[NOTE: For those who are continuing the 1-year Bible reading plan we started on April 1, 2018, just go to the end of this entry and you will find the Day 296-Matthew 26-28; John 21 summary!]
In Exodus 21-23, we find many examples of casuistic or “case law.” Rather than go in depth on the dozens and dozens of individual laws written there, let’s look at a couple of specific categories. First, we find Exodus 21 addresses the fair treatment of slaves. What? As 21st century Americans the idea of “fair treatment of slaves” sounds like an oxymoron. How can a slave be treated fairly? That’s a great question. The truth is slavery is not an acceptable practice. It was practiced in Israelite society, and American slave owners used passages such as Exodus 21 to justify their ownership of slaves. We could wish if they were going to carry out the onerous practice, they would at least have followed the commands found in Exodus, because the Israelites were expected to treat their slaves fairly, and to give them specific rights. Some say the Bible is not a culturally-conditioned book, but Exodus 21 shows us it is. By the time of the New Testament, slaves were still used, but the Apostle Paul mandated slave owners treat their slaves fairly, and at least in one case as a “brother.” He pointed out that gaining one’s freedom was a good goal.
As Jesus’ followers, we need to admit the Bible’s positions on slavery, and then affirm the need to eliminate the practice. The truth is human trafficking, which is a modern form of slavery, is rampant in the world. Our first goal is always to share the gospel, and to offer people the opportunity to be freed from sin and death through Jesus’ salvation. A second goal must accompany that first goal, and it is to free people from all forms of slavery however they are lived out practically. Literal slavery, whether for sexual purposes or labor purposes or any other purpose, is sinful. As Jesus’ followers we are called to work to eliminate it. We must also work to free people from slavery to addictions of all types.
Some say Christians ought to avoid “social justice” issues. James, the brother of Jesus, told us if we see people who are hungry or without clothes, but offer them only a “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” but don’t do anything to help, that is wrong. As we read Exodus 21, we need to read it in light of all of the Bible’s teaching, as well as the history of Christian experience to our day. Sometimes we won’t be able to come to easy answers for what to do, but in every case, we must seek Jesus’ will and then carry it out in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s also extremely helpful for us to remember, Jesus came to establish a newcovenant. Slavery was part of the old, Mosaic covenant, so we must emphasize Jesus’ new commandment that goes along with His new covenant: Love one another as I have first loved you. When we do that, slavery becomes an obvious breach of love.
Throughout Exodus 21-23, we find God’s concern for fairness, justice, and living in appropriate relationships with one another. Some of the recommendations seem extreme to us, and they are by today’s standards. We must remember God was establishing a people who would be set apart from the pagan nations surrounding them. The laws He offered did that. He promised to bless and protect the Israelites, and that blessing was contingent on their obedience to Him. We will find throughout the Bible, God’s people have not been able to live up to the standards of the Law, which is why Jesus had to come. He fulfilled what we could not by living in perfection, thus making it possible for us to be in relationship with God and each other as God always intended. God’s action in Jesus was extreme. As we read the laws in Exodus, we will do well to remember God’s ways for His people at any moment often will be counter or against the culture. When we see that, let’s ask, “Why is God doing that, or establishing this law at this moment?” That question helps us go through the hard task of discerning God’s purpose rather than dismissing it, because it doesn’t fit our culture’s biases. We must also compare the practice to the new commandment. When any practice contradicts the law of loving one another as Jesus first loved us, we must dismiss it.
When we considered Mark 5 for the first time, all the way back on day five, I noted this is one my favorite chapters in the Bible. I wrote extensively about it then. If you want to review my comments, go back to the Day 5 reading!
Day 296-Matthew 26-28; John 21
Matthew 26-28 record the events leading to Jesus’ arrest; the Last Supper; Jesus’ arrest, trial and condemnation by the Jewish leaders, His condemnation by the crowd, which led to Pilate’s condemnation of Him; His crucifixion, death, and burial; His resurrection and ascension (return) to heaven. We have read these chapters several times now, but every time we turn to them, we are reminded of the amazing love God had for us that He permitted Jesus to endure what He did for us. As the God of the universe in the flesh, Jesus endured the weight of every sin past, present and future on the cross. When He rose from the dead, the miracle and the angels that accompanied it, tell us it came from heaven. The guards at the tomb were overwhelmed to the point of “becoming like dead men,” at the coming of the angel and the earthquake. Jesus proved His resurrection by appearing to a handful of people the day He rose from the dead. But the Apostle Paul tells us at the end of 1 Corinthians, Jesus was seen by 500 people after He rose, certainly an adequate number to convince us of the reality of the resurrection. Before Jesus returned to heaven, He charged us to go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations. That “Great Commission” is repeated in some manner in all four gospels and the book of Acts. That tells us how important it is and how necessary for us to pursue it.
As the book of John closes in John 21, John offers us the account of Jesus reinstating Peter. In a powerfully simple scene, Jesus takes Peter aside and asks him three times, “Simon, Son of John, do you love?” Each time Peter tells Jesus he does. When Jesus asked the third time, Peter was cut to the heart, because he realized this was the number of times he had denied Jesus. As the conversation drew to a close, Jesus told Peter a powerful truth: He would die bearing witness to Jesus. He would be known not as the one who denied Jesus, but the one who stood fast even to death. John closes the book by telling us Jesus did many other things not recorded in the book, and if everything were written down, all the books in the world wouldn’t contain them. While that might sound like an exaggeration, think about it for a moment. Jesus was with God the Father from the beginning. In John 1, we’re told He created all that exists. Imagine everything Jesus has done from then until now! It wouldn’t be possible to write down each detail. The great news for us is: That same Jesus loved us enough to die and rise again for you and me, so we, too can experience being reinstated from our sins, and given opportunities to love and serve Him.
Author Chris Marshall, thank you for this post. Its very inspiring.