A Ransom for Many - What can that mean?

Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth -- Jesus Christ -- was crucified. He died. Painfully. And then, by the second morning after that, He was risen from the dead. His physical body was gone - or, rather, in light of subsequent events, it seems to have been transformed into a spiritual one. (That's an interesting thing to think through, in itself, but it's not the focus of this article.)

Instead, here we want to focus on some of the things that are said in the Bible about why Jesus died. There's an almost-2000-year-old confusion about it. Let's dig into it...

In Mark 10:42-45 (and in Matthew 20:25-28), we find this well-known lesson, which occurs late in Jesus's ministry. James and John - still not really understanding the depth of what was going on, are lobbying Jesus for promises of sitting at His left and right hand when he is "king". The other disciples are displeased, of course. Jesus knows what's going on, so He gathers them all, and tries to explain the real nature of His mission, and what their mission should be, too.

Here's the text:

"But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

A ransom. The Greek word used here is λύτρον, or lutron, which means the price for redeeming or ransoming, from λύω, luo, for loosening, untying, or setting free.

Some theologians have taken this text, and combined it with the text from the crucifixion story, when Jesus says three things that show his distress, and his feeling of separation from his Divine essence -- "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?", and "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done", and "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

It can certainly be interpreted as a sort of sacrifice, in which Jesus acts as a sort of scapegoat, substituting his death for the human race that had disappointed His Father. Some theologians have done that. Anselm of Canterbury, in around 1000 AD, was one of the leaders of a faction that made that argument. But we don't think that's the right track; in fact, we think it was a wrong track that's been pretty damaging.

In New Christian theology, it doesn't make sense that God was angry. He's love itself. Is He disappointed when we don't reciprocate His love? Sure. But angry? No. There's certainly the appearance of it, especially in the Old Testament at times, but the core nature of God is love.

What's more, it should be even clearer that the death of Jesus's physical body wouldn't make God the Father feel better. Remember, they are really ONE person, of one mind - not two.

Instead, the whole cycle of God's incarnation, ministry, physical death, and resurrection was undertaken so that new truths could reach humankind.

Here's an interesting passage, from Arcana Coelestia 1419,

"The Lord, being love itself, or the essence and life of the love of all in the heavens, wills to give to the human race all things that are His; which is signified by His saying that the Son of man came to give His life a ransom for many."

Further, in Apocalypse Explained 328:15, we find this explanation:

“The phrase ‘to ransom’ means to free people from falsities and reform them by means of truths. This is signified by the words, ‘Ransom [redeem] me, O Jehovah, God of truth’” (Psalm 31:5)

One reason Jesus died was to overcome the power of hell. Jesus fought against evil spirits throughout His life. The clearest description of this is just after his baptism, when he spends 40 days in the wilderness. His suffering on the cross was the final struggle against evil, and His resurrection was his final victory over it.

For every person, overcoming evil involves temptation or a struggle against evil. As we struggle against evil individually, Christ struggled against evil on a cosmic scale. His death was the conclusion of that struggle, but it wasn't a loss; it was a win. The Bible says that God took on flesh and blood so that

“... through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14,15)

Another reason that Bible gives for Jesus’ death was that He might unite His human nature with His Divine nature, so that He could “make in Himself, of two, one new man,” (Ephesians 2:14-16, cf. John 17:11, 21; 10:30).

There are other reasons mentioned, too:

He could "go to the Father" (John 13:3; 14:2, 28; 16:10).

He could be "glorified" (John 17:1,5) or "enter into His glory" (Luke 24:26).

He could be "perfected" (Luke 13:32), or "sanctified" (John 17:19).

In Swedenborg's True Christianity 86, it says,

"Jehovah God came into the world as divine truth for the purpose of redeeming people. Redemption was a matter of gaining control of the hells, restructuring the heavens, and then establishing a church."

At the crucifixion, the forces of evil thought they had won. The religious and civic powers of the day led the way in condemning him. He was mocked. The crowd turned against him.

The death of Jesus' physical body was a "ransom" in this way: by undergoing that torture and death, He could then show that his spiritual power transcended natural death. He freed us, loosened us, from domination by the hells, and established a new church -- a new way that we can follow.

