The Law for Life

Mark 1:43-50 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
 
IN our previous lesson we read of Jesus healing the leprous man. Did the happy, restored man do as Jesus commanded him to show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices? This was to obey and honor the process the Incarnate Word had written in the Law of Moses. The priest could pronounce a man, “Clean.” only when he followed God’s precise laws to restore the man to his family and community. But the healed man disobeyed the healer! He canceled the Word made flesh. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Disobeying Jesus’ commands will keep the Lord from your life.
   What do you think of the law? When you read through the Bible’s first five books, known as the Law, do you see God’s laws as restrictive burdens? Or do see the law as God’s way to gather Israel into a secure relationship with him? We must understand the law is one way God revealed himself to Israel. The Power that plagued Egypt and opened the Red Sea promised Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” (Exodus 19:4) The law was to be God’s bond of love for them to guide them into a blessed life under his care. But even as God freed them from slavery and revealed his glory to Israel, they rejected his law. The Old Testament is a history of the ways Israel isolated God from their life. Instead of living in his lavish promises, they suffered his judgments.
   What has God done for you? Has he saved you from eternal torment? Are you free in God’s grace to announce, “I am redeemed!” What then, is your response to God’s commands? Do you neglect the law and isolate Jesus from your life? Or do you seek his truth? Do you dwell in the joy of a loving relationship with him? This is your life when you know God’s redeeming power in the truth of his Word.