Jesus' Redeeming Love Broke Our Chains
Daily Scripture
Galatians 3:13-14, 4:3-7
Galatians 3
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us—because it is written, Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed [Deuteronomy 21:23]. 14 He redeemed us so that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, and that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 4
3 In the same way, when we were minors, we were also enslaved by this world’s system. 4 But when the fulfillment of the time came, God sent his Son, born through a woman, and born under the Law. 5 This was so he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted. 6 Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and if you are his child, then you are also an heir through God.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Much like “ransom,” “The verb translated redeemed (literally, ‘to buy up’) has here the primary meaning of ‘to deliver’ or ‘to secure the release of someone,’ at some cost to the person who secures it in terms of effort, suffering, or loss…. that is, that by his death Christ has secured our release, or has set us free from the curse of the Law.” * Paul also used the image of God “adopting” you for salvation. God took you safely into heaven’s family from a course leading to eternal darkness.
- The center “tree” in the stained-glass window at Resurrection Leawood is the cross Jesus died on. The passage from Deuteronomy that Paul quoted in Galatians 3:13 seems to have been one major reason he was so determined to wipe out belief in Jesus before he met Jesus for himself on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 26:9-19). What doubts or negative impressions did you have to overcome in order to follow Jesus?
- Slavery was legal in the Roman Empire and was the backdrop for the word “redeem.” Freeing a slave took “redeeming” them (i.e., buying them out of slavery). Imagine a slave owner telling a slave, “I’m redeeming you by adopting you. You’re now a full family member, not a slave.” Do you tend to live more as God’s “slave,” fearful and frustrated, or as God’s adopted, beloved daughter or son? How can you more fully accept your adoption, your complete “belonging” in God’s family?
Prayer
Eternal God, your self-giving love in Jesus seemed like weakness to humans. But it was strong enough to open the door of salvation for me (and all humans). Thank you! Help me see things from your perspective more and more often. Amen.
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creagar
Jennifer Creagar serves as the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
I grew up in what you could mildly call a “complicated” family. Parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings. Grandparents and step-grandparents. So Paul’s words in Galatians 4 mean a lot to me. Our status and relationships to each other were defined by who was married to whom at any given moment. The larger world is like that. Who owns your allegiance, your devotion, your support? Where do you fit? Where do you belong? What happens if you, or someone else, changes their mind?
Today’s Scripture reminds us that, no matter whose earthly name we carry, where we live, if we feel alone or connected, God wanted us to belong to him forever and sent his son “so that he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted.” (Galatians 4:5). This adoption isn’t dependent on law or tradition or human action. This adoption was bought by Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and confirmed our status as a Child of God. Jesus redeemed us and we are adopted into God’s family as full participants in all God has for us. We belong. We are loved. We are connected. We are free. We, too, can call out “Abba, Father!”
Abba, Father! Thank you for welcoming us, as imperfect and often confused as we are, into your eternal family. Help us to share this, and your unending love, with everyone we meet, regardless of connection or likeness, or status, so that we may all be one with You. Amen.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Daniel C. Arichea, Jr. and Eugene A. Nida, A translator’s handbook on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. United Bible Societies, 1976, p. 65.
