We thank God for giving our family the privilege of being able to see the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue, in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. It is truly a wonder of the world and as we approached the monument, we were struck with awe just as everyone else around us was. The architectural splendor (art deco) is baffling to the mind as your mind tries to comprehend the colossal 100 feet statue. As we walked up the steps to the monument, from the tram station, we first saw the back of Christ and his arms open wide. Then when we reached the foot of the monument, we were able to go around and see the peaceful face of Christ, the nail-print hands, his heart and his arms open wide. Both from the back and the front, it seemed like the arms of Christ beckoned us. My loving wife, Sangeetha, explained to our beloved son, Reuben, that if he needed to know how much Jesus loved him, all he had to do was to look at the arms of Jesus Christ spread open wide, which seemingly stretched from horizon to horizon.
As we enjoyed the creature’s creation of the Creator, I pondered on the following thought, “What would the eyes of Jesus be fixed on, if he was in our midst at the foot of the monument?”. And it struck me that while all of us were gazing at this rendered monument of an inexpressible God, Jesus’ eyes would not have been on the monument itself, but on every single person that had come there. As the monument is rightly named, He sacrificed Himself to redeem us. To be redeemed is to be bought back. It cost Jesus His life to redeem us. We are purchased (bought back) with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) and the payment (wages of sin is death) was paid in full (Tetelastai). Each one of is more precious to Him than any wonder of the world, and that is a wonderful thought. What more can I say, than to simply reassert – Christ, Our Redeemer; Cristo Redentor; Christ THE Redeemer.
Isaiah 44:6 (KJV)
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Acts 20:28 (KJV)
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased [REDEEMED] with his own blood.
