Redemption: 1. the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt; 2. The action of saving or being saved from sin, error or evil. 

Aight, so boom! An Introduction.

Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency is a 2019 K-drama set during the Joseon Era (yes, we’re back to another Sageuk[1] Sermon, like Fatherless: A K-drama sermon). Our protagonists this time are a trio of very handsome (because our eyes and the story tell us so) young men who run a matchmaking service known as the Flower Crew.

The leader of the crew is one Ma Hun (played by Kim Min Jae), a man of prodigious intelligence and quiet, inner strengths. Team member number 2 is the tall and dashingly debonair collector of information, Do Jun (Byeon Woo Seok). Rounding off the trio is resident stylist, and self-proclaimed cutest member of the crew[2], Ko Yeong Su (Park Ji Hoon).

Over the course of the story, we follow the Flower Crew (the FC) as they are reluctantly caught up in palatial intrigues and goings-on involving the town blacksmith’s son, Lee Su, and his first love, Gae-ttong. Lee Su turns out to somehow be in line to be the new king of Joseon, a fact that was a surprise even to him. This tiny little detail makes marriage between him and Gae-ttong (a commoner), a near-impossibility.

We also learn more about each member of the FC. For instance, Ma Hun is the son of a government minister. His decision to use his wits for the matchmaking business, rather than for civil service, has him at odds with his disappointed father. Do Jun was the son of a kisaeng[3], and grew up surrounded by women; hence his charm and ability to extract information from the unlikeliest sources.

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The Story of Ko Yeong Su

Then there is Ko Yeong Su. Cute[4] and sometimes petulant, his specialty is the ability to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse[5], to borrow an aged proverb. When Gae-ttong[6] (her name is soon changed to Yun Su Yeon) is compelled to join the FC in order to pay back her debt (and find a way to reconnect with Lee Soo[7]), Ko Yeong Su is gripped, GRIPPED, with jealousy. Waenamyeon[8]? Because now his boss Ma Hun’s attention is focused on getting Gae—I mean, Yun Su Yeon—up to code[9]. Thus, he perpetually picks petty disagreements with her, while grudgingly doing his bit in sprucing her up.

Besides his clingy devotion to Ma Hun, we soon pick up some other notable quirks about Ko Yeong Su. He is always fashionable. To utilise modern-day parlance, you’ll never catch him slipping in the fashion streets. He always looks fly, and he always smells goodT. A significant portion of his budget stays in danger of impulse perfume sachet purchases. By and by, we witness that the obsession with scent and cleanliness has our dude in a chokehold. It is only later that the reason is revealed, along with the reason for his bond with Ma Hun. Behind his cute façade, lurks the shadow of a troubled past.

SPOILERS, possibly.

You see, no one but Ma Hun knows that Ko Yeong Su used to be called Chil Nom[10]. Chil Nom’s very name was an insult. He was treated as worthless by the social structures of the day. In fact, he probably occupied a “lower” social rung than even Gae-ttong. In flashbacks, it is revealed that he was a prisoner, forced to do some reprehensible things by those who held power over him. And then, through a series of events, he met Ma Hun, who took him in, and gave him a chance at a life of purpose under a new identity. But the shadows of his past keep haunting him.

And that’s all I’m going to say about his backstory, and that’s already a little bit too much.

But.

It’s the relationship between Yeong Su and Ma Hun that struck me, and I believe there’s a word in there for somebody.

In its imperfect way (because all examples are a lesser picture of this Great Truth), Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency is a beautiful picture of the redemption we find at the foot of the cross. Let me explain.

The Bondage of This Here Human Nature

Chil Nom’s life is a picture of what we call ‘the human condition’, or alternatively human nature.

Contrary to that pervasively popular dictum, we are not all born as basically good people. In fact, none of us are. Instead, we are born into deep trouble, whether we acknowledge it or not.

The deep trouble is our fundamental sinfulness (thanks, Adam); our human nature. When Adam (the first man) sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned[11]. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone[12].

Not my words, but Paul the Apostle’s.

Because of Adam’s disobedience, death entered the world. As the first of our kind, he was mankind’s representative. When he broke the law, we were all henceforth counted as guilty of breaking God’s law. And so, we are all subject to the law of sin and death “even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did[13]”.

To our 21^st century minds, it may sound ridiculously mythical, and highly unfair, but it is the spiritual reality under which we all are born.

And we lean hard into our sinful nature.

When explaining about our sinful human nature vs God’s law, against which we all fall short, Paul writes: “I don’t understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate…In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin[14].”

In short, every human being is born a slave to sin. Because of our human nature, our propensity is towards sin. We are driven towards it, as if powerless against it. As if we are slaves, compelled by a cruel master. The twist is, we also seek sin.

He goes on to write:

“Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin…When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom…For the wages of sin is death…”[15]

Allow me to go back to our story for a minute.

On that blessed day when Chil Nom met Ma Hun, the latter saw Chil Nom in his filthy state, saw he was in deep trouble, and took him in. He bathed him, put him in clean clothes and gave him a new name: Ko Yeong Su. He gave him a new purpose, as a valued member of his team, and harboured him. At great risk to Ma Hun’s own life and freedom, he chose to protect Ko Yeong Su, and give him a home. (No wonder, then, that Ko Yeong Su was so devoted to him; he owed very his life to Ma Hun.)

