11-12:
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” [Revelation 12:11-12 (NKJV)]
As portrayed in the above scripture, the devil is bound to attack ‘the inhabitants of the earth’; you and I because he is angry at the work of redemption. As children of God, we must be ready to “overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of [our] testimony”. The plans of the enemy will not prosper in our lives despite their manifestations. The enemy sees the blood of Jesus just as it was in the case of the Israelites and the blood of the lamb on their door posts. The Name of Jesus and what He represents as our redeemer, our divine protection, must be feared. Isaiah 59:19 states that:
59 So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. [Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)]
It does not matter the ‘floods of attack’ with which the enemy comes, it does not matter the force with which he comes. It does not matter. “The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him”. God is amazing, He reigns! He is Adonai, Yahweh, hakuna asiloliweza (meaning, there is nothing impossible with God).
- It is through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that God’s provision over your life was guaranteed. In accordance to Mathew 6:26, it is clear that God cares for all His creation.
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [Mathew 6:26 (NKJV)]
In the case of Mathew 6:26 the birds of the air do not need to worry about food. God’s provision for them is sure. Jesus uses the analogy of birds to show that our value (as His covenantal people) supersedes that of the birds of the air. In Mathew 6:30 we see how God dresses nature.
30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [Mathew 6:30 (NKJV)]
In reference to the above scripture, God will definitely clothe us. We only have to guard against “little faith”. You and I are more special because He created us in His image and likeness. He has committed Himself to provide for our needs. In this pandemic situation, He will take care of us. As his covenantal people, we flourish in every situation. God is sending help our way, “hold on”. We only need to stand on God’s promises. In the book of 1 Kings 17:1-6, there is an account of Elijah and his experience of God’s provision in a season of drought.
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” 2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. [1Kings 17:1-7 (NKJV)
In the given scripture divine provision is demonstrated, in that ravens (birds) are commanded by God (their creator) to feed Elijah (Just pause and think about that). Is it not possible for God to command some kind of ‘raven’ to satisfy your needs in this COVID-19 ‘drought season? Even if the brook dries up, God still has an alternative to your ‘drought issues’. This is evidenced in 1 kings 17:8-16
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a [a]jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. [1Kings 17:8-16 (NKJV)]
The Lord, your God, will command help from unlikely sources for your upkeep. He has a specific person in mind and a specific menu for you if you and I only obey to move from your current crisis position. God is not limited in his provision sources. We have to arise and go to where He is commanding us to ‘go’ for help. It is about positioning ourselves to receive from Him. Obedience to his command opens numerous doors of divine provision or supply. Do not hold back on giving in this time of ‘drought’ or adversity. Faithfully and obediently tithe and give offerings that belong to God. Malachi 3:10-12
10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, ”Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 12 “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land, ”Says the Lord of hosts. [Malachi 3:10-12 (NKJV)]
Our obedience in giving to God attracts open windows of heaven. God does not only provide. He provides in abundance; He pours out. The overflow requires preparation for a bigger room. Even so, “…there will not be room enough to receive it”. Apart from the divine provision, God goes further to “rebuke the devourer” and sustains your provision by ensuring that the vine does not “fail to bear fruit for you in the field”. It is through obedience to God’s command to give that He will provide and rebuke the devourer, and that includes COVID-19. A further account is given in the book of Exodus 16:4-5 on God’s provision to the children of Israel in the “Wilderness of Sin” where they complain of hunger. God, in His loving kindness, provides for them.
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather [a]a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” [Exodus 16:4-5 (NKJV)]
God sends His people manna from heaven to feed on (again, more than enough). This reveals His love, power, faithfulness and divine providence. God is going to reveal Himself in this season of the pandemic; He is sending people your way. He is able to “rain bread from heaven for you”. You and I must walk in His law; walk in obedience.
- It is through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that divine preservation is ensured in times of adversity. There are numerous examples in the bible where God has preserved His godly people in times of adversity. Consider the case of righteous people like Job, Daniel in the lions’ den, Meshack, Shadrack and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Israel in Egypt and the wilderness, and the early church in the book of Acts. Divine preservation is our redemptive covenant from calamities, accidents, diseases like COVID-19 or anything that the enemy has plotted against it. Divine preservation is our redemptive privilege hence there is no need to fear anything. Every born-again child of God shall enjoy the gift of divine preservation.
Psalms 32: 7 states that:
7You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah [Psalms 32:7 (NKJV)]
The above verse underscores God’s divine preservation of his people in trouble. He delivers them and He is their “hiding place”. Jesus said in John 16:33 that:
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [f]will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33 (NKJV)]
We have great assurance in God that we are overcomers because Jesus overcame the world. It is inevitable that tribulation or trouble will come. But being of “good cheer” is our posture in such circumstances.
- It is through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that divine healing was provided. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb. He shed His blood for the remission of sin. Isaiah 53:5 states that:
But He was wounded[a] for our transgressions, He was [b]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes[c] we are healed. [Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)]
Jesus bore the pain of all diseases we would have suffered. We received healing a long time ago. “By His stripes, we were healed.” (Past tense). 1 Peter 2:24 emphasizes the healing power of Jesus Christ.
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose [a]stripes you were healed. [1Peter 2:24 (NKJV)]
It is on the cross (tree) that Jesus took care of all diseases and sicknesses (including pandemics). He received 39 painful lashes on His body for our healing. Healing is God’s children’s bread. Every infection has to bow in the Name of Jesus. In the book of John 1:29:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [John 1:29 (NKJV)]
John 1:29 stresses the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Similarly, Hebrews 9:16-28 states that:
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every [a]precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are [b]purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no [c]remission. [Hebrews 9:16-28 (NKJV)]
The above verse is a picture of what Jesus did on the cross for us because without the shedding of blood there is no [c]remission. Verse 28 (a) of Hebrews chapter 9 shows how Jesus’ sacrifice was superior to the old order. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” The action does not need to be repeated. He sacrificed once. The blood of Jesus speaks of our salvation, protection, provision, preservation, and total healing. It shall be well with us. It shall be well with our families. Always declare the word of God in your life. Stand on the word of God in times of adversity because you have redemptive privileges. You were bought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Stand on Calvary ground and declare that by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I am more than a conqueror. Appropriate the redemptive work of the cross. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour by surrendering your life to Him (Song: All to Jesus I surrender, ALL to Him I freely give.) Below is the first stanza:
All to Jesus, I surrender
All to Thee I freely give
I will ever love and trust You
In Your presence daily live
We are highly privileged by the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us ALL surrender to Him our lives and appropriate the redemptive work at the cross.