Here before us is another radical difference between the old and new covenants. The old covenant was a “ministry of death” (II Corinthians 3:7). The new covenant is a ministry of life.
The image and experience of death is all over the old covenant. From Korah’s rebellion against Moses when the ground opened up and swallowed up the bad guys and all their household (Numbers 16:32) to the discovery by Moses of the golden calf when he ordered 3000 idolaters among the Israelites to be killed (Exodus 32:28) to stonings for breaking the Old Testament Law (Numbers 15:36) to priests whose service came to an end due to death (Hebrews 7:23) to the sacrifice of thousands of animals year after year. And these illustrations just scratch the surface of the death experience in the Old Testament. One of the hallmarks of the old covenant was the stench of death.
The new covenant, on the other hand, is saturated with the promise of life. Jesus made this comparison between the covenants in John chapter 5. “You search the Scriptures [Old Testament] because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). The Pharisees searched the Old Testament scriptures looking for life. But all they found was death. True life would only be found in Jesus.
Jesus is the life of the new covenant. Jesus is the great giver of life to all who believe. In the gospel of John, for example, the life imparted by Jesus Christ – life eternal and abundant – is a constant theme. As in …
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:1,4). Jesus and the life He imparts was there from the beginning.
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). A straightforward “if-then” regarding belief and eternal life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). Believe, and we literally cross over from death to life!
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst’ ” (John 6:35). This is quite the never hungry, never thirsty promise.
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). It is not God’s wish, it is not God’s hope that those who believe in Jesus attain eternal life. No, it is God’s will, God’s determined plan that eternal life is the promise for those who believe in Jesus.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Another “if-then” regarding belief and eternal life.
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:48). Jesus is the provision of this life eternal and abundant.
“Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life‘ ” (John 6:68). Peter acknowledges that Jesus’ words are the very words of eternal life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus’ promise of abundant life stands in contrast to Satan’s plans to steal, kill, and destroy.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies’ ” (John 11:25). Jesus’ own resurrection will be a picture of the resurrection life for us.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’ ” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way (a theme repeated over 20 times in John’s gospel). Jesus says this because it is true; no hidden agenda. If we believe Jesus, the truth about Jesus, we will have life.
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Believing that Jesus is the Christ and that God sent Him is at the heart of the promise of eternal life.
“These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Finally, John reveals his purpose in writing this gospel; that we would recognize Jesus as the Christ, believe that He is the Son of God, and by believing experience life in the name of Jesus.
And may I just add that this resurrection life of Jesus now lives in us by virtue of the promise and provision of the new covenant. Resurrection life delivers a promise about our past – we have been set free from the penalty of sin. Resurrection life holds a promise about our future – life with Jesus forever because our sins are forgiven. And resurrection life delivers a promise about our present – freedom from the power of sin in our walk today.
Can I implore you? Leave the stench and punishment of death, ensconced in the old covenant, behind. Let it go! Jesus defeated death once and for all at the cross. Jesus defeated the power of sin and death, driven by the Old Testament Law, at the cross (I Corinthians 15:56). His death was the end of death, the last blood to be spilled. Embrace the new. Embrace the promise of the new covenant. Embrace the resurrection life of Jesus in you.