Jesus maintained justice, or at least, He brought the ills of His time on earth to the notice of the people and the religious leaders.
Through Jesus, "salvation was close at hand" because of His righteousness. The leaders didn't like what He represented nor whom He said He was. This then sparked the catalyst to the crucifixion, gaining salvation we have through faith in Jesus Christ.
This salvation wasn't just for the Jews, it went out to the 'foreigner" as well. Any such person who wanted to "bind" him or herself to the LORD, to serve, love, worship and keep the Sabbath, were welcomed by the Lord into His house which He called "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7).
A little aside here. Think of the devotion, of that "bind". That is dedication and commitment. Praise the Lord for people everywhere who bind themselves to the Lord and to His work!
Back to the idea of Jesus bringing justice. This was the huge issue that riled up Jesus' righteous anger and led Him to make a whip and drive out the money changers and hawkers in the temple. The house of prayer had become a marketplace and what's more, a corrupt one at that. Double shame at the desecration of the sacred.
The foreigners got their place of prayer back, at least for the time being, I assume. The Sovereign LORD declared that He would not only bring back the exiles but still others besides (Isaiah 56:8). At the time of Isaiah, he was prophesying that the Jews would return after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon. However, we know that there is a day coming when not only the Jew but all of the scattered tribes of Israel will return to their Promised Land from the four winds.
Salvation through Jesus Christ enabled one and all - the whosoever - despite ethnic background, to be saved, to come and serve Him, love Him, worship Him and to keep our temples (bodies) holy for Him.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus' name be on our lips and on the lips of our next generation and so on. Our New Testament covenant is indeed an everlasting one, through faith in Jesus Christ and His work accomplished for us on the cross. He died, was buried but rose again on the third day. This is our living Savior who gave and still gives us everlasting life.
Let's continue to praise the One who died for us through the breaking and partaking of the bread and drinking of the cup of wine this Lord's Day. Serve, love and worship Him, going forth to live sanctified lives and know and tell others the good news of salvation which is for Jew and Gentile alike.
~ERC March 2022~
Based on Isaiah 56.
Sing, Hear the Call of the Kingdom, along with Keith & Kristyn Getty.
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