Commands of Jesus
... a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:10)
Peter was speaking at the Jerusalem council. There was great discussion during the first century about the Gentiles that were coming to faith in Jesus. The leaders of the Church came together to decide the place that the Mosaic Law should have in the lives of the new believers, especially the Gentiles. Peter, who was a Jew himself said that the Old Testament Law was a yoke “which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear”. He went on,
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (v 11)
Paul, another apostle, agrees with this when he says
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2)
Jesus said,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matt 5:17)
Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law of Moses, as some falsely accused Him. He came to bring it to its intended conclusion. To show that there was some goal to this strange set of requirements. To write the next chapter in this long history. To bring closure. To show its purpose. We would say, “to wrap it up”.
However, many think that since we are not saved by works that we no longer have any responsibility. Jesus is Lord. That means He is the king, the governor, the boss, the chief, the One who makes the rules. Jesus is the One who must be obeyed.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)
Jesus asked the obvious question, Why do you call Me Master and yet you ignore everything I say? Good question. There is no sane answer to that one.
Jesus came to rescue Jews and Gentiles from the Law which was an impossible burden. Its purpose was to make man despair of ever keeping it. Instead Jesus said
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt 11:30)
Jesus gave commands to His 12 disciples and also to another 70 followers. By extension many of those commands are to us as well: Love one another (John 13:34), Wash one another's feet (John 13:14), Be baptized (Mark 16:16), Cleanse lepers (Matt 10:8), Give to anyone who asks you (Matt 5:42), , Forgive (Matt 6:12), and Give (Luke 6:38)
Through Paul and the apostles Jesus gives commands specifically to us in the Church Age: Receive one another (Rom 15:7), Bear one another's burdens (Gal 6:2), Forgive each other (Eph 4:32), Comfort one another with the words of the promise of the rapture (1Thess 4:18), Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), Do not despise prophetic utterances (1Thess 5:20), Remember the poor (Gal 2:10), Avoid fornication (1Thess 4:3), Do not forbid to speak in tongues (1Cor 14: 39).
Such are the commands of the Lord Jesus for His followers. But what if you do not follow these easy and light commands?
The prevailing attitude is: It's all the same whether you do or don't. Everyone and everything is the same. By default everyone is the same. It doesn't matter.
The Scripture says, “Bless those who persecute you.” (Rom 12:14). What if you do not want to? “Give food and drink to your enemy.” (v. 20). What if you do not? “Never take your own revenge.” (v .21). Someone says to himself, That's what I should do. Someone else says, I don't even see that verse. It's not important.
One person thinks he should obey. Another person refuses to obey. Are they both in the same condition? This is that issue that nobody talks about. We in the Church Age are not under the law of Moses. We who are followers of Jesus obey His word just because we love Him. Many think Jesus said these things so there would not be blank spots in the Bible.
When I was a kid I was looking at the local newspaper. A small section caught my attention. It read, “100,000 acres are planted in asparagus every year in the US”. This information was of no importance to the average reader. Back when physical newspapers were a thing, they sometimes would be typeset manually. The articles and pictures would be placed the best way they could. Sometimes the wording of an article would not fit perfectly on the page. They would add these short trivial pieces of information to take up the otherwise empty spaces. The trivia was usually pointless. Without such filler there is a odd, white, empty space on the page. Apparently, Jesus' words are filler. Without them God has blank spaces in His Bible.
Someone takes Jesus' words as serious. Others take Jesus' words as filler; to no point; to be ignored. Are these two groups of people in the same condition? I think it will affect one's walk with the Lord in this life. How close can we really be with our Helper in this lifetime if we consider Him as irrelevant? We become practical atheists.
This matter of ignoring the Lord will become the central issue in the future (2Cor 5:10). You and I have an appointment to personally stand before Jesus Himself. This the Great Evaluation that none of us can avoid. To stand before the King of Glory will be wondrous and awesome. We must not think we will blend into the crowd because of the millions present, like the back row at church. Our audience with the King may be private or it may be before all the believers. He will ask us, Did you read my book?
There is no way to back out of that one.
Then, why did you not do what I said?
None of us walks in this perfectly. What will happen if we have to admit that we did not even try? Or worse, if we completely ignored His commands? It ought to make us shake right now just realizing the weight of it. Some obedient ones will be rewarded. Many others will suffer the loss of what could have been. Not eternal life but what the Lord intended for you in the next life. I think it will be a sobering time for everyone.
However, out of that Evaluation will come what the Lord has intended for His obedient servants. (We are also the Sons of God (1 John 3:2).) He has made it possible for almost anyone to be rewarded for their life of service. Let us be those that consider the “light and easy” words of our generous Lord to be of supreme importance.
Feb 20, 2024