God promised a New Covenant “not like” the Old (Jeremiah 31:32; Hebrews 8:9). How evident that becomes as we compare the Old Testament with the New Testament. Jewish authorities count over 600 distinct commands given by Moses. Where, in the New, are the many chapters with long lists of detailed rituals and instructions? The New is simply “not like” that. God began to give the Law on Mount Sinai with fearful fire and storm (Exodus 19:18-25; 20:18-21; Hebrews 12:18-21). For the New, God came down as a baby, then grew up among us, the
Son of God and Son of Man (Matthew 16:13, 16; John 1:1, 14).
In Jesus, God spoke, not by trumpet and thunder, but by working with people patiently, even quietly (Matthew 12:15-20). His appeal was, “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). As Jesus went about “doing good and healing” (Acts 10:38), He prepared people for change. He often spoke of the coming kingdom—when God would reign through the risen Messiah—and how to enter that kingdom. In a sense then, if we wish to learn the nature of the new order, we must walk with Jesus as His early disciples did. We do this by carefully reading the reports of His life—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Walking with Jesus, what do we see? John saw His glory, grace and truth (John 1:14, 17). In John, “glory” refers to Jesus’ power and character. “Grace” is evident in Jesus’ kindness, and especially His saving purpose: “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17). The Son’s death would fulfill the New Covenant promise: “I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
“Truth” is set and spoken by God. The Father’s “word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus brings the divine reality (such as worship “in spirit and truth”) that replaces old shadows (like Jerusalem’s temple, John 4:21-24; Hebrews 8:1-5, 13; 9:24; 10:19- 22). Truth is positive, but it also stands firmly against lies and rebellion.
Whoever does not believe is condemned already…. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:18, 36). The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:48)
Jesus, the very embodiment of truth, never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 cf. John 14:6). His spoken truth and commands endure through all cultures and all generations (Matthew 28:19- 20). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Luke 21:33 cf. 1 Peter 1:25). Today, therefore, His words are still true, still relevant, and still authoritative. Reading about Jesus, look for eternal truths revealed for the New Covenant. Everything Jesus says is true, but at times He adds emphasis by
saying, “Truly.” For example, to Nicodemus He stresses,
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3, 5)