Philipp Melancthon (birth), Confessor
Reading:
John 5:30-47
"Moses on whom you have set your hope."
Jesus is continuing His discourse with the Jews who were seeking to kill Him after He healed the man on the Sabbath day. He goes on throughout the reading today, letting the Jewish people know that they are missing the point because they are only concerned with the externals in regards to spiritual issues. They know the Scriptures and the fullness of the Scriptures point to Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and yet they did not want to see it.
Jesus cuts to the chase when He tells them that there is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. Jesus was teaching them regarding the Law. The Law is there to be used to be a curb, to let us know what sin is, to be a mirror, so that we see sin for what it is in ourselves, and finally a rule, where it is a guide for life. But the bottom line is that the Law can not save, it only brings death to us. For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) This is what the Jews were hoping in that they could keep the Law and therefore earn the righteousness before God. But Jesus let's them know it is the Moses and the Law that accuse them and find them falling short of what God had intended them to be.
In order to be found righteous before God we have to be perfect. Guess what for us humans, it is impossible to do that. So God fixed it for us. He sent His only begotten Son into the world to live the perfect life for you and for me. Jesus was like us in every way, He was born, raised on the lap of His holy Mother, learned the Scriptures, was tempted and tried BUT NEVER SINNED. (Hebrews 4:15) He then offered Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world on the cross. Now He continues to come to us through the Gospel and through the Sacraments to give us His righteousness. We do not come to Jesus, He comes to us with open arms and gives us life, forgiveness and salvation as a gift. What a wonderful God we serve! He does not leave us as orphans, but washes in Holy Baptism to cleanse our sin and unite us to Himself, feeds us with the words of Holy Scripture so that we can be strengthened in our faith, comes to us under the veil of bread and wine to give us His very body and blood. All of this to be sure that we are united to Him and His righteousness.
Do not trust the Law for your salvation. That is not the purpose of the Law. But when you realize that you can not keep the Law and that you have no health in you. Look to Jesus Christ and realize that He already died for you while you were yet a sinner. Plead Lord have mercy and forgive me for Jesus sake. You will find such peace when you no longer trust yourself but God for your salvation.
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