Humanity Fell into Sin
Humanity has lived in sin and darkness since the fall of Adam and Eve. This condition created a separation between humanity and God, binding people to sin and spiritual death. Yet, God did not abandon His people to despair.
Out of His love and compassion, He planned a glorious work of salvation for them.
Luke 1:68 declares, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people." The word "visited" in Greek, episkeptomai, means that God came to His people with a specific purpose.
In Javanese, this word is translated as nuweni, meaning that God personally came to bring help. God, who is transcendent, also acts immanently, present among His people to observe their condition and deliver them.
God's visitation reveals His profound compassion. His presence is not distant but active, working to bring freedom to His people.
Throughout history, God has demonstrated His love, such as when He freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. These acts reflect His deep concern for His people's suffering.
The deliverance that God provides is closely tied to redemption. In the Bible, someone enslaved or imprisoned could only be freed through the payment of a ransom.
This imagery finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament, where redemption becomes the centerpiece of God's saving work through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the tangible manifestation of God's visitation to His people. By coming into the world, Jesus brought spiritual deliverance to humanity.
Through His death on the cross, His blood became the ransom to free humanity from sin. Through this redemptive act, the broken relationship between God and humanity was restored.