The Messianic Covenant
The Law
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In the Torah (the Old Covenant law), cases of direct rebellion against God, such as blasphemy, led to the death of the guilty party. Because a covenant-breaking sin was so egregious before the Lord — it was impermissible for that sin to be transferred (for atonement) onto an animal — that person had to die for that single sin, even if they had (theoretically) never sinned before.
“ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus was accused of blasphemy because He said, “I and the Father are one.” According to the law, a human claiming to be God was to be stoned to death. To the unbelievers, it seemed as though Jesus had committed blasphemy, but as we know, He was simply telling the truth. Jesus knew this was going to happen, and it was going to be His death sentence, though He did not break the covenant because He never sinned.
“24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all c ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.”
The point of the Law was to give mankind the understanding of what sin was and what it looked like while also affording covenant partners (Jews) redemption from sin through atonement. In other words, God knew mankind would rebel against Him even after He chose a people unto Himself. However, in His incredible mercy and grace, He built in a way for sinful mankind to reconcile with Him through the sacrificial system of atonement via the blood of bulls, goats, rams, doves, and pigeons. This Mosaic Law did not establish holiness in the hearts of the people because a law cannot make people abide by it, it just shows people what they’ve done wrong.
One thing Jesus had to accomplish in His time on Earth is to establish a way for a human being to render the Mosaic covenant obsolete. Sin requires a payment; it cannot simply be forgiven or the Law serves no purpose and is a sham. A legal system cannot simply be eliminated, it must be honored and obeyed or be superseded by a better, more effective one. So … what was God to do?
The Spiritual Dilemma
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The Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the Law were supposed to be the bearers of the Truth, but they had succumb to the pressures of the fear of man, the Roman empire, and religion.
“27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
The epitome of Jesus’ life and ministry is relationship with God and each other. He did not experience the fear of man because He made us. He did not cave in to the Roman empire because He is the One who establishes thrones and rulers, and the idea of religion is offensive to Him. He came to defeat the works of the devil and religion is a work of the devil to encourage sinful mankind (the devil’s children) to seek anything other than God.
“44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!”
Jesus left His Kingdom — His eternal estate in Heaven — to come and live with sinful mankind, fulfilling the prophecy summed up in one word and name: Emmanuel.
The Oath, Abrahamic, Circumcision, and Mosaic Covenants were not failing the people, the Jewish people failed to remain faithful to God, thus breaking each of these four covenants, which meant the old truism of, “Your blood be on your own head,” would have to be enforced.
“22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
There was a significant problem with the adulterous Israelites — they kept sacrificing animals to God, but they were also making sacrifices to pretty much every ‘god’ out there, too.
“3 “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4 Who are you mocking?
At whom do you sneer
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
the offspring of liars?
5 You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.
6 The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
and offered grain offerings.
In view of all this, should I relent?
7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;
there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
8 Behind your doors and your doorposts
you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,
and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.”
You can see how despicable the Israelites had gotten. God eventually got sick and tired of mankind’s relentless pursuit of religion, sex, and power, so this meant there had to be a new way of living in righteousness with God. The old covenant way was irreparably broken and needing replacement.
“Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.”
Father God sent His one and only Son to replace the sacrificial system with a brand new thing — Jesus was to become the firstborn of many brothers (and sisters) and become the embodiment of sacrificial love (agape) to create a new type of human being; a person who would be a nativity of righteousness and spiritual rebirth.
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This spiritual rebirth, as discussed between Jesus and Nicodemus, was an incredibly radical departure from the Mosaic covenant. Under the Mosaic covenant, the prevailing concept of walking a spiritual tightrope of adhering to laws and gauging one’s righteousness was based on works and not grace.
In the new covenant in Jesus’ blood, there is now a way of eliminating this dependence on one’s achievement of righteousness as if good and bad deeds were weighed on a scale.
God’s mission was to create a new type of human being — one who would live in righteousness before Him without that nagging presence of endless sins.
The Shedding of Blood
From the Passion of the Christ DVD
“27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.””
There are myriad reasons why Jesus came to earth. The number one reason was to reconcile the broken relationship between God and mankind. Another reason was to be the Lamb of God — the once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins so we would be redeemed from the curse of sin and death. He also came to fulfill the Law and the prophets, meaning all that was prophesied about the Messiah, He was to bring to fruition.
Another reason was “to testify to the truth.” Yet another reason was that we would be ‘adopted as sons and daughters of Father God’. And even another reason was to “bring all things in Heaven and on Earth under one head.” That means Jesus has been lifted high above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
For all these plans to be accomplished, Jesus would need to make a sacrifice of blood. Remember, there were some sins that a sacrifice of an unblemished, sinless substitute would not provide atonement on the guilty person’s behalf.
The sins of all mankind, if to be once and for all paid in full, this would require a MASSIVE sacrifice that would cause even King Solomon to blush.
Jesus, if He was to make atonement for this mountain, no, mountain range of sin, He would have to lay down His life. It would require such a huge payment that God Himself would be the One to pay down and eliminate the sin debt once and for all.
In this case, He would have to endure a brutal beating and be murdered in cold blood. This would require Him, also, to take the body of a human being, so the sin debt could be paid by a person who had rightfully completed the task of fulfilling the Torah in all its statutes and stipulations while also being a person not born into sin. In other words, this Messiah would have to be born of a virgin, which would be a mind-blowing miracle all its own!
“5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.”
One of the most disturbing images many people have witnessed this side of civility is where Jesus is flogged, scourged, and crucified in the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.”
The absolute truth behind this savage treatment of our Messiah is that Satan wanted to make Jesus suffer as much as possible. Satan is jealous of Jesus and desperately wanted to defeat Him. Satan believed if he could kill Jesus, he would rule the world with no more opposition.
Jesus knew the devil would do his worst, and His statements throughout His ministry and His prayers in Gethsemane reveal this, but He still did it for us!
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hallelujah!
Prayer
Father God, thank You for such an incredible blessing as the life, death, and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus, for taking my place on the cross of Calvary! Thank You for blessing me with a new life and a fresh start in life. I can’t stop thanking You for Your goodness and mercy in offering Your gift of love to all mankind! How is it that we sinful human beings who had been Your enemies in our hearts now become not merely friends, but partners in the Blood Covenant in Jesus?! Thank You for making obsolete the Mosaic covenant and cutting a brand new covenant for ALL mankind! Where would I be without this inexpressibly awesome act of grace?
You deserve the glory, honor, and praise in Heaven and on Earth. Glory be to You, Lord God Almighty, for Your loving kindness that sets me free from the bondage of sin and death! I ask that You would bless me with constant revelations and wisdom so I may know You better every single blessed day!
In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen!
*Note: Romans 8 gets a lot of credit for being the “Great Eight,” but you might have noticed that I pulled many verses from Ephesians 1. It’s easy to predetermine what’s doctrinally important just by how certain preachers present the Bible and their favorite passages, but I’ll stand on Ephesians 1, just as well, because of its exacting elegance and revelatory nature. Besides, why do I have to choose? :)
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