When Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John, He spoke these profound words: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). This was not just a generic statement; it was robustly theological rooted in Old Testament prophecy and typology.

Fulfilling All Righteousness

Jesus’ baptism served as a pivotal moment where multiple streams of biblical prophecy converged. When He entered the Jordan’s waters, He wasn’t just going through a ritual – He was actively fulfilling the entire scope of Old Testament shadows that pointed to Him.

The New Adam and New Creation

As Jesus emerged from the waters, the Father’s voice thundered from heaven: “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11). This heavenly pronouncement established Jesus as the better Adam. Where the first Adam failed in his sonship and brought death through disobedience, Jesus demonstrated perfect obedience and brought life. Likewise, the Spirit descending as a dove echoed Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit hovered over the waters, signaling a new creation in Christ.

The New Israel

The location of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River was significant and not coincidental. Just as Israel crossed the Jordan to enter the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership, Jesus entered the Jordan as the better Israel and the true Joshua (whose name, Yehoshua, means “Yahweh is salvation”). Where Israel failed in their covenant obligations, Jesus would succeed perfectly.

The Perfect High Priest

John’s role in the baptism carries profound significance. As the son of Zechariah, the priest, John stood in the priestly lineage. The Old Testament prescribed that priests must wash before their service (Exodus 29:4, Leviticus 8:6), and sacrificial animals were washed before offering (Leviticus 1:9). When John baptized Jesus, he was simultaneously fulfilling both types – washing the perfect High Priest and preparing the ultimate sacrifice.

This is why John’s declaration, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) carries such weight. He was functioning in his priestly role, identifying the final sacrifice that all previous sacrifices had merely foreshadowed.

The Sinless One Baptized

Furthermore, Jesus, who had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), submitted to a baptism of repentance. This wasn’t because He needed cleansing but because He identified with sinful humanity. If the sinless Son of God humbled Himself to baptism, how much more should we, sinners, submit to this ordinance (Jn. 3:5; Acts 2:38; 8:36-38; 10:47-48; 19:5)?

Jesus’ baptism wasn’t just a historical event but the convergence point of multiple biblical themes: new creation, exodus, priesthood, and sacrifice. It looked back to fulfill the Old Testament’s anticipation while also looking forward to establishing a pattern for all His followers. His baptism becomes our model, not despite His sinlessness but because of it. If the Sinless One submitted to baptism to “fulfill all righteousness,” how much more should we who need cleansing from sin follow in His steps?

Jonah stands as one of the most memorable Bible characters, though not for his good standing, character, accomplishments, or charisma. Instead, Jonah is forever known as the man who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish. While today’s fishermen take pictures of their great catches, Jonah is remembered as the man who was caught by a fish. Though he led a remarkable revival in Nineveh that turned hearts toward God—where men fasted and prayed, and even cattle participated in the sackcloth and fasting—Jonah remains forever linked to the fish.

What brought this nightmare upon Jonah? We can break down Jonah’s three-day excursion in the sea into one word: choices.

The book of Jonah reveals God’s greatness through four remarkable elements: a great wind that pursued, a great fish that preserved, a great city that repented, and above all, a great God who showed mercy. While Jonah stands as one of the most memorable Bible characters, his story is not primarily about him—it’s about the greatness of God.

A Great City

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” – Jonah 1:2 (KJV)

The prophet Jonah, whose Hebrew name (יוֹנָה, Yonah) means “dove,” was anything but gentle. Instead, this obstinate prophet had the temperament of a vulture—circling in judgment, reluctant to show mercy, and waiting for destruction rather than offering peace. Jonah’s ministry took place during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel, around 786–746 BCE. It was a time when Israel, despite some brief political prosperity, was spiritually sick—full of idolatry, corruption, and moral decay. And in the midst of this, God calls Jonah to deliver a message of judgment to the Assyrian city of Nineveh, the very capital of the empire that would one day bring destruction to Israel. Jonah’s task was clear: to go east to Nineveh and proclaim God’s impending judgment on their wickedness.

