JUNE 30, 2015
Christ the
Redeemer
I
know that my Redeemer lives. —Job 19:25
Read:
Job
19:23-29
The famous statue Christ the Redeemer
overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro. The statue is a model of Christ with His
arms extended so that His body forms the shape of a cross. Brazilian architect
Heitor da Silva Costa designed the figure. He imagined that the city’s
residents would see it as the first image to emerge from the darkness at dawn.
At dusk, he hoped the city dwellers would view the setting sun as a halo behind
the statue’s head.
There is value in keeping our eyes on our
Redeemer each day, during the good times and the difficult times. As he
suffered, Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last
on the earth” (Job 19:25).
The cry of Job’s heart points us to Jesus—our
living Savior who will visit the earth again one day (1 Thess. 4:16-18).
Keeping our eyes on Jesus means remembering that we have been rescued from our
sin. Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless
deed and purify for Himself His own special people” (Titus 2:14).
Anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior has a
reason to be glad today. No matter what we endure on earth, we can have hope
today and look forward to enjoying eternity with Him.
Dear Jesus, You are my rescuer. Because You
died and rose again, I am free from the consequences of my sin forever. Thank
You for redeeming my life.
Through His cross and resurrection, Jesus rescues and redeems.
INSIGHT:
Accused of secret sin that had caused his
suffering, Job maintained his innocence. In verse 25 he speaks of a Redeemer
who will one day vindicate him. The word used here for “Redeemer” frequently
refers in the Old Testament to the kinsman-redeemer, the person who defended or
avenged the cause of another, or who provided protection or legal aid for close
relatives who could not do so for themselves (Deut. 19:6-12; Num. 35:19–27;
Prov. 23:10–11; Jer. 50:34). Some see a correlation between the Old Testament
kinsman-redeemer and the redemptive ministry of Jesus Christ.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015
