Yeshua is everything to us:  our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible.  We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible.  It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah.  This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the fourth article in the series, Yeshua is our Kinsman Redeemer.

In the Gospels, Yeshua identified Himself often as “Son of Man”.  In Hebrew, if you want to refer to a human being you refer to the person as “son of man”, or actually “son of Adam” (ben adam).  Yeshua was pointing out that He was a human being just like the rest of us.  One reason that He became human was so that He would be eligible to redeem us.  Thus, He could identify Himself as our Kinsman.

‘Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself… (Lev 25:47-55)

While it is possible for a person to acquire enough wealth to redeem himself from bondage in the physical realm, in the spiritual realm it is impossible for any of us or all of us collectively to redeem ourselves from bondage to spiritual enemies.  Therefore, we need a kinsman who is qualified to redeem us.  Since none of us qualifies, Yeshua became one of us so that we would have the necessary kinsman to rescue us.

If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold (Lev 25:25).

Yeshua not only redeemed us, but He also restores what we have lost.  Yeshua was wounded so that we could be healed.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Is 53:3). 

Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, a paradise free from useless toil, pestilence, death, disease, and so on.  Consequently, as their descendants we have lived with poverty, disease, violence, death, injury and sorrow.  Paradise was lost to us but, through our faith in Yeshua, we are welcome in Yehovah’s heavenly paradise.  And He said to him [the thief on the cross], “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).

In the book of Ruth, Boaz accepts responsibility as Ruth and Naomi’s kinsman redeemer.  Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.  And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.” (Ruth 4:9-10)

Just as Boaz married Ruth, our Kinsman Redeemer will marry us.  For I am jealous for you with God’s kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah; (2 Cor 11:2).  Why would Yeshua want to do this?  Why not just redeem us and be done with it? Yeshua desires an intimate relationship with us corporately and also individually. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20).  Yeshua wants to be involved in our daily lives.  He is aware of all our thoughts, actions, attitudes, dreams and fears.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30). He desires to restore what has been lost to us.  Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore, in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy (Is 61:7). Yeshua wants to protect us and provide for us.  He promises to be with us always.  He does not leave us to the mercy of our enemies.  “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt 28:20)   Just as a husband and wife are meant to share their daily lives, dreams, hopes, frustrations and challenges, we are welcomed and encouraged by Yeshua to share every detail of our daily lives with Him.  We are never alone for He is our constant Companion.  He is our Kinsman Redeemer.

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life.  When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own.  It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part.  This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered.  Don’t miss out.  After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.