John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. I. IN THE PERSONS REPRESENTING JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY. 1. Moses was the servant, Christ the master. 2. Moses was a subject, dependent, Christ was King of kings. 3. Moses was only a man, but Christ was the God-man. 4. Moses was the agent smiting the rock, Christ was the rock smitten. 5. Moses was but the channel of communication between God and His people; Christ is the source of all our mercy. 6. Moses was only the student; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of wisdom. 7. Moses was delegated; Christ spoke in His own name and on His own authority. II. IN THE CREDENTIALS OF THE WORK OF MOSES AND THOSE OF THE WORK OF CHRIST. 1. The ten plagues were wrought for punishment. The thirty-two miracles of Christ were performed in mercy. 2. The miracles of Moses were a national calamity; those of Christ a national blessing. 3. The miracles of Moses were destructive; those of Christ remedial. 4. Those of Moses were wrought on matter; many of those of Christ on mind or spirit. 5. Those of Moses were wrought by power derived from God; those of Christ by Himself. III. IN THE FESTIVALS OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY. 1. The former refer to temporal deliverances and to carnal things; the latter commemorate spiritual deliverances, and refer to the heavenly and the Divine. The Passover, e.g., sets forth the emancipation from Egypt; the Lord's Supper of redemption from sin. 2. The Jewish Sabbath, the last day of the week, commemorated the creation of the world; the Christian Sabbath, the first of the week, is the sign of the new creation. 3. The Jewish Pentecost commemorated the giving of the Law on Sinai; our Pentecost, the baptism of the Spirit. IV. ABOUT JUDAISM WE HAVE THE OUTWARD; ABOUT GRACE AND TRUTH WE HAVE THE INWARD. 1. The virtue in the Jewish sacrifices was outwardly derived; the virtue in the Atonement is the inward. 2. Their laws were given amidst the external thundering and lightning of Sinai; ours amid the calmness and quietness peculiar to Christ. 3. The Jews were separated from the world more by outward signs; we are separated by the circumcision of the heart. V. THE LIFE OF OBEDIENCE GOD REQUIRED FROM THE JEWS WAS EMBODIED IN A CODE OF LAWS; THAT OF THE CHRISTIAN IS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. (S. Jones.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.WEB: For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. |
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