This Is the Way, Walk in It

Jesus has become the Mediator for a better covenant because He took the better covenant upon Himself by walking in it and fulfilling it.

Every commandment in the old covenant was sprinkled with the blood of calves and goats, both the book itself, and all the people.

Heb. 9:19. As the firstborn among many brethren, Jesus received the laws of God written in His heart and mind. The fulfillment of these laws does not require the blood of calves and goats, but Jesus’ own precious blood. Every law in the heart and mind costs blood. Therefore the law that is written in our hearts and minds has also been sprinkled with blood. If we walk on the way of obedience, on the way of God’s commandments, then we will find that the commandment is active until blood is shed. This is to resist sin unto bloodshed. Here we become aware of the testimony God gives concerning His Son, the testimony that overcomes the world, the testimony of faith, that is, the Spirit, the water, and the blood. 1 John 5:7-8. This is the ultimate testimony. In this testimony, God’s will has taken place and all His counsel has been fulfilled. This testimony brings full restoration to the heavenly glory, and in this testimony “the Master” exclaimed: “It is finished.” This is the testimony of judgment in which and according to which the Son of Man will judge all flesh. Here the veil is torn in two from top to bottom; nothing is hidden here; everything is exposed and laid bare. This is the final righteous judgment, and this is the conquering Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ. For the Spirit, the water, and the blood are the testimony of Jesus, which has been made one with the Word of God, which also is the will of God.

During our progress toward this testimony and in this testimony, He is our Mediator and our High Priest. And no one else can be because no one else has gone this way, all the way into the sanctuary. He seals each commandment the Father gave Him with His own precious blood. Therefore it is said to us, “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.” 1 Tim. 6:13-14.

Pontius Pilate had power to crucify Jesus and power to release Him—he said so himself. But Jesus’ good confession was that He gave Himself over to the will of His Father; He answered: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” He did not seek deliverance from Pontius Pilate.

When we determine to keep the commandment without spot and blameless, and the commandment whose purpose is life is found to be unto death for us, then at the end of the commandment, when the death penalty is to be executed, a Pontius Pilate always comes and offers us release, saying, “I have power to release you.” This “spare yourself” is the voice of Pilate, while the voice of God in the commandment leads us to death. This is the new, living way. Walk in it!

The old covenant had burnt offerings and offerings for sin—the blood of calves and goats. But in the new covenant Jesus says, “A body You have prepared for Me.” In this body God’s will is now to be fulfilled, by faith. This happened in Jesus, and it is to happen in us. The sacrifices are within the body, thus the blood is also in the body. The sacrifice is not complete until blood has been shed. This is the sacrifice of Christ, the sufferings of Christ, and the death of Christ fulfilled in our mortal flesh. This is the way that leads to the life of Jesus being manifested in our mortal flesh. It is the way of godliness, obedience, and God’s way that is spoken evil of—the way that leads to “Christ manifested in the flesh.” Yes, this is the way of the victor, the way that overcomes all worldly spirits, the way of judgment over all carnal religiosity. The measuring stick “Christ manifested in the flesh” destroys all religious imaginations. This is why God’s way is hated and has been spoken ill of throughout the ages. But for us who believe, this way of the sufferings of Christ is the way of glory, the way of God’s power, the way of fearlessness, the way of God’s revelation, the way of fellowship in the Spirit with the Father, the Son, and all who have been crucified according to the flesh and are holy and blameless. This is the way where God’s theory and practices melt together and become the wisdom of God, Christ manifested in the flesh. As it went the first time, so it goes every time a person of flesh and blood walks on the cross-covered way of faith, the way of sacrifice, through the veil—His flesh.

No ravenous beast walks on this way, no one who practices guile or lying, no deceiver, no murderer. In Deuteronomy 15:4 [Norw.] it says, “None among you shall be a beggar; for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance.” If our body is presented to God as a well-pleasing sacrifice, we do not need much. Rom. 12:1. It is written about Judas Iscariot in Psalm 109:10, “Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.” The way of God is the way of sacrifice; it is not the way of begging. We are to spread abroad and do good. We do not need to beg. Remember that and be awake!

But when you do not walk on the way of God’s will, then you will feel a lack in every area, as it says, “Therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything.” Deut. 28:48. On the other hand it is written: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (that is, everything you need to live).

In light of this, we conclude that no self-seeking beggars walk on the new and living way. Everyone gives and receives. Beautiful, glorious life! A joyful way. Walk in it!