The Messiah's Secret - Law and Grace

A Christian is not under law, but is under grace. Romans 6: 14

   

Jewish people today keep the laws of Moses and a lot of effort goes into keeping the laws relating to food.

A term we use in connection with something being correct: ‘it's Kosher.’

Kosher – Hebrew – Yashar meaning to be right, pure, and clean according to Jewish ordinances.

On a table I placed a number of vegetables and fruit.

Fruit and Vegetables are Kosher

Any vegetables:  cauliflower, onion, peppers, carrot and potato.

Lettuce and water cress. Leafy vegetables must be cleaned carefully inspecting the leaves where insects may hide.

Any vegetables found having worms, grub or insects in them are not kosher

Fruit   Apples, pear, plums, raspberries and grapes.
All fruits are Kosher foods, however, if they are not cleaned thoroughly removing any insects or worms they are not Kosher.                                                                                           

Grape products are kosher as long as they have been prepared by a Jewish person.  However, whole grapes are kosher.                                                                                                                                           Fish The Jewish person can eat sea food as long as it has scales and fins.
Clams, oysters, crabs, shrimp, prawns and lobster are not kosher.                                                                                             

Poultry

All poultry are kosher.

Meat

Meat is considered kosher as long as it from an animal that chews its cud and the hooves are cloven. Pig and hare or rabbit are not kosher.  The blood of any creature must not be eaten.

For the Jewish person all meat to be eaten must have its blood drained from it, because life is in the blood. The blood removed from the meat makes the food spiritually sinless and clean. Leviticus 17: 10-16 

                                                          

The problems Jewish people encounter arise when they dine at a restaurant or in the home of someone who does not share their beliefs.

Bowl and several packets of crisps.  Opening each packet of crisps and identifying those that are kosher and those that are not kosher like: smoky bacon flavour, flame grilled steak, prawn cocktail and those that are kosher; potato, cheese and onion, salt and vinegar.
By mixing the crisps all together we cannot easily identify the kosher from the non kosher which would be a problem for a Jewish person keeping kosher law.

Under law if a Jewish person eats by accident any of the non kosher foods they must cleanse themselves (purification ritual) by washing with water. In the evening they are pronounced clean. Leviticus 11. & 17: 15, 16

The Day of Atonement, a sacrifice for the people of Israel covering all sins. Leviticus 16: 15,16

Finishing statement. Jesus ended the kosher food laws when he died on the cross. 

                                                         

A White Cloth is placed over the table to signify that the food laws came to an end.

Following the Lectionary – John 6: 51-58   Ephesians 5: 15-20.

Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life."
Prince Charles has a number of titles: His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothsey, Knight of the Thistle, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and about six more titles that belong to him. 

‘I AM’ is one of the titles belonging to God which God revealed to Moses “Say I AM has sent you.” Exodus 3:14.

“I AM” one of Jesus’ titles.  Jesus gave his name as ‘I AM’ whilst in conversation with the Jews. “The Jews challenged Jesus by saying are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? “Jesus in his reply said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad. The Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8: 56, 57.
Apostle John records were Jesus in his prayer tells us that he was with his Father in heaven before he came to the earth.   “And now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” John 17: 5.                                                                                                        
Jesus has always had a continuous life.

God intervened in human affairs when Jesus was born of a woman and became one of us. At the age of thirty three he died on a cross. Death was unable to hold him;  God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Scripture tells that his body did not decay and become dust, fulfilling the King David’s prophecy. Psalm 16: 8-11   Acts 2: 27.
Forty days after his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He has an indestructible eternal life, after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7: 3, 15-17.                                                                                                            

At Capernaum in the synagogue Jesus discussed with the Jews this question concerning his claim to be the bread from heaven.
The Jews took Jesus’ words literally and were appalled.

“The Jews disputed among themselves saying “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you shall not have life within you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6: 52 – 58

Some of Jesus’ own followers were appalled
“Many of Jesus’ disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” John 6: 60
Even some of Jesus’ followers couldn’t accept these words and didn’t follow him anymore. John 6: 60, 66
For Jesus to suggest that they should eat his flesh and drink his blood were against all of the laws relating to food as food was spiritually part of them. Defiled by foods that were unclean under (kosher) law .

Especially they were defiled, made unclean by eating blood as life was in the blood and without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness for sin. Leviticus 17:11. Hebrews 9: 22.

The penalty for sin was made through an offering being purchased at the temple, a pigeon, a lamb, a goat, etc The person brought their sacrifice before the priest, the person placed their hand upon the head of the sacrifice saying a prayer that transferred their sin to the sacrifice becoming one with the sacrifice, it paid the price by laying down its’ life for their sin against God. 
Jesus saying “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him,” he was referring to the partaking of his sacrifice becoming one with him laying down his life for sin relating to the food laws and all laws and sin against God. No longer has food any spirituality. Jesus declared that all foods were clean. Mark in his gospel recorded Jesus saying; “Do you not see that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and passes on. (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And Jesus said, ”What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. These are what defile a person.’" Mark 7: 14-23.
Mark realised when he wrote in brackets, (‘Thus, he declared all foods clean.’) Jesus was saying that food was clean. 
Jesus bore these sins of the flesh that defile a person’s heart for us on the cross: evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. These are what defile a person not what we eat.

