October 13th | John 1

In our house, I have some things I can do and some things I can’t do. I CAN take out the trash, cut the grass, and go outside with a baseball bat if we hear a noise at night. These are some of my duties as a husband. But there is something that I, and probably many other husbands, cannot do, which is finding things around the house. A common phrase to my wife is, “Have you seen my keys?” Or my wife will ask me to pull something out of the fridge. This results in me staring into the refrigerator with the door wide open, saying, “I don’t think we have that.” Immediately, my beautiful and loving wife will reply, “It’s on the second shelf down beside the ketchup.” Somehow, my wife is incredible at finding things around the house, and I am awful at it! 

I have a role to play in our house, and my wife has a role in our home. When we think about salvation history, we think about God’s covenant promise with His people. He promised Abraham that He would make him into a great nation and bless him (Genesis 12). That nation grew into the people of Israel and was eventually led out of Egypt by Moses. In Exodus 20, Moses received the Law from God. The law had a purpose in salvation history, much like my wife and I have a purpose in our homes. Some felt that the purpose of the law was to save people. Yet, the law had no power to save anyone or take away anyone’s sin. Instead, the law was there to show the people their sin and their need for a savior. 

However, the Pharisees and Jews of Jesus’ day didn’t see it that way. They kept the law and assumed that because of their keeping the law, their sins would be forgiven and they would be saved. If the law could save, there would be no need for Jesus. But in fact, the Law’s purpose was not to save; its purpose was to point us to a savior. This is precisely why Jesus came. 

In John chapter 1, we see Jesus coming, and we see the deity of Christ, the purpose of the law, and the purpose of Jesus in salvation history. 

John 1:17-18, “17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” 

Verse 18 stands out because in Exodus 33, Moses asked to see God. God hid him in the cleft of the rock, and his glory passed by. Moses revealed the law and a shadow of God to the people of Israel. But it wasn’t enough to save. Now, Jesus, the only Son, has made God known to us. We can truly KNOW God, but not through keeping the law, but through following Jesus. This is highlighted a few verses later when John the Baptist sees Jesus. 

John 1:29, “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” 

The Lamb can do what the Law cannot. The Lamb can take away your sins. Stop trying to follow the law to be saved. Its purpose is not to save but to point you to the Savior. Rest in the gift of salvation that is offered in Christ today and thank Him for His blood shed to take away your sins.