But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4-5
During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus had many followers. There were the disciples, of course, who accompanied Him everywhere, and others who were family members or close friends. Other followers included those who had been healed during Jesus’ miracles. Yet others included those who had accepted Jesus teachings wholeheartedly. And others saw in Him the realization of their hopes for deliverance from Roman rule. What did it mean to be a follower of Jesus back then? It meant going everywhere He did, doing everything He did, obeying His teaching, and supporting His work. In effect, being a follower of Jesus back then was not much different from being a follower of Jesus now. In order to follow Him in what He did, we must know what He did. Our text says He was made under the law; does this mean He followed all of the law of Moses? If so, we must follow that law if we are to be His followers. That is what false teachers of Paul’s day, and in our day too, are quick to tell us. Because the Bible makes it clear that we need not observe the law today, it is apparent that Jesus did not do all of the things outlined in the law.
Our text declares that Jesus was made under the law. That is, as a human being, a Jew, He came under the same requirements for sinless perfection that was required of the rest of humanity. Because the rest of humanity could never keep the law, much of the law was taken up with provisions to atone for the sin that they committed, sacrifices of innocent victims for the guilty. But Jesus was not guilty. He had no sin that required atonement. Strictly speaking, even the offering of the turtledoves at the time of His dedication was not necessary. He was baptized, not that He had anything to repent of, but to display to His followers what they ought to do. There was one place where His followers did not and could not go – to Calvary! There, alone, He paid the price for our redemption, so that we might receive the adoption of sons.
So then, as followers of Jesus Christ, there are things that are not necessary for us, including the keeping of the law, with its ordinances and offerings. Christ has already fulfilled all of those things for us. And, as followers of Jesus Christ, there are things that are important for us, although strictly speaking not essential for our salvation. These include being obedient to Him in the ordinances of baptism and of the Lord’s Supper, and in the keeping of His new commandment to us, that we love one another (John 13:34). -Jim MacIntosh