He Fufilled The Law & The Prophets

Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

C. H. Spurgeon – “We who believe have as yet failed to see much of the truth of God. We know enough to save us, to comfort us, and to help us on our way to heaven; but oh, how much of the glory of divine truth has never yet been revealed to our eyes! Some of God’s children do not fully know even the common truths as yet, and those who do not know them realize but little of their depth and height.”

#1. JESUS CAME TO THE FULFILL THE LAW. As the Lord continued His sermon, He turned His attention to “The Law” — the foundation of Jewish national life and the moral, ceremonial, and religious code under which they lived.

First He stated His personal appreciation and obedience to God’s law. He had not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. There was never a moment when the Lord Jesus did not absolutely fulfill in every detail every commandment…

• As a baby, as a boy, as a teenager and as an adult. At home, at school, at work, at play. As a son, brother, and neighbor. As a carpenter, as an itinerant preacher, in secret and in public. When surrounded by family, friends and foes.

• At all times, in all places, in every way, He kept the law of God. He kept it in letter and in spirit; its order and in its intention. He kept it because it was His nature to keep it. He would never dream of not keeping it. It was His Father’s will and Jesus always did those things that please the Father (John 8:29).

In Old Testament times the most sacred object connected with Israel’s richly symbolic system of worship was the “Ark of the Covenant.” This Ark stood within the holy of holies, which was behind the veil.

Inside that ark was an unbroken copy of the Law, a pot of Manna and Aaron’s Rod. Upon the ark rested, as upon a throne, the Shekinah glory cloud as a visible token of the presence of God.

Hebrews 9:1-8 “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:”

The “Ark” was a picture of Jesus Christ.

• The acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus. He was 100% man. God Himself became flesh and suffered the agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was weary, He thirsted, He hungered.

• The pure gold that overlaid the wood teaches us that Jesus was 100% God. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

• The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King. According to John it was Jesus who Isaiah saw seated on the throne of glory with the angels crying ’holy, holy, holy.’

• The unbroken tables of stone identify Jesus as the One who perfectly kept the Law and never broke God’s Commandments.

• Aaron’s rod that budded (Num 17:8) speaks of the death and resurrection of Jesus something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life."

• Aaron’s rod also speaks of Christ as our Great high priest, chosen by God as our eternal representative before the Almighty.