32. The Lord made His humanity Divine from the Divine in Him. This can be seen from many passages in the Word, and we will now cite those which establish

1. that He did so gradually, as follows:

(Jesus) grew and became strong in spirit (and) wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40)

Jesus progressed in wisdom, in maturity, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)

[2] 2. That the Divine operated through the human, as the soul does through the body is established from the following:

...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do.... (John 5:19)

...I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. He who sent Me is with Me. (He) has not left Me alone.... (John 8:28, 20, cf. 5:30)

...I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (John 12:49-50)

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own; the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (John 14:10)

...I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. (John 16:32)

[3] 3. That the Divine and human operated together is established from the following:

...whatever (the Father) does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)

...as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. (John 5:21)

...as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.... (John 5:26)

Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. (John 17:7)

[4] 4. That the Lord united the Divine to the Human, and the Human to the Divine is established from the following:

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and...you have seen Him....

(He said to Philip, who wished to see the Father,) Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father.... Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? ...Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me.... (John 14:7-11)

If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; if I do..., believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in (the Father). (John 10:37-38)

...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. (John 17:21)

At that day you will know that I am in My Father.... (John 14:20)

...no one is able to snatch (the sheep) out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one. (John 10:29-30)

The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (John 3:35)

All things that the Father has are Mine. (John 16:15)

All My things are Yours, and Yours are Mine.... (John 17:10)

...You have given (the Son) authority over all flesh.... (John 17:2)

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

[5] 5. That one must turn to the Divine humanity is apparent from the following:

...that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. (John 5:23)

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. (John 8:19)

He who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. (John 12:45)

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. (John 14:7)

He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. (John 13:20)

He said this because no one can see the Divine itself, called the Father, but can see the Divine humanity. For the Lord says:

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed Him. (John 1:18)

Not...anyone has seen the Father, except He who is (with the Father); He has seen the Father. (John 6:46)

You have neither heard (the Father’s) voice at any time, nor seen His form. (John 5:37)

[6] 6. Because the Lord made His humanity Divine from the Divine in Him, and because one must turn to it, it being the Son of God, therefore one must believe in the Lord, who is both Father and Son. This is apparent from the following:

(Jesus said:) As many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12)

...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:15)

...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should...have eternal life. (John 3:16)

He who believes in (the Son) is not judged; but he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; however, he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

...the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.... He who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:33, 35)

This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)

...they said to (Jesus), “What shall we do to work the works of God?” Jesus answered..., “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29)

...truly I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life. (John 6:47)

...Jesus...cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

...if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24)

Jesus said..., “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he die, he shall live. However, whoever lives and believes in Me shall not die to eternity.” (John 11:25-26)

(Jesus said,) “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46, cf. 8:12)

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be children of light. (John 12:36)

...truly I say to you, (that) the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. (John 5:25)

Abide in Me, and I in you.... I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

That they would abide in the Lord, and the Lord in them, see John 14:20, 17:23.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

[7] In these places, and in all others in which He is mentioned, the Father means the Divinity present in the Lord from conception, which, according to the Christian world’s doctrine of faith, was like the soul in the body in the case of any other person. The humanity itself originating from that Divinity is the Son of God.

Now because this, too, became Divine, and in order to keep people from turning to the Father alone and so in thought, faith and their resulting worship separating the Father from the Lord in whom the Father is, therefore after the Lord taught that the Father and He are one, that the Father is in Him and He in the Father, that His followers should abide in Him, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him, He taught in addition that people should believe in Him, and that a person is saved by a faith focused on Him.

[8] Any idea that the humanity in the Lord became Divine is impossible for many in the Christian world to comprehend, chiefly because they think of a person in terms of his material body and not in terms of his spiritual one, even though angels, who are spiritual beings, are fully human in form, and everything Divine that emanates from Jehovah God, from the firsts of it in heaven to the lasts of it in the world, inclines to the human form.

That angels are human in form, and that everything Divine inclines to the human form, may be seen in the book Heaven and Hell 73-77 and nos. 453-460. It may also be seen more fully in works after this which will be works of angelic wisdom regarding the Lord.