Ransoms, Testimonies, and Taking Sides
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 1 Timothy 2:1-8 ESV
God desires for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. When Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom for all” He wasn’t holding back. That ransom paid off a debt that every individual in history owed God, and Jesus completely paid it.
In our culture, people don’t like to apologize or sympathize with things because they equate that to admitting guilt, or taking sides with someone. People don’t want to apologize on behalf of their ancestors because they weren’t the ones that did wrong, or speak up for oppression against people that are in sin because they can’t condone that person’s sin.
But here is Jesus giving Himself as a ransom for all.
That ransom, Paul says, is a testimony given at the proper time. A testimony is proof of the truth. Proof of everything that Jesus had already said. Most of it can be wrapped up in what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18 ESV
The ransom was a testimony. Proof that God loved His creation. Not an admission of guilt by Jesus, not condoning our sin, but certainly joining us in the struggle. Whatever struggle we have to know what is true, whatever issues come up as presidents, governors, kingdoms, and families change, we have a testimony of the truth.
Jesus’ ransom for whoever would believe it.