If that ain’t a picture of Jesus’ redemption of our souls!

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.[16]

God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him

See, where God has every right to just destroy us, He instead sent His Son Jesus to become man. He perfectly obeyed God’s law, and died on the cross for sins He never committed. So that in Him, God’s law and judgment would be fulfilled[17]. In Jesus, we get the clean slate we could never obtain for ourselves. By His blood, we are washed clean, as if we had never sinned. He clothes us in His righteousness, He gives us new identities (no longer enemies of God, we are His sons and daughters), and He sets gives us new purpose: to glorify[18] Him. This is God’s gracious gift: eternal life with Him.

You and I couldn’t earn this, and we certainly could never deserve it. It boggles my mind every day. Jesus gave up His own life to redeem (buy us back) from those slave masters, Sin and Death.

However.

Much like for Ko Yeong Su, the shadow of the past often lurks just beneath the surface. Because of his assumed identity, he lived under a cloud of fear and anxiety that his previous life would be discovered. Hence, his extreme compulsion toward cleanliness, and his obsession with scent.

Similarly, shame over our past, and maybe even present, tenaciously indwelling sin, lurks ever close to the surface, threatening to overshadow the freedom[19] we have in Christ. That is the tactic of the enemy of our souls[20] to deny the redemptive work of Christ. The enemy will take whatever opportunity to remind us of our sin, to make us think that salvation hasn’t quite stuck, or that we will never escape our sinful nature, so why even try.

Lies.

From the pit of hell.

Shame vs The Truth

Firstly, Jesus paid it all. It is done. It is finished. It is complete. We don’t have to work to get in God’s good graces. Because of Jesus’ life and sacrificial death on the cross, we have forgiveness of our sins. If we believe on Jesus’ work on Calvary, we are redeemed. Done.

Secondly, while it is true that the redemption of our souls by Jesus was a single event in history, sanctification[21], on the other hand, is a lifelong process. In other words: God ain’t through with us yet. And that process will continue until we see Him face to face.

Our loving Father knows we are prone to wander; as long as we are in these bodies, we will constantly be making the choice between doing what the Spirit of God wills, or doing what our old sinful natures compel us to do. In His lovingkindness, He extends to us grace which enables us to live rightly before Him.

Side note, but also main note: Some of my favourite moments in Flower Crew were when Ko Yeong Su’s anxiety would surface, and no one but Ma Hun would notice (because he knew the why). Ma Hun would then hold Yeong Su’s shoulder, and look into Yeong Su’s eyes with reassurance, and deep affection. Sometimes, words would not even be exchanged, but Ma Hun would see Yeong Su struggling with the shadow of Chil Nom, and love him anyway. It’s an ounce of how I imagine the Lord looks at each of us: with a reassurance of His deep affection for us, His skepsels[22].

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A Benediction

Bazakes, let us encourage one another to joyful obedience to Jesus, even as this terminal battle against our sinful nature gets difficult. The struggle is lifelong, y’all. I know it well in my own life. But let us look to Jesus, who knows each of us more deeply than we want to be known[23], but who loves us so much more than we can ever imagine.

Remember, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. And that’s on Romans chapter 5 verse 1 and 2.

Let the church say.

Amen.

Oh, and go on ahead and read Romans. Yes, the whole book. It’ll bless you.

©Copyright reserved Gugulethu Mhlanga 2024.

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[1] A sageuk is an historical K drama.

[2] The Flower of the Flower Crew, if you will.

[3] A kisaeng is a courtesan.

[4] Because he personally tells us so.

[5] You’re a real one if you know which Disney movie utilised this proverb. Hint 1: the foinest of all the Disney men is in this one. Hint 2: His name begins with Li, and ends with Shang.

[6] A dubious meaning. Literally: excrement of a dog, a nod to her social standing. Life was tough in a caste system.

[7] Also, Lee Soo asked for the Flower Crew’s help to refine his lady, so that he could marry her. You know, him being the Joseon King-Elect, and all. 

[8] Because why? Shoutout to my Western Cape cousins.

[9] Manners, speech, bearing, knowledge, appearance etcetera.

[10] That name has not a single ounce of respect in it. I don’t exactly know what the full name means, but to be called anything-nom/-nyeo or gae-anything is the deepest disregard/disrespect. It implies that you don’t even deserve to be named human. You are an object for purpose at best, an animal at worst.

[11] Romans 5:12

[12] Romans 5:18

[13] Romans 6:14

[14] Romans 7:15, 25b

[15] Romans 6:19, 23a

[16] Romans 5:6-8

[17] Romans 8:3-4

[18] Glorify: make Him known, tell of His everlasting character, tell of His great exploits. To tell of His great work on Calvary, etc.

[19] Freedom from the slavery and compulsion to sin; Romans 6:18

[20] Aka Satan.

[21] Sanctification is the action of being freed from sin or purified, to be set apart for God’s special use or purpose.

[22] Skepsel=Afrikaans word for creation/creature.

[23] That includes the deep, the dark and the sordid.