Since May 12, 2017 cyber attack that crippled many organizations and businesses (primarily in Europe), “ransomware” has become a major topic in many tech news and blogs. Computer users are warned of the threat and are strongly urged to take every precaution to keep their systems protected.
What is ransomware? It is “a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.” In other words, if your computer is infected by this virus it is held hostage until you pay a ransom. The virus scrambles the data in your computer, denying you access to them. Then it posts a message on the computer screen demanding that you pay a specified amount of money. If you refuse to pay, you may totally lose all your precious data. If you pay up, you will be given a code that would unscramble the data and restore your access to them. Freed from the virus, the computer will start functioning again as it was designed to do.
The name ransomware highlights certain elements in the situation: someone or something of value is imprisoned or held hostage, the hostage is in danger of being lost or destroyed forever, and a hefty cost is involved in securing the “freedom” of the hostage.
With all this concern about paying a ransom, it is worthwhile to consider an image of salvation found in the New Testament. “There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2.5–6 CSB). “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10.45 NIV). The image is that of humanity being enslaved or held hostage by sin. Humanity is condemned to eternal destruction. But Jesus Christ voluntarily offers his own life as a ransom to secure the freedom of those who are held hostage.
The biblical image of redemption and ransom focuses on the “hefty cost” involved in making the salvation of humanity possible. It is important to note “the New Testament never says that the ransom is paid to anyone, or even that it is demanded by anyone, just that it is provided by God or Christ” (Brenda B. Colijn). The point is that Christ values humanity enough to do what was necessary to secure our salvation, without disparaging the seriousness of sin. That is why he “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2.14 NIV). Freed from enslavement to sin, humanity is once again able to function as God designed us to do.
—Keith Y. Jainga