Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17)
We’re human, all right. That is why we always look for the easy way out.
The Lord’s disciples were doing the same thing. They were thinking, hoping, that Jesus would abrogate some of the laws that they had to live under. However, Jesus had something else in mind: fulfillment.
Jesus made it quite clear that He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets. Instead, He came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Thank God for that.
Because, if He decided to abolish the law or the prophets, He could just as easily have said, “Well, guys, since we’ve done away with these teachings and laws, we’ve also done away with the promise of a Savior. I guess I’ll just pack my bags and go home. Too bad for you. I could have saved you.”
Jesus came with a mission. His mission was to fulfill the law and the prophets so that He could then do what they had promised: to set us free.
Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection were all promised of old. The prophets made that quite clear. The law, set forth by God and given to us through the prophets, was designed to help us to prepare for the coming of our savior so that we would be ready and able to embrace Him when He came.
God has a plan. His plan may be a bit difficult for us. It might be a bit confusing to us. But, He has a plan. The sooner that we realize that and do all that we can to embrace it, the better.
FAITH ACTION: Try not to look for ways around the requirements of the faith. Instead, embrace them wholeheartedly confident that they will help you to grow in holiness.