The word “ransom” in our everyday use usually means to pay for the release of a captive, and it can mean that in Scripture. Jesus paid a ransom for us as captives of our sins:
1 Tim. 2:5-6 (ESV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
There is an argument presented by some that if Jesus gave His body as a ransom for our sins and rose from the dead in that body, He must have taken back the ransom. Taking back the ransom would then leave our sins unpaid for, so Jesus must have been raised as a spirit.
Actually, the logic here is valid. It makes sense. The issue is not with the conclusion, though, but with one of the premises: “Jesus gave His body as a ransom for our sins.” Let’s look at this.
1 Cor. 11:23-24 (ESV) For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Some older manuscripts have “which is broken for you.” This, of course, is a record of Jesus breaking the bread the night before His crucifixion. Those who believe Jesus rose as a spirit will sometimes use this verse to indicate it was His body which was given as a ransom, but is that what it says? How was Jesus’ body given for us? Isaiah has the answer to that:
Isa 53:5 (ESV) But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Jesus’ body was not given as a ransom but tortured for our transgressions. Isaiah says nothing about a ransom or that Jesus’ body would be given to pay for our sins. So the question arises “what is the ransom Jesus paid for us?
In Matt. 20:28 and Mark 10:45, we’re told Jesus gave His life for us. Well, that’s not His body but the life within His body. In 1 Tim. 2:6, as we’ve seen, Jesus gave Himself as a ransom, still no help.
What’s interesting about 1 Cor. 11:24 that we looked at above is that it is followed by vs. 25 which tells us what the covenant is truly based on:
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
So, again, it is Jesus’ blood that is the sacrifice for our sins, for the new covenant, not His body.
This is probably why in Luke 24:39 Jesus presents Himself to His disciples describing His risen body as a body of “flesh and bone” rather than “flesh and blood.” He had given His blood for us.
“ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Why is this important?
This morning I was talking with a friend and fellow teacher about the class on witnessing he’ll be leading soon. He said apologetics seems to be a major part of our witnessing nowadays, and he’s right. We as Christians need to know our stuff much better than we did 50 years ago when Christianity was more accepted by the population at large. Our faith is challenged more now.
Having the answers for people who provide those challenges whether in social settings or with those who come to our doors is extremely important and even ordered by the Holy Spirit through Peter:
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect
Believers Armed and Dangerous 