The Law of Moses (7/30-31)

30-31 July 2015 - The Law of Moses – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 5:15-16 “The man … told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”  

After Manna, “The World Hates Jesus,” made me realized that there’s more to study. The Old Testament Law of Moses required death if the law was broken. It is found in Exodus 31:14-15 “whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath Day, he shall surely be put to death.” John 15:25 quoted, “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”

Jesus must have known that the Old Testament Law of Moses about “working on Sabbath day” would demand death. Jesus said in Matt 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”  

I have known this scripture of Matthew 5:17 for many years, but today (July28), I finally “saw” the whole picture of “Sabbath Law” that led the religious Jews who felt justified to crucify Jesus. Simply because Jesus healed the man who laid by the pool waiting to be healed for 38 years. Also it was against the law for the healed man to carry the “rolled bed.” This really blew my mind. (Oh, the grace, we need it!)

Again Jesus said, “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the Law of Moses or the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them, but to bring about what they said” (NCV, Matt. 5:17). What Jesus meant He would not avoid the requirement of death simply because He is the Son of God who made the Ten Commandments. Jesus knew He must meet the demand of the Law that require death even when He healed the man by the pool on the Sabbath Day.

And Jesus said from Luke 24:44 “… These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.”  To be fulfilled means Jesus was successful to do all that was required of Him. He completed His work at the cross when He said, “It is finished.” He meant, “It is fulfilled.”

Oh, the wonder of wonders! We all broke the laws and we deserve death in hell. BUT Jesus stood between the Law of Moses and us, saying, “I will meet the demand of this law. I will not destroy the law. I will do and obey what was required of Me through the death of the cross. It is necessary that I, the Son of God, die in your place so that I may give grace and forgiveness of sins through My blood and open the door of heaven for those who accepted Me as their Lord and Savior.” So now we have GRACE and FORGIVENESS. Praise the Lord for His love and mercy!  

Song: Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, 

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Chorus:

Grace, Grace, God’s grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, Grace, God’s grace, 

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

(Julia Harriette Johnston, Sing His Praise)