By Pastor Doug Cox

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 NKJV

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of the foal of a donkey, many of the people thought they were welcoming a conquering king. Laying down palm branches and coats for Him to travel over was a sign of that. They believed He was the promised Messiah who would deliver them from the oppressive rule of the Roman empire. A few days later, upon finding out His intentions were different than theirs, many called for His crucifixion. They went as far as to ask for the release of a criminal named Barabas.

Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem was the arrival of perfection to the city. According to the law of Moses He was without spot before God. No one else came close, not even the Sanhedrin. These religious rulers of Israel were supposed to interpret the law and govern the people of God according to God’s will. Instead they were blind to their own sin and jealous of anything that threatened their power. Somehow, they missed the fact that their pedigree and righteous deeds didn’t make them right before God. Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Jesus knew the horrible dilemma God’s people faced and it bothered Him to His very core. Scripture tells us, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44 NKJV The sad fulfillment of this prophecy happened in 70 AD, when General Titus and his Roman army razed Jerusalem and destroyed the Holy Temple.

There is much that we can learn from these few verses. We can learn that God’s people can sometimes be blinded by our own perception. We must always be open to the truth. Jesus was full of grace and truth when He rode into Jerusalem that day. He rode in for the purpose of giving His life on the cross and to establish a New Covenant, He came to redeem us from the curse of the law.

Galatians 3:13 says “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” To be redeemed from the curse of the law means to be set free from its rules and regulations. This means those who are redeemed from the curse of the law are no longer required to observe the law’s commands as those under the law were.

The law acts as a judge while Jesus offers grace and truth. The law says you are a sinner, Jesus says I will save you by My grace. The law points at all our shortcomings while Jesus will set us free indeed. The law demands performance, Jesus offers connection, His yoke is easy His burden is light. The law magnifies problems while Jesus through His grace and truth offers provision, a clean and pliable heart.

Lord Jesus, please enlighten our spiritual understanding of all you have done for us as we celebrate Your death, burial and resurrection this year.