Fulfilled

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). These words take on new impact as I realize the significance of the fact that Christ is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. The law is words. The prophets are words. Christ is the logos, the Word. This one Word, the logos, is the fulfillment of all of the word of law and prophets. Consider this passage from Psalm 119:

                Oh how I love your law!

                                It is my meditation all the day.

                Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

                                for it is ever with me.

                I have more understanding than all my teachers,

                                for your testimonies are my meditation.

                I understand more than the aged,

                                for I keep your precepts.

                I hold back my feet from every evil way,

                                in order to keep your word.

                I do not turn aside from your rules,

                                for you have taught me.

                How sweet are your words to my taste,

                                sweeter than honey to my mouth!

                Through your precepts I get understanding;

                                therefore I hate every false way.

                                       (Psalm 119:97-104 ESV)

Thinking of Christ as the fulfillment of all that David says renders the passage like this:

                Oh how I love the Christ!

                                He is my meditation all the day.

                Your son makes me wiser than my enemies,

                                For he is ever with me.

    I have more understanding than all my teachers,

                                for Christ is my meditation.

                I understand more than the aged,

                                for I keep with Christ.

                I hold back my feet from every evil way,

                                in order to abide in your son.

                I do not turn aside from your son,

                                for he has taught me.

                How sweet is Jesus  to my taste,

                                sweeter than honey to my mouth!

                Through him I get understanding;

                                therefore I hate every false way.

Law, precept, rule, testimony. Christ, in fulfilling the law has become the satisfaction of all of these. The law, which Paul called the ministry of death carved in letters of stone (2 Corinthians 3:7) has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ; the living word. The promises of the prophets have been fulfilled in this promised one. Unlike the cold, hard, demanding word of the law that kills, the logos makes alive. Unlike the prophetic words of promise, Christ is promise. The word is alive! As Paul says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10:8) We no longer know just the word of the Lord, but the Lord who is the Word.

What honor the law and the prophets have. Oh that Christ may fulfill me as well! That he may become the living word to me, a fire that consumes me! He has done what neither the law nor the prophets could do – he has become the living word. The word that saves. That is the gospel truth.

God Bless