Signifying a change from being under law to grace.
Today, when we turn to Jesus in repentance saying sorry to him for our sins against God we are forgiven. Jesus becomes our substitute taking our sins of the flesh upon him on the cross, so releasing us into the freedom of God’s forgiveness through his resurrection.

At Holy Communion the bread and the wine are symbols of Jesus' sacrifice of his body and blood. They do not become the actual flesh of Jesus his body or blood. 

The Communion reminds us of Jesus sacrifice and also that we receive the benefits of it under grace.

Salvation – Saved from the results of sin which is eternal death, separation from God.

Healing –   Reconciliation with our Father God leading to restoration of our relationship with God.

-       that takes place in our body, soul and spirit

-       from our sicknesses and disease.

Eternal Life – we receive a continuous life in fellowship with God.                                                                                                                          

It was several years after Pentecost when Peter had a vision were the Lord confirmed that the laws relating to food were ended. How hard it is for a Jewish person to come to terms with the fact that kosher food laws are no longer required.

“After Pentecost the apostle Peter was staying at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa. Whilst Simon and Peter were preparing the evening meal, Peter had a vision, he saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”Acts 10: 9 – 16.

Here the Lord our God was doing two things.
Through this vision not only have the food laws come to an end but the Gentiles have been brought into the New Covenant.
“While Peter was still pondering the vision, three men arrived at the house and asked for Peter. They informed him that the centurion Cornelius had been visited by an angel. The angel directed Cornelius to send for Peter who was lodging at Simon the tanner’s house at Joppa.                                                       

Peter quickly realised the meaning of the vision; it was God’s intention for him to go and associate with these people who were not Jews. This would also include eating food from their table. Peter accompanied the men to the home of Cornelius at Caesarea. Peter related to them all about Jesus, “God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest . . . To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Peter and his companions were amazed; God had shown no partiality between Jew and Gentile.” Acts 10: 38 – 45.  

Two other scriptures confirm that all foods are clean.
“The heart is strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited the adherents.”Hebrews 13: 9.
“Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink.” Colossians 2: 16.              
Jesus the Bread of Life
Jesus went on to say, "It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is no avail; (profits nothing) the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.

Jesus pointed to his words as being living bread.

Scripture verses that confirm this view Jesus being the word of God clothed in the flesh. 1 John 1: 1. 
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and was God.” John 1:1.                                           

On the evening of the Day of Jesus’ resurrection Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto his disciples. Afterwards Jesus opened their minds to understand prophesies in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning his suffering and death, and his resurrection. Luke 24: 45, 46.

  

Purification by the water of the Word.
Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.” John 15: 3 Every word that Jesus received from his Father he gave to his disciples, the truth cleansing them and setting them and us free.  
We are all taught by God through the abiding presence of Jesus in our mind and hearts.Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he wrote that we are cleansed by the water of the word. Ephesians 5:26, 27. It is about ‘truth’ entering into the truth of God’s Word. 
The Blood  The continual flow of Christ’s blood from the throne of grace. For Paul through the visions that he had received his beliefs had been turned upside down.                                                                              The Messiah’s Secret page 126. Paul a Pharisee “Paul, a Pharisee, strictly adhered to the law. God had shown him that circumcision and the rituals and sacrifices of laws of Moses had come to an end, and the Holy Spirit would now write God’s laws into the heart of a person through faith in Jesus, the New Covenant.”                                                                                             

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace he has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.” Ephesians 2: 13 -16
Through Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension the ceremonial law and the law of commandments contained in ordinances (regulations) are ended. 

We are not under law, but under grace.
Under grace the law is fulfilled in love and written in the heart. John 15: 10.Romans 13: 10. Jeremiah 31: 33.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he reminds them to discern what the will of the Lord is;

He suggests that everything should be done in moderation; he did not say it was wrong to have a glass of wine, but he wrote it was not good to get drunk. On another occasion he wrote in his letter to the church at Rome saying that because they were not under law, they could NOT do whatever they liked so that grace may abound. Romans 6: 1, 2, 11, 15.

The modern term - Antimonaism – Sin no longer a force to be reckoned with so you can do whatever you like.

Peter confirms that the rules of Jewish law are no longer in force, he reminds the Christians of his day and us today in his second letter: to add to faith virtue, add to virtue knowledge, add to knowledge self-control, add to self-control steadfastness, add to steadfastness Godliness, add to Godliness brotherly and sisterly affection, add to brotherly and sisterly affection the love of God. 2 Peter 1: 3-8. 

Grace  Blessed are you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You made the world in your love. You redeemed the world by your love,

You sustain the world with your love. May we ever abide in your love,

And give ourselves to you in love. Amen