Monday, June 7, 2021

ON THE LAW - Part 1 of 2

   Is “law” a good thing or a bad thing? In this age, there is an initiative to defund the police. The “law” is the means of controlling the conduct of unruly people. The assumption is that given the choice between malfeasance and civility, most will choose malfeasance, or wrongdoing.

  There were two malefactors on crosses adjacent Jesus and one malefactor who was freed. Jesus was and remains a Benefactor. The choice was malfeasance or Benevolence, and the multitude chose malevolence. They freed Barabbas who was a rebel against authority: “Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison” (Luke 23:19). Barabbas was the enemy of the Roman State, but the state freed him rather the Man who had been civil and in obedience to both the Law of God and the law of Caesar. [i]

  “Sedition” is resistance to lawful authority. It was insurrection against Caesar and the Roman State. Barabbas was a revolutionary zealot, and a member of the group that, by their actions, destroyed the nation of Israel. Barabbas represented those who would later resist the law of the land so much, that the “police” in that Roman state would tear down the Temple, burn the city, and disperse the law-abiding citizens in 70 AD. Note that neither Jesus nor His disciples broke the law of the land but were only accused of it! Those who remained free the day that Jesus died destroyed the nation of Israel.

  The question is: Where the Jews better off with Roman Law and the retention of their laws, customs, and much freedom, or were they better off destroyed? Any sane person would say that both the Law of God and Roman Law preserved the Jews and Israel. After all, the nation of Israel after 70 AD ceased to exist until 1948, and all the while, all over the world, Jews were persecuted!

 The point is whether the “law” is good or bad; even Roman Law which was really very civil at that time. Barabbas and the other zealots caused persecution by their zealotry. In modern terms, they were the Black Lives Matter organization and the Antifa of that day. Without regard to the law, they would seek to destroy their own nation. And what did BLM and Antifa do? They burned down and robbed their own cities, and now they have the entire nation to destroy whenever their mood is aroused.

  The multitude voted for Barabbas, to wit: “And they cried out all at once, saying, ‘Away with this man (Jesus), and release unto us Barabbas’” (Luke 23:18). The “Summerfest of 2020” was the same cry — Away with the police, and release unto us the criminals!

  If He remained alive, Jesus would heal the nation. If Barabbas remained alive, he would destroy the nation, and that the zealots finally accomplished! In modern terms, They cut off their noses to spite their faces! Indeed, Jesus is the “Face” of God and of the nation, Israel.

  The mob that caused Jesus to die made their own laws. That day, Jerusalem became their “Autonomous Zone” to do as they pleased. It was déjà vu as with the ancient Hebrews, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud 17:6).

  Total libertarianism is destructive, for what shall people inevitably do? That which is wrong to do! The crucifixion of Jesus was the epitome of that natural inclination. That “inclination” is original sin that John Calvin called “total depravity.” Without the Law, people will do depraved things. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were twin depraved cities with its occupants doing as they wished to the destruction of those two cities.

  “Law” is good or bad, depending on the outlook of the person. The Law of the Romans seemed not to be as bad as the Law of God! The centurions were limited by two things: Roman Law and the authority of Pilate and Caesar. The latter’s laws were permissive. They had much freedom so long as the Jews did not threaten Caesar nor his government.

  On the other hand, God is omnipresent; He sees all things and spiritual “criminals” will someday be brought to justice. Civil justice is immediate but Divine Justice delayed. The path of least resistance was to obey Caesar and disregard God. They would deal with God later, or so they thought. Right then and there, they were judged and were so full of propaganda that they thought they could escape the wrath of God!

  For a time, they did. Although God suffered death on the Cross, He fulfilled the Law. He was punished for all the past sins of mankind; [ii] not just the immediate sins of those who would kill Him without remorse. Pilate and the soldier, Longinus, had the blood of Jesus on their hands. Pilate washed it off and Longinus saw what he had done and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

  What happened on the Cross when Jesus said, “’It is finished’ and He gave up the Ghost.” (John 19:30). The Law was finished but was not replaced. The death of Jesus completed the Law because he paid the price for all the sins ever committed. But the Law did not end. It continues, not as Law but Liberty.

  Everyone has the liberty to sin, but those who receive the Holy Ghost are “Comfortable” [iii] without sin. When Jesus gave up the Ghost, some received it. Realizing that the Law was for their spiritual safety rather than slavery to sin, the truth made them free. [iv]

  “What is truth?” Pilate asked that. [v] The Truth is that the death made sinners free form sin. The Law would no longer control them, but they would voluntarily, without the “morality police” (Pharisees) controlling their every move. Who would control them? Themselves! They would come to love the Law because the intent of the Law was good for them, as it is in the Will of God.

  Then, no longer were the Ten Commandments, “commandments.” They were Ten Prescriptions for Eternal Health. Jesus said that both the Law and the prophets hung on the Greatest Commandment: to love. What is agape (that type of love)? It is “good will” (Strong’s Dictionary).

  The “Ten Prescriptions” are ten itemized Good Wills of God for you. Note that for those without the Holy Ghost, they are mere laughable, non-applicable and ancient laws, but to those with the Holy Ghost, they are God’s Will for His children for them to be heirs.

  Like the malefactor beside Him, it matters not what is done before, but the attitude at the instant of death. Dismus (the repentant malefactor) saw the truth at the last moment. His heart was circumcised when he realized the truth!

  As such, His reward was as great as those who were with Jesus from the beginning, and much more so than Judas who was hanging from his “cross” nearby! Who would be greater in the Kingdom of God? The thief was because He was blessed to be the first to enter the Kingdom!

  Laws are not for citizens. They are for zealots who are above authority. They become the law in themselves.

  Jesus did that too! He became the Law for us. No longer would the Law hold the righteous captive because the “new person” would see the law so much differently. Laws are how they are viewed — Are they to control the disobedient or are they to provide safety for them? Only the obedient obey laws; the disobedient will always disobey whatever law is made. They resent that they are controlled but are okay with control so long as they are deluded by those who control.

  Just who controlled the multitude the day that they either became zealots or stood quietly by? Judas had hung himself previously to Jesus. He gave up his “ghost” as well. Satan was expelled from the body of Judas when Judas died, and the “ghost” of Judas went to Calvary and incited the riot.

  It was the same old test again: From which tree would mankind eat? That day, the multitude ate of the Judas Tree, not knowing they were eating Satanic doctrine. Just a few were eating of the Tree of Life, so to speak, and one of them was the thief on the cross. Only he saw himself in Paradise already that day because there they stood — the Tree of Life “in the midst of the Garden” and the Judas Tree there as well.

  That day, the multitude stood away from the Tree of Life and cursed Him all the while Judas with Satan in him was dead and in Gehenna. They should have been there to make sure that the rope from which Judas hung remained unbroken! But rather, they stood and watched Jesus die in their place. 

(picture credit: Huffingon Post)



More on the Law tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



[i] Luke 20:25

[ii] Rom 3:25

[iii] John 14:16

[iv] John 8:32

[v] John 18:38

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