Redeemer

Blood is shed to redeem anything. Why? What is blood? How is blood payment? What makes blood so precious, more so than gold, diamonds, or the whole Earth? Blood is life. Life is all there is. Creation is the ability to make life, and all living things have power in the sphere where they are created. Life is power. To take control of a life is to have power. Power is the ability to control the elements. Blood represents this ability.

Redemption brings back something once possessed. When someone else righteously and rightly possesses something of yours, that was yours but is now theirs, you must make some form of payment to redeem it. To "redeem" means to bring it back, or restore it to it's former owner. This is about ownership, control, or power. Redeeming is recovering ownership by paying the price exacted by the one who took ownership away. For example, if you don't pay taxes and the government takes your home, you must redeem it by paying "the uttermost farthing," all your taxes, and any penalties. It then reverts back to you.

We fall from grace by transgression. The innocent Adam transgressed the law, and by so doing made himself subject to, and a subject of the power of Satan. Satan then tempts Adam, who gives in and commits sins. He takes possession of Adam, owns him, and becomes his master. This "is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell." (D&C 123:8) Satan becomes the owner of Adam.

In order for God to redeem, or buy back, Adam, God must offer Satan something he wants more. A deal is made, a covenant, that the Son of God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, would offer to be subject to Satan, death, and all of Hell, in place of Adam, if Adam could go free. The covenant is agreed to, signed by both parties.

Adam is us. Satan owns all who sin or transgress a law, and that means all. Satan has the whole human race; all the Children of God are in his chains, and He has power over them. We are all His subjects. He is master! He has what he wants -- control, power, might, dominion. Indeed, he said, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14) He actually accomplishes his desire and has what he always wanted in his grasp -- almost! It isn't enough. Like every power-hungry addict, he wants more. He has power over the people, but doesn't yet possess the very throne of God -- Christ does.

So, God makes Satan an offer he can't refuse -- Himself. The Devil agrees to give back all the children for just one opportunity to control God Himself! Jesus Christ pays the price to redeem all mankind, and all the possessions of God out of the grasp of Satan. He allows Himself to become subject to Satan, and all the evil spirits. He gives His body to them, to control, to torture, to possess! He becomes subject to them to pay the price. They want Him who sits on the Throne of God more than all the children of Adam. Thus, He pays the price to get them back, to redeem them. He willingly takes all the evil minions can throw at him -- all the pain, all the temptation, all the hopelessness, all the guilt, and every doubt. He takes it all.

His blood is shed, both body and spirit. He is subjected to all the powers of destruction. He submits to the will of the Father in giving His body as a sacrifice, but does not submit to the power of Satan. He does not give in. He doesn't break. All the temptations of all the unlimited power of the evil one are focused on Him, but He stays strong. He commits no sin or transgression. He isn't lost. He did it! He overcame!

He overcomes them with love. He loves them. He loves Satan and his minions. He gives back love for hate. He gives back joy for pain. He gives back good for evil. He does it for them, for them for the very ones who are trying to bring Him down. He just accepts it, takes it all in, and gives back love. He completely and totally embodies His own teaching to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) Thus, He destroys Satan's plan. Though He paid the price, the Devil could have no power over Him.

Satan is cheated! In the end he gets neither the children of God, nor the Son! He gambled and lost! He overestimated his power. He thought he could overpower and subject the Great Jehovah! Now all is lost. Now, as Isaiah explains, "thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms...?" (Isaiah 14:15-16) He ends up in his place, the lowest of the low in Christ's Kingdom.

Paradoxically, in losing he wins. The Atonement of Jesus Christ saves even him from utter destruction. He is allowed an existence because all are redeemed. Even he shall bow the knee and confess with his lips that Jesus is the Christ! Thus, in not getting what he wanted, he is nevertheless benefited by the Infinite Atonement.

The end of our story is happy. All are saved. All take their rightful place among the stars. All the children of God are redeemed!