The Principle of Redemption

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” Mark 8:17-21

There is only one person, one source, who can make all things new. He is the one who redeems, and who gives life, in agreement with His heavenly father. Jesus was teaching His disciples this lesson through how He provided for their needs. It was a progression though. Jesus didn’t demand too much too quickly. He started off asking for small things. At first it was simply asking the servants at a wedding to give Him jugs of water, which He turned into wine. Then He asked a man, “what can I do for you?” And upon answering Him, was healed of his blindness. Later Jesus asks for five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a crowd of five thousand. Toward the end of his ministry, Jesus asks his disciples to lay down their life so that they may partake in His. The act of giving things to Jesus so that they can be redeemed for the greater good is a principle He wants us to learn.

What do you have to do in order to participate with Jesus in His act of redemption?

1. You need to know what He is asking of you. There is something in your life that Jesus wants to redeem. Something He wants to take from you so that He can make it new. What is this? What is Jesus asking you to give Him? Yes, one obvious thing is your sin, so that you can live eternally with Him and our Heavenly Father. But even beyond your salvation, Jesus is asking you to give Him that part of your life which you are coveting and are keeping from Him. He wants to take it from you so that He can redeem it and make it new.

2. Give Jesus what He is asking for. The problem for most of us is that we think our solution is better than His. If you were stuck in the wilderness having to feed 5,000 people and the nearest town is miles away, how would you really be able to do this? You can’t, which is why Jesus is asking you to rely upon Him. Give Him what you have. Your broken pieces of bread and fish. He will take what you have and He will redeem it for good.

3. Receive what Jesus gives you in return. Jesus is generous as is His Heavenly Father. He does only what He sees His Father doing, and His Father is always giving us what we need. When Jesus gives thanks to His Father before feeding the 5,000, this is because Jesus is in agreement with His Father. Jesus is thanking His Father for what He was commanded to do and for His Father’s provision.

Our Heavenly Father knows what we need even before we ask. He always provides and will do so abundantly. Jesus takes delight in carrying out His Father’s command of redemption and will provide more than we can ask for.

Jesus,

Thank you for your redeeming power and using it for our benefit. May we not withhold from you what our Heavenly Father asks of us, so that you may redeem it for the greater good.

Love,

Brandon