Bible Study Seattle

Jesus made a fairly large purchase:

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28

“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:2-4

It’s pretty clear that Jesus purchased his bride with the most expensive present possible – his own life. The bride-price shows up in the bible with Jacob:

“Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Genesis 29:18

“So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.” Genesis 29:30

Jacob paid for Rachel with seven years of his labor! That’s a lot of money. But this raises some questions. Did Jesus only purchase his bride and not all of humanity? Do the sacrifices of Jesus’ bride count in purchasing the rest of humanity? Is Jesus’ sacrifice enough to redeem the world, or are the church’s and the world’s sacrifices also necessary?