December 13, 2023

We tend to think about Jesus the most during the celebration of his birth and his resurrection after crucifixion. One with jubilation because a new era gave way to our eventual redemption, but the other with great sorrow because we were riddled with so much sin that we should have been stoned at the gate of the city as the Law of Moses recommended for a rebellious child. I couldn’t believe what I read this morning because we love our children so much, but I guess there were parents who had tried everything they could to correct their child’s behavior to no avail, making their love grow cold. Look at this!

And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. Deuteronomy 21:20-21

Yes, children can make you so angry that you want to tear them from limb to limb, but never a thought of dragging them to the city gate to be stoned to death! We are those rebellious children. Look at how we treat the Father, our God. We disrespect him daily, go against his commands, and fail to acknowledge his deity. Then there is Jesus, who came to us in human form as a baby, as he grew into a man, and taught us the truth of the law and commandments without ever sinning. He was crucified like a lamb for the remission of our sins, then hung on a tree, and the guilt of our sins was laid bare for all to see. Before knowing what Jesus would do for us, Moses wrote this:

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 21:22-23

We are not worthy of what Jesus did for us, but I’m so grateful that he thought enough of me to sacrifice his life on my behalf. Aren’t you?