The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

A COMING REDEEMER

Samson and Jesus brought Spirit-empowered redemption to God’s people in remarkably similar ways. Just consider the contours of Samson’s life. Even before his miraculous birth, an angel appeared to Samson’s parents, preparing them for his ministry (Jdg 13:2 – 3; Lk 1:26 – 27, 34) and explaining that their child would act as a savior of his people (Jdg 13:5; Mt 1:21). Samson was consecrated to live a life of marked devotion to God by following the Nazirite vow, underscoring the importance of fulfilling the Law (Jdg 13:7; Mt 5:17). Samson’s mission in life was uniquely empowered by the Spirit (Jdg 14:6,19; Mt 3:16). During this mission, Samson served as the sole agent of God’s work to redeem his people. While Deborah had Barak, and Gideon had his soldiers, Samson bore God-given responsibilities alone. In the course of Samson’s work, God ordained that he be handed over to the Gentile occupiers by his fellow Israelites (Jdg 15:9 – 13; Mt 27:1 – 2), ultimately experiencing painful betrayal at the hands of one whom he loved (Jdg 16:15, 18 – 21; Mt 26:47 – 50) and mockery from his oppressors (Jdg 16:23 – 27; Mt 26:67 – 68; 27:27 – 31). At the end of all this, the epitaph of Samson was that he achieved more in his death than he did in his life (Jdg 16:30; Jn 12:31 – 32; Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8). These shocking parallels between Samson and Jesus are no accident!

In spite of the similarity in their life narratives, Jesus and Samson stand in stark contrast. Samson caved to the morals of his society while Jesus confronted the norms of his culture. One slept with a prostitute (Jdg 16:1), while the other brings life-change to prostitutes and sinners (Lk 7:36 – 39; Jn 8:11). They evidence vastly different levels of commitment to the plan of God. Samson risked his mission in the arms of a prostitute, but Jesus remained committed even when faced with a cross. When Jesus could have asserted his own will or sought his own comfort, he chose the Father’s will instead (Lk 22:42). Samson pursued a physical deliverance of God’s people through the slaughter of their enemies on the battlefield. Jesus secured the spiritual deliverance of God’s people through his own slaughter on the cross.

Jesus, Samson is an inspiring Biblical hero, but he is nothing compared to you. No one can compare to you. Help me to keep my heart focused on you and your will every minute of every day. Amen.