April 8, 2021

Hebrews 10: 1-4 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

This year as we worshipped through Lent and celebrated Easter, I have been reminded again of the truth in the passage above and the privilege of being allowed to live in the full light of the cross. Without the sacrifice of Jesus; if the only thing we had to hold on to was God’s law, what a burdensome hopeless life we would live. Why, because there is nothing in me to give hope that I can keep that law on my own but, a bit of good news, it was given for that very purpose.

I learned this familiar verse as a child, Galatians 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. That word tutor or schoolmaster in the Greek is, “paedagogos,” In the historical setting that would have been an elderly trustworthy slave assigned to a child from the age of 6-7 through the age of accountability, or puberty. Their job wasn’t to teach but, simply to make sure the child would be at school on time, would be safe going to the gym or traveling in the city, and be protected physically and morally. The way Paul uses the word he makes clear that from the beginning, the Law was in that same manner guiding, directing towards, and pointing to Jesus the only one who could keep it.

Charles Spurgeon in a sermon says of the Law, “Yet, pardon me my friends, if I just observe that this is a very natural question, too. If you read the doctrine of the apostle Paul you find him declaring that the law condemns all mankind. Now, just let us for one single moment take a bird's eye view of the works of the law in this world. Lo, I see, the law given upon Mount Sinai. The very hill doth quake with fear. Lightnings and thunders are the attendants of those dreadful syllables which make the hearts of Israel to melt…”

That sure doesn’t sound like an encouragement but then there’s this, speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 10: 12-14 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

As we enjoy the afterglow of Easter in our hearts, may we allow it to spill out of our lives as we deal with and live in a lost and desperate world. As the hymn writer closes each verse, “ If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus tis now."

Share His light!