But Jonah didn’t go east. He fled west—to Tarshish. Instead of traveling the approximately 550 miles east to Nineveh, Jonah set his sights on a place over 2,000 miles away, across the Mediterranean Sea. Tarshish was as far west as a man in Jonah’s day could travel, a symbol of escape to the ends of the earth. The stark contrast of directions in Jonah’s flight—from the fertile land toward the arid desert of Nineveh to the sea—shows the depth of his disobedience. The distance between Nineveh and Tarshish emphasizes not just Jonah’s refusal to obey but the profound absurdity of trying to outrun God’s call. Nineveh lay in the heart of the ancient world’s empire of sin, surrounded by dry, desolate land. But Jonah’s flight took him to the sea—a place of water, movement, and vastness, where he hoped to vanish from God’s command.

Later in the book, Jonah reveals it wasn’t just fear at work in his heart. Jonah didn’t want to see God’s mercy extended to Nineveh. In his mind, the Assyrians deserved judgment, not grace. But God, in His mercy, would not let Jonah run.

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, one of the most brutal empires in ancient history. Historical records reveal their terrifying practices:

1. They were known for impaling defeated enemies on stakes outside city walls
2. Their armies would pile up pyramids of human heads to intimidate their enemies
3. They practiced systematic deportation of conquered peoples
4. Archaeological evidence shows they flayed their enemies alive and hung their skins on city walls

Jonah’s reluctance becomes more understandable when we consider Assyria’s reputation. They were Israel’s dreaded enemy, known for their unparalleled cruelty. Jonah wasn’t just afraid—he didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy. He knew that if they repented, God would forgive even these brutal people.

A Great Wind

“But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” – Jonah 1:4 (KJV)

Jonah fled the presence of God, the Word of God, and the calling of God to do anything other than what God was telling him to do. Reading Jonah you will notice a common refrain: “He went down to Joppa,” “went down into” the boat and fell asleep, he was cast in the sea and went down. Anytime you run from God, you are spiritually headed downward.

When Jonah fled God’s presence, the Lord responded with a great wind. This wasn’t a normal storm; it was a divine pursuit. The Hebrew word used here suggests a wind of such magnitude that seasoned sailors were terrified. God’s pursuit of one rebellious prophet nearly broke a ship designed to withstand Mediterranean storms. And where’s Jonah? He’s asleep at the bottom of the boat. Nineteenth century minister, Hugh Martin said Jonah was “sleeping the sleep of sorrow.” Perhaps you can relate trying to escape reality through sleep. No doubt his conscience and guilt wore him down causing him to sleep during a storm.

Today, you face a similar reality: you can either heed God’s call or run from it. But like Jonah, you’ll discover that God’s pursuing wind will find you. His pursuit isn’t meant to destroy but to bring you back to His purpose.

Either listen and heed God’s call for your life or run from it. You can choose to ignore and harden your heart to God’s call, or you can allow Him to work in your life. But know this—God won’t let you get away easily.

There are people today hearing God’s call to believe and repent. You might hear Him knocking on your heart’s door, asking to come in, yet you resist. But God doesn’t give up easily when He wants to save a soul. He persists when He wants to set you free and change your path. Your choice can either bring power into your life or bring the power of a storm into your life.

A Great Fish

The sailors reluctantly threw Jonah out of the boat and into the waters, and immediately the storm ceased for them. While we don’t have the time to study it, the heathen sailors showed more faith in Jonah’s God than he did. Jonah didn’t want to be a missionary to heathens, yet here are heathens believing and repenting despite Jonah.

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17 (KJV)

Notice the precise language: God “prepared” this fish. This wasn’t a random occurrence but a divine appointment. What seemed like punishment was actually preservation. The fish that appeared to be Jonah’s prison became God’s instrument of rescue.

The Lord may need to place you in difficult circumstances before you’ll pray. What seems like a lost cause became Jonah’s moment of prayer. This wasn’t a prison, it was a prayer closet. Remember: no matter where you are, you can still pray. Though Jonah was surrounded by slime and sea particles in that grotesque belly, he remembered to pray. Learn this lesson: pray before trouble comes. Learn to enjoy God’s presence instead of avoiding it.

The fish is a picture of God’s gracious intervention even in our disobedience. While we see the horror of being swallowed, God sees the opportunity for salvation. What looks like the end might be God’s beginning. Whether you’re in a great storm, or a great fish, God can use it to turn you around.

A Great Prayer

“And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice” (Jonah 2:2).

Jonah chose to pray in the belly of the whale, though he had the opportunity to cry out to God on the boat (1:5). Sometimes God must bring us very low to speak to us. Jonah prayed “out of my affliction”—not out of delight or worship, but from his desperate state. The presence he tried to avoid became unavoidable.

