“These are the instructions regarding land animals, birds, marine creatures, and animals that scurry along the ground. By these instructions you will know what is unclean and clean, and which animals may be eaten and which may not be eaten.” [Leviticus 11.46-47]
Let's back up just a second...
“All small animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them. This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them. Do not defile yourselves by touching them. You must not make yourselves ceremonially unclean because of them. For I am the LORD your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. So do not defile yourselves with any of these small animals that scurry along the ground. For I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy. [Leviticus 11.41-45]
The animals Israel excluded from their diet was a ceremonious show of identity with Holy God based on the law of Moses. Was holiness attributed to Israel then because of their diet, or because of obedience revealed by their diet?
Holiness is obedience to God in every detail. Right? Let's dig deeper! The law of Moses provided the framework for that obedience. However, as we saw in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, not even the priests could get it right all the time.
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. [Leviticus 10.1-2]
However, it must be seen that obedience is not about the law because the law can be changed. Obedience is about the relationship as Peter learned after Jesus' resurrection.
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” [Acts 10.9-15]
God transcended the rules when Jesus' blood consummated the Old Covenant and initiated the New. They were in fact His rules to do with whatever He wanted. So, the obedience of abstinence from eating certain foods that identified a "follower of God" before the New Covenant became obedience of indulgence to eat any food after the New Covenant. Holiness is attached to obedience not food. We should remember this every time we enjoy a perfectly-cooked strip of bacon!
We must however, reconcile what we believe about all this with what Jesus Himself said.
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. [Matthew 5.17]
Jesus' words here then can only be understood as much as we understand the entire Bible. If Jesus abolished the law, then there is no responsibility upon His followers to understand the law. But, because Jesus came to accomplish the purpose of the law, it is incumbent upon His followers to know the law (if in fact they wish to fully understand and appreciate Jesus).
Jesus demonstrated the new Way when He "violated" the Sabbath. Jesus demonstrated obedience that transcended the law of Moses. Jesus demonstrated relationship with God. Jesus demonstrated the will of God. Jesus demonstrated the love of God which the law of Moses came up short in doing.
Rules can never establish holiness. Rules can only reveal man's shortcoming of holiness. Relationship transcends the rule of law with the rule of love. Obedience to love (verb) - to relate to God and man in obedience to "the relationship" is where holiness abounds. Jesus modeled this to perfection - to perfect holiness - even though he "broke" the rules of Sabbath. Faith that pleases God is born of this obedient love. Obedient love that demonstrates holiness is not concerned about the construct of the rule as much as about the character of the Ruler. THINK! If Jesus had been more concerned about the construct of the rule (justice of law), He would never have submitted to His own unjust death on the Cross! This is what the law could not do! Jesus, in obedient love, concerned only about the character of the Ruler (love), quite literally broke yet another law (besides the Sabbath) in submitting to (i.e. becoming a party to) unjust death on the Cross!
“Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent. [Exodus 23.7]
There is so very much more to all of this than can be explored here. Suffice it to say, holiness is obedient love of God and man that affects obedient interaction with God and man with or without the law of Moses... In another word, Jesus!
Father, May we be reminded of Your amazing love and grace for us - and the world. May our lives demonstrate relationship with You through faith in Jesus. So be it.
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