There Is a Redeemer

Job’s life is full of misery and suffering; life seems futile…: ‘My body is full of worms and scabs…My days…come to an end without hope…My eyes will never see happiness again. (7:5-7)

And yet, in his suffering he makes his great statement of faith: ‘I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!’ (19:25-27)

I remembered the Keith Green song, written by his wife Melody:

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God’s own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
‘Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see his face
And there I’ll serve my king forever
In that holy place.

I love the simplicity of the song that focuses on Jesus the redeemer, the sacrificial lamb, who forgives, buys back, rescuing us from the mess that we make of ourselves and our world. It clearly explains… the loving heavenly Father who gave, the Son, Jesus who came to be the redeemer of humanity… the Spirit who stays with us.

The song doesn’t just state theory; it makes it personal. Jesus isn’t just a historical figure or object of speculative theology. Jesus is my redeemer, sent by God my Father, bringing his love, forgiveness and grace to me.

It’s a song that we always associate with our friend Mary. Mary suffered with cancer. She knew something of Job’s suffering. We sung it at Mary’s funeral. She insisted that we changed key for the last verse – as Keith Green does. For us that’s ‘Mary’s key change.’

‘I will see his face’ is now true for Mary. One day it will be true for me too. Until then I’m grateful:

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
‘Til the work on earth is done.