Much of what Jonah said from inside the whale echoes the Psalms—words memorized from youth finding expression in his darkest hour. But Jonah’s experience added a literal dimension to these metaphorical phrases. When the Psalmist said “all your waves and billows are gone over me” (Psalm 42:7), it was metaphorical. When Jonah repeated these words, he meant them literally.

“For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; And the floods compassed me about: All thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple” (Jonah 2:3-4 KJV)

In his worst circumstance, Jonah’s faith shined through. That small word “yet” marks the turning point. Someone needs to grasp hold of a “yet.” Some need to look again toward Jesus. This isn’t the time to give up—it’s time to fix your eyes on Jesus. Lift your eyes to where your help comes from. Jonah was going to look towards the Holy Temple! He’s in the belly of a great fish, but he will look again towards the Holy Temple! The place where God’s glory dwells. The place where God’s Word dwells.

Look again at His promises and faithfulness:

1. If you need healing, remember His power
2. If you need salvation, remember His blood was shed
3. If facing financial problems, remember He owns the cattle on a thousand hill
4. If battling depression or anxiety, remember Jesus promised rest to those who come to Him
5. If facing uncertainty, look to Him who who never changes

A Greater than Jonah

The greatest element in Jonah’s story is God. Nineveh was a great city, but God was greater. The storm on the sea was great, but God was greater. The fish was great, but God was greater. Jonah’s rebellion and Nineveh’s sin was great, but God was greater!

Jonah’s story finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, and Jesus Himself declares that He is the “greater Jonah” (Matthew 12:41, Luke 11:32). There are striking parallels between Jonah and Jesus, but even more, Jesus is the true and better Jonah—the obedient prophet who perfectly fulfills what Jonah failed to do.

Jonah and Jesus both faced storms, but they responded in drastically different ways. Jonah, disobedient and fleeing from God’s call, slept in the bottom of a boat while the sailors above him faced the wrath of the storm (Jonah 1:5-6). Jesus, on the other hand, slept in a boat not as an act of rebellion but as a demonstration of His perfect peace in the will of God (Mark 4:37-38). When the storm threatened Jonah’s boat, he was cast into the sea to calm the raging waters—an act that foreshadowed a substitutionary sacrifice (Jonah 1:12). But Jesus did not just calm a physical storm; He willingly gave Himself up to the ultimate storm of God’s wrath, absorbing it completely so that we might have peace with God (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Jonah was swallowed by the great fish and remained in its belly for three days and nights—a sign that Jesus later applied to Himself (Matthew 12:40). Yet while Jonah’s descent was one of judgment for his disobedience, Jesus entered the grave in perfect obedience. Jonah was spewed onto dry land, begrudgingly going to Nineveh to preach repentance. But Jesus, rising triumphantly from the tomb, did not go reluctantly to proclaim the good news—He went joyfully, willingly, as the true and faithful prophet bringing salvation to the nations (Hebrews 12:2).

Jonah preached a message of judgment, and the people of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes (Jonah 3:4-5). Jesus also came preaching repentance: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). But while Jonah begrudged God’s mercy toward the Assyrians, Jesus longed for sinners to come to Him. Jonah sat outside Nineveh, angry that God had spared his enemies (Jonah 4:1-3). Jesus, however, wept over Jerusalem, longing for its people to turn to Him (Luke 19:41-44). Jonah was a reluctant, xenophobic prophet, angry that God’s grace extended to his enemies. Jesus was the obedient, loving prophet who laid down His life for His enemies (Romans 5:8-10).

And here is the greatest contrast: Jonah ran from his calling, but Jesus set His face like flint toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). Jonah despised the idea of God’s mercy toward his enemies, but Jesus willingly took the nails in His hands to extend mercy to sinners. Jonah was saved by the great fish, but Jesus was swallowed by death itself—and yet He conquered the grave, securing mercy for all who believe in Him.

This is the hope we preach. A greater Jonah has come! And His mercy is for all—reluctant prophets, brutal sinners, self-righteous Pharisees, and broken people like us. Whether we have fled like Jonah or rebelled like Nineveh, the mercy of God in Christ is greater still. The great wind that tossed Jonah’s boat, the great fish that swallowed him, and the great city that repented all point us to one thing—a great God, whose mercy is greater than all our sin. And He invites us not only to receive that mercy but to extend it to the nations. This is our hope, and this is our mission

“And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:12-13).

