Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” (Ruth 2:20)
Kinsman-Redeemer
Boaz was not simply a fairy-tale prince rescuing the Disney Princess, Ruth.
Much more than that, Boaz lived out the role of Kinsman-Redeemer. A close family member, who, because of both that relationship AND his position of power, saves a desperate family member.
Boaz took up the mantle, and rescued the destitute Ruth. And even strengthened the family relationship by marrying her. (Don’t worry, ‘close relative’ means nothing more than cousin, even distant cousin). And in doing so, also increased his power, technically. Because he became a forefather of the Davidic line of Kings.
Boaz shows us some things about the Messiah. First, the Messiah, in HIS role as Kinsman-Redeemer would be both a family member, AND powerful.
The Messiah is a family member because He is fully human. He is a part of the Family of Man. He is not an outsider, begrudgingly helping the poor humans. He is one of us!
And the Messiah is powerful because He is fully God. As divine, He alone has the power to save, to redeem, to restore, to fix the sin-broken universe.
And those two factors joined together as Jesus Christ was incarnated. Not just a sweet cute baby with nearby lambs, cattle, and a smiling Mary… but the amazing Kinsman-Redeemer.
YOUR Kinsman.
YOUR Redeemer.
Embrace Him!