25 June 2026
Ruth arrived home carrying an abundance of grain. Naomi immediately recognised that something extraordinary had happened. She asked, “Where did you gather barley today, and where did you work? May the Lord bless the man who noticed you” (Ruth 2:19, CSB). When Ruth replied, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz” (Ruth 2:19, CSB), everything changed. In his sermon, Mark Penrith calls this moment “the turning point.” The generous landowner was not merely a kind man. He was someone who could rescue them from their desperate situation.
Naomi’s response reveals the transformation taking place in her heart. She said, “May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead” (Ruth 2:20, CSB). Mark observes, “For the first time in the book, Naomi speaks a blessing instead of a lament.” The woman who once believed God had abandoned her now began to see evidence of His faithful care. Hope started to replace bitterness. Light began to break through the darkness.
Then Naomi revealed the significance of Boaz. She said, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers” (Ruth 2:20, CSB). Mark explains, “The man is not just generous. Not just kind. He is the one. The one who can save them.” A family redeemer possessed the legal right and responsibility to rescue a struggling family. Boaz had “the right. The means. The character.” He was uniquely qualified to provide what Naomi and Ruth could never secure for themselves.
This points us directly to Jesus Christ. Many people admire Jesus as a teacher, a moral example, or an inspiring figure from history. Yet Scripture presents Him as far more. Mark reminds us, “Boaz is only a shadow. He points to someone greater.” Jesus is the true Redeemer. He possesses the right, being fully God and fully man. He possesses the means, having paid for our redemption through His blood. He possesses the character, being perfectly righteous and without sin.
The apostle Paul writes, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7, CSB). That is why Christianity is not merely about following an example. It is about trusting a Redeemer. Today, spend a few moments reflecting on who Christ truly is. Thank Him for purchasing your redemption and securing your eternal hope through His finished work.
Discussion Question: Why is it important to see Jesus as Redeemer rather than merely as a good example?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for redeeming us through Your blood. Help us to trust You fully and to rejoice in the hope You have secured for us. Amen.