“And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly” (Deuteronomy 27:8).

“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14).

The Bible is not a textbook; it is not structured like a math or science book. While it contains precepts and principles, its focus is not solely on these concepts. Instead, the Bible centers around a person: Jesus Christ. Both the Old and New Testaments tell the story of Jesus. For instance, after His death and resurrection, two disciples walked dejectedly toward Emmaus, unaware that Jesus had risen from the dead. As they walked, a stranger approached them to hear what they were discussing. Unbeknownst to the travelers, this Stranger was Jesus. He asked them why they were upset, and they responded, “Are you a stranger and not know that Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet we believed to be the Redeemer, has been executed” (Lk. 24:13-24). The Stranger replied: “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

The Law and Prophets was another way of saying the entire Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) pointed and revealed Jesus Christ.

What these two disciples needed was a revelation. The Bible is more than just information about God; it’s a revelation of God in Christ. Information, plus interpretation and revelation, leads to transformation. History and science books are informational but not transformational.

The greatest education you could get is a Bible education.

Deuteronomy

Many Christians try to read through their Bible this time of year. Beginning with Genesis, the narrative is quite straightforward, and Exodus continues that story. However, things become challenging when you reach Leviticus, which contains 27 chapters filled with complex topics like sacrifices, purification rituals, festivals, and the duties of priests. After that, you encounter Numbers—despite its name, it’s not focused primarily on numbers. If you manage to get through Leviticus and Numbers, you finally reach Deuteronomy. This is the last book of the Pentateuch or the Law. While rereading these laws may appear tedious, there is much more to it than that.

The original name of this book was “These are the words,” which was taken from the first verse (Deut. 1:1). The name Deuteronomy is made up of two Greek words, “deuteros” and “nomos,” which means “Second Law” when put together. The reason behind the name Deuteronomy is that Moses repeated the Law to the new generation as they approached the Promised Land. Deuteronomy isn’t a new law but a review of the original Law.

The Hebrew Bible name for this book is in the first sentence of the first verse: “These be the words of which Moses spake..” It’s been called “These Are the Words” and “The Book of Remembrance.”

The setting of this final book is in the plains of Moab. In the plains, Israel’s next generation stood poised to possess the Promised Land of Canaan. Miriam and Aaron had died, and the grandparents and parents of the present generation, who escaped Egypt’s slavery, had all died in the wilderness. Deuteronomy is a compilation of three addresses given by Moses. At this moment, he’s not calling down signs and wonders. He’s not erecting a Tabernacle. He’s not judging the people’s problems and issues. No, Moses is a pastor at this point. Pastor is just another word for “shepherd.” Moses’ last message for this new generation would have to be important.

If you remember, while he was shepherding Jethro’s flock of sheep, the Lord appeared to him a burning bush. The Great I AM called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt’s oppression like a shepherd would lead a flock. Remember Moses’ reluctance to be God’s spokesman because he was worried about his inability to speak eloquently. The Lord gave him Aaron, who would be his voice. But now, Aaron was dead, and Moses stood alone before the congregation.

Note his eloquence of speech in these final sermons. Forty years of leading can make something of you and take a lot out of you. The wilderness and experience can grow and mature you. This new generation needed the statesman and shepherd to remind them of their past and point them to their future.

The New Generation

The generation that emerged from Egypt had passed away, and now, a new generation was prepared to take possession of the Promised Land. For this reason, Moses recounted the exploits and failures of the previous generation (Deuteronomy 1-3). Their failures served as a reminder for the new generation. Despite the unfaithfulness of the earlier generation, God remained faithful. Therefore, the purpose of Deuteronomy is to call the new generation to faithfulness and commitment.

It is important to note that this new generation had not witnessed God’s mighty acts in Egypt. They had not seen the Red Sea part, nor were they present when God revealed Himself to Israel at Mount Sinai. This generation only knew the wilderness; there was so much they had not experienced. Figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were mythic heroes from a distant past.

The three dangers that Canaan posed for this generation were comfort, conformity, and complacency.

Comfort

Considering they had only known the hardships of the wilderness, the plush environment of Canaan would be a constant lure to forget what it was like struggling in the wilderness. The Feast of Booths was given as a reminder of the wilderness days.

Success and plenty can become stumbling blocks for spiritual hunger. Living in the wilderness, waiting upