Christ's Younger Brethren

We have seen how God, in an astounding and glorious move, sent His dear Son, God incarnate in human flesh, to become our kinsman redeemer, vindicating God's appropriation of that personal, familial privilege from Old Testament times.

Only a near kinsman had the right to redeem his close relations from slavery, or snatch back their property sold for debt.

Christ was made like His people, like man His creature, whom He loves and whom He would rescue from judgment. Jesus stood for us in God's judgment of sin at Calvary, just like the kinsman redeemer.

But some will have noticed a possible technical issue with Christ as our kinsman redeemer.

For though the incarnation makes Him like His people, partaking of flesh and blood, and thereby qualified to lay down His life in our place, yet being flesh and blood does not make Jesus our "near kinsman."

The law was clear: a near kinsman had to be an uncle, nephew, cousin, or such near relation. Otherwise, he would not have the right under the law to redeem his relations.

First, observe that scripture states that, on account of the incarnation, Christ is not ashamed to call us His brethren. It pleases the Savior to claim such a relationship with those He loves and saves!

But this harks back to Jesus' statement in Psalm 22, that He would declare the Father's name among His brethren. Psalm 22 describes the shame and the horror of the crucifixion of Messiah.

In that context, He promises to declare God's name to His brethren.

The reason is astounding: because God would not ignore Christ's sufferings on the cross, but would esteem them, and accept them for His brethren's salvation from God's wrath for their sin!