The story of Ruth is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  It is a beautiful telling of how, in the midst of loss and pain, we can find love, protection, and a future full of more than we could have ever imagined.

As the story goes, after the loss of her husband and her sons, Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth journey to Judah.  There they meet Boaz, who is a close family relative.  After a time, he and Ruth are married, he provides for Naomi, and he and Ruth have a child.  (One of the things I love most about this story is that this child, born after years of loss and pain suffered by Naomi and  Ruth, is born of love and caring and is in the direct lineage of Jesus Christ.  Boaz and Ruth's child is named Obed.  Obed is the father of Jesse.  Jesse the father of David.  And, from there the lineage continues right up to Jesus.  Beauty and love out of pain!)

Boaz becomes to Ruth and Naomi their kinsman redeemer.  In Old Testament times, a kinsman redeemer is next of kin that marries a childless widow (Ruth) and/or buys their property to care for it and provide provision to the woman (Naomi).

A kinsman redeemer must be a) next of kin, b) able to redeem -- assumes any debt, c) willing, and d) the redemption should be fully realized when the price is paid.

A true gift to give, isn't it?  Though the idea of a kinsman redeemer is not part of our culture today, we all have been given our very own kinsman redeemer.  Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to us on earth in human form as one of us, he paid the price for our sins, he was willing to be our redeemer, and he paid the price for our sins in full.

Our very own kinsman redeemer!