Some stories are worth revisiting time and again. At Summit we speak often—and value greatly—our grace stories, the wonderful and personal accounts of God’s salvation and transformation in our lives. But these are part of a larger story, a tale that spans the whole of history and is impressed upon the pages of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It is the story of redemption, a story of love and loss and glorious pursuit whereby the majesty of God is put on full display.
As Easter approaches, there is a natural movement within the Church toward a consideration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and that is both understandable and good. This year, we hope to situate the crucifixion and resurrection—and our grace stories—within the broader story of redemption. Redemption is one of those theological words that spans the scope of Scripture and carries a tremendous weight of meaning. Fleming Rutledge defines it as “deliverance at cost,” and this begins to move us toward questions that require answers. Who was delivered? Why did they need delivery? And at what cost?
Scripture answers with the sweeping arc of God’s redemption of a people, his people. It begins with a creative flourish, a created people who bear the imprint of their Creator, quickly marred by the stain of sin. God’s response is a promise of restoration which traces through the Law and Prophets and lands on the lips of a Galilean carpenter who tells the world that he came not be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. We are the many in need of rescue, Christ’s death in our place the cost, and his resurrection the eternity-shaping crescendo by which we can know that our redemption is secure.
