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.
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