RANSOM
Hebrews 9:11-15
INTRODUCTION... Ransom
Ransom, is an action packed drama thriller that came out in 1996 starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo and directed by Ron Howard. The movie focuses on Mel Gibson’s character, Tom Mullen, a rich airline owner, is shocked when his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the two million dollar ransom, but the drop goeswrong. So Tom turns the ransom money into a bounty on the head of the kidnapper. The movie has a line in it that probably gave them the title: “Someone is going to pay.”
That is exactly what the word ’Ransom’ means. The word means that someone is going to pay. A ransom
is the price paid to free someone from captivity or punishment. When we think of ransom in a religious sense, especially in Christianity, we think of ransom as a deliverance from sin or its penalty. And yet, someone has to pay for the sin, do they not? As we find in the passage today, Jesus has paid a huge ransom for us.
READ HEBREWS 9:11-15
I. THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST (VERSES 11-12)
A. Verse 11 points out to us that Jesus came as ’high priest.’ What does that mean exactly? What was the
job of the high priest?
1) Requirements of the High Priest: had to be without physical defect as well as holy in conduct
(Leviticus 21:6-8) and holiness was to be a mark of their character
2) Job of the high priest:
a) mediator between God and His people
b) the high priest represented all of the people of Israel (Exodus 28:5-14)
c) instructed the people in the will of God (Deuteronomy 33:8)
d) offered sin offerings for his sin and people’s sins (Leviticus 4:3-21)
e) Day of Atonement– forgiveness of sins (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16)
Exodus 30:10 = “Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual
atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to
come. It is most holy to the Lord.”
3) At the death of the high priest, freedom was granted to all those confined in the cities of refuge
that had been guilty of committing an accidental crime
B. Jesus meets all of the requirements of the high priest and fulfills the job of the high priest in a way that
no one else ever could:
1) On the cross, Jesus was the mediator between us and God
2) On the cross, Jesus represented all who had sinned
3) On the cross, Jesus offered Himself as sacrifice for sin
4) On the cross, Jesus secured forgiveness of sins for the people
5) Upon the death of Jesus, freedom was granted to those who had sinned
ILLUSTRATION... Atonement, J.D. Thomas, quoted in "How Do I Know I’m Saved?" by Norman Bales, 1989
Imagine a destitute mother being arrested for stealing a bottle of milk in order to feed her hungry child. Her crime of theft makes her a law violator. She is subsequently indicted and tried in the criminal justice system. When the prosecuting attorney presents his evidence in court, the judge has no alternative other than to find the poor woman guilty as charged. Because of the mitigating circumstances, the judge imposes the minimum sentence, a five-dollar fine. However, a woman who can’t afford to buy a bottle of milk for her starving baby can’t even pay such a small fine. The judge is a kind and caring man. But how shall he maintain respect for the law and show mercy to the woman at the same time? He resolves the dilemma by removing his judicial robe, taking five dollars from his wallet, and paying it to the bailiff in satisfaction of the judicial sentence. This frees the woman to go home to her baby. Something like that happened when Jesus went to the cross. We have been indicted for our sins and found guilty as charged. The penalty is death and Jesus has paid the debt.
II. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST (VERSES 13-14)
A. Verse 13 gives us the truth about sacrifices from God’s point of view. God allowed the blood of bulls
and goats to be used to sanctify the people for many years. A penalty was paid. They were clean because
of the blood. But, notice it says ’outwardly clean.’
B. More was needed to clean the soul of a human being. What is needed?
C. What is needed is a sacrifice once and for all. Verse 14 explains to us that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
cleanses our consciences so that we may serve the living God. Jesus’ sacrifice cleaned our souls that we
might appear before God as Holy. He paid for our sin.
III. RANSOM PAID (VERSE 15)
A. Verse 15 tell us plainly that Jesus has paid our ransom to death and sin and we are free. We are free
from guilt. We are free from death. We are now free to receive the eternal inheritance because of what
Jesus Christ did for us.
ILLUSTRATION... Author unknown
I dreamed I stood at Calvary
And saw three crosses there;
On left and right were nailed two thieves,
The cross between was bare.
A soldier took his sword in hand,
Then pointing it at me;
He said,"You there, prepare to die.
That cross is meant for thee."
I quickly fell upon my knees,
For mercy did I cry;
As strong hands grabbed my hands and feet,
I shouted, "Why, oh why?"
And then a voice both soft and sweet
Was heard above the din;
"Let this one go, take me instead.
I’ll pay his debt of sin."
With his body torn and bleeding,
And thorn marks ’round his head;
With face bruised where they beat him,
He stepped into my stead.
Then Jesus laid upon the cross,
His life to freely give;
That all my sins be washed away,
And through his death, I’d live.
He stretched his arms out open wide,
No struggle did he make;
As they prepared to nail him there,
His life to gladly take.
They drove the spikes in hands and feet
And slammed the cross in place;
His bones were shaken out of joint,
And blood flowed down his face.
"Forgive them, Father"’ was his cry,
They know not what they’ve done.
They do not realize that you,
Have sent your only son."
Deep darkness filled the noonday sky
And trembling shook the ground;
As God, the Father, turned away,
While God, the Son, gazed ’round.
"It’s finished now", the Saviour said.
"The door stands open wide;
Into thy hand’s my spirit comes."
And then they pierced his side.
The graves were bursting open,
And dead men walked around;
The temple veil was rent in twain,
And I fell to the ground.
When I awoke, the night had passed
And sunshine flooded in;
I cried, "Dear Lord, forgive me please,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For you sent down your only son,
A ransom for the lost;
And I see you included me,
When counting out the cost.
Take o’er the reins that guide my life,
Remove my wilful pride;
Sweep clean my heart and enter in,
Forever, there abide."
Yes, I dreamt I stood at Calvary
And saw those crosses three;
Yet no longer do I look with fear
Where Jesus died for me.
