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•  Kinsman-Redeemers

    " 'The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. [24] Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.
    [25] " 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold. [26] If, however, a man has no one to redeem it for him but he himself prospers and acquires sufficient means to redeem it, [27] he is to determine the value for the years since he sold it and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it; he can then go back to his own property. _^[NIV]

    " 'If an alien or a temporary resident among you becomes rich and one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself to the alien living among you or to a member of the alien's clan, [48] he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his relatives may redeem him: [49] An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. [50] He and his buyer are to count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for his release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired man for that number of years. [51] If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption a larger share of the price paid for him. [52] If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to compute that and pay for his redemption accordingly. [53] He is to be treated as a man hired from year to year; you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly.
    [54] " 'Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, [55] for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. _^[NIV]

    " 'If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. [17] Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. [18] Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. [19] The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. [20] If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies [21] or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
    [22] " 'But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally [23] or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, [24] the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. [25] The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. _^[NIV]

•  A Road Called Emmaus

    Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him.
    [17] He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
    They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
    [19] "What things?" he asked.
    "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
    [25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. _^[NIV]

    For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. _^[NIV]

A REALLY WEIRD
BIBLE STORY

    Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!"
    Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said.
    [20] "The Lord bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers." _^[NIV]

    One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? [2] Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. [3] Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. [4] When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."
    [5] "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. [6] So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
    [7] When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. [8] In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet.
    [9] "Who are you?" he asked.
    "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."
    [10] "The Lord bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. [11] And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. [12] Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. [13] Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."
    [14] So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, "Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."
    [15] He also said, "Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town.
    [16] When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "How did it go, my daughter?"
    Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her [17] and added, "He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.' "
    [18] Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today." _^[NIV]

    "If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. _^[NIV]

JESUS:
THE BETTER BOAZ

  He became our kinsman by choice

    Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
    [5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 
    [6] Who, being in very nature God,
        did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
    [7] but made himself nothing,
        taking the very nature of a servant,
        being made in human likeness.
    [8] And being found in appearance as a man,
        he humbled himself
        and became obedient to death--
            even death on a cross!
    [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
        and gave him the name that is above every name,
    [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
        in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
    [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
        to the glory of God the Father. _^[NIV]

    Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- [15] and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. [16] For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. [17] For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. _^[NIV]

    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. _^[NIV]

    No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." _^[NIV]

  He paid the full price of redemption

    When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. _^[NIV]

    I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" _^[NIV]

    When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. _^[NIV]

    You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. _^[NIV]

  He restores our lost inheritance

    Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" [3] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. [4] I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. [5] Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
    [6] Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. [8] And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song:

    "You are worthy to take the scroll
        and to open its seals,
    because you were slain,
        and with your blood you purchased men for God
        from every tribe and language and people and nation.
    [10] You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
        and they will reign on the earth."
 
    [11] Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they sang:

    "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!"
 
    [13] Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

    "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
            for ever and ever!"
[14] The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. _^[NIV]

  He frees us from our slavery to sin

    Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. _^[NIV]

    For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- _^[NIV]

    while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. _^[NIV]

    So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God's law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!
    So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. _^[NIV]

  He gives us a new relationship and a new future 

    But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, [5] to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. [6] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." [7] So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. _^[NIV]

    He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. _^[NIV]

    Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
    [18] I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. _^[NIV]