From: May 6, 2025
“This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.” (John 4:54 ESV).
John doesn’t simply call Jesus’ miracles “wonders” or “miraculous acts.” He calls them “signs.” A sign has a purpose, it points beyond itself. Road signs don’t exist to be admired but to direct us somewhere. In this case, John says Jesus’ miracles are signs pointing to His true identity as the Messiah and Son of God. This second sign, healing the official’s son from a distance, authenticated Jesus’ divine authority and power. It wasn’t just about the healing. It was about who Jesus is. John will go on to highlight seven such signs in his Gospel. He chose them carefully to show us that Jesus is worthy of our trust. These signs are not random acts of power. They are meaningful declarations of Christ’s identity.
We must not treat the signs of Jesus as mere stories to admire. They are not ends in themselves. They point us to the One who performed them. Just as a traveler must not stop at the sign but follow it to the destination, we are called to look beyond the miracles to the Messiah. These signs call us to deeper faith in Jesus, to trust in Him not only for what He can do, but for who He is.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the miraculous signs that point us to Jesus as Lord and Savior We don’t want to stop at admiring what You’ve done. We want to follow the signs all the way to deeper trust and relationship with You. Help us to see the ways You are still working in our lives, drawing our attention back to Your character and Your mission. May our faith not rest on what You can give us, but on who You are. Teach us to be people who live by faith, always looking to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 6, 2024
“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (Ruth 3:9 ESV).
The little books of Ruth and Jonah have much in common. Four chapters, literary works of art, easily seen as 4-act plays, and more… But more profound is that they both foreshadow great doctrines of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Both books show how God’s message of salvation is for non-Jews too. In Jonah, it’s the Ninevites. In Ruth, it’s a Moabite. Jonah’s 3-days in the fish foreshadows Christ’s time in the tomb and resurrection. And Ruth’s redemption by Boaz foreshadows Christ’s redemption of all who come to Him.
In Boaz, we see the Hebrew “kinsman-redeemer,” the one according to Levitical law that was to redeem a deceased kin’s wife and property. The Hebrew word is “ga’al,” and foreshadows Christ redeeming His bride, which is the Church. The redeemed Moabitess Ruth became the great grandmother of David, and therefore in the line of Jesus. Now that’s amazing redemption!
Do you know the true Redeemer that Ruth’s story foreshadows? Have you asked Jesus to spread His wings of salvation over you?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. For it points to Jesus as our true Redeemer on every page. We are thankful that You so loved us that You gave Jesus to us to redeem us. Strengthen us this day to follow Him in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 6, 2023
‘Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel.”‘ (Ruth 4:14 NLT).
The little book of Ruth illustrates the use of the Levitical law which provided for a woman who had no male heir to retain her family’s property (See Lev. 25). This provision in the law called for a close family member to become a “ga’al” (גָּאַל), which is Hebrew for “kinsman-redeemer.” In Ruth, Boaz willingly takes on the role of the ga’al, a selfless act that enabled Naomi and Ruth not only to have an inheritance, but gave them a son to carry on the name of their dead son and husband.
It seems ironic that it was a foreign woman who activated this law. Yet, God often brings people that are far away, near to Him in faith. The story of Boaz and Ruth not only illustrates for us the love, beauty and self-sacrifice of the kinsman-redeemer practice. It prepares us for the appearance of the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who is the son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, and the eternal Son of God. He is the ultimate fulfillment of the women’s blessing.
Jesus is the Famous One.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for Jesus. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer. Because of Him we are adopted into Your family as children of God. Jesus is the Famous One! Empower us to make Him even more famous today as we bear witness of Him to all that we meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 6, 2016
The little book of Ruth is unique. Only one of two books in the Bible named for a woman, it is considered one of the great literary works of the Bible. It is a book about faith, love and redemption. It illustrates the application of the redemption law as found in Leviticus 25, which provided for a woman who had no male heir to retain her family’s property. This provision in the law called for a close family member to become a “go’el,” which is the Hebrew word for “kinsman-redeemer.” In Ruth, a man named Boaz takes the role of the “go’el,” a selfless act that enabled Naomi and Ruth to not only have an inheritance, but gave them a son to carry on the name of their dead son and husband. It seems ironic that it was a foreign woman who activated this law. Yet, God loves to draw those far away, near to Him in faith. So, the love story of Boaz and Ruth informs us of the kinsman-redeemer practice and also prepares us for the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus Christ.