Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:4-17

Sometimes it’s necessary for us to once again hear what the building blocks of our faith are. Paul is explaining to the Corinthians how much better the new dispensation is. The old dispensation was that of the law. God gave the law to Moses so that the Israelites could exactly know the boundaries of God’s will within which they had to live. In this dispensation the punishment of those who break the law prevented people from getting to God.

However, Jesus introduced a new dispensation. When Jesus died on the cross He irrevocably died for all the punishment for mankind’s sin. No human being could do this. Only God is able to die for all his children’s sin. By doing this, Jesus did not strike through all the laws given to Moses – no, Jesus only changed the impact, that which happens when you cross the boundaries of the law. By dying on the cross, He took the punishment that should’ve been ours when we don’t live within the boundaries of God’s will. He took the punishment for us.

When I was a child we still got a hiding. There are many stories from my school days when I regularly had to report for six of the best. Once it was for my share in letting the air out of our Afrikaans teacher’s car tyres at a debate evening. When I was invited to the principal’s office over the intercom the next day I knew it was because I had to get my hiding for the trouble of the previous evening. Like an ox going to slaughter I slowly made way to the principal’s office.

Standing in front of the door, I heard someone else getting six of the best. It didn’t sound good and my heart was beating weakly. Then the door opened and a friend of mine came out. The principal told me I could go back to class, because my friend took the hiding on my behalf…

No, unfortunately it hadn’t happened like that and I had to take it like a man.

But this is precisely what Jesus had done for us on the cross. He came to take our hiding. If we mess up and play outside the boundaries of God’s will, it’s as if Jesus bends down to take it in our place – on a much bigger scale though. Obviously, the wages of sin, the punishment for our messing up, are death. That is why Jesus had to die. He had to be killed on a cross in our place and the result is that we are free. Jesus took the punishment, the dying for our doing wrong.

That is the wonder of our story. That is the wonder of our God.

This is precisely the message that has Paul singing.  9If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government of Affirmation? 10Bright as that old government was, it would look downright dull alongside this new one. 11If that makeshift arrangement impressed us, how much more this brightly shining government installed for eternity?

You and I live in this time. We live in a new dispensation where God took the punishment for us. We live in a dispensation where we receive the Holy Spirit. We live in a new dispensation where the glory of God shines for ever and ever. Now we have to live like that. We must live a life making the new dispensation visible. We must live like people whose punishment was paid by Jesus. Our actions must show people this new dispensation so that they too may long for it.

May this become true and visible in all our lives.

Reflection

Do you live in the new dispensation?

Do you understand that Jesus had born your punishment?

Do others see this in your daily lives?

Prayer

Father, how can I thank You for the fact that Jesus took my punishment?! It’s too much for me to understand how Jesus could have died in the past for my sins in the future. But even though I don’t always understand it, I am so grateful. Please help me to live in such a way that others will recognise it and also long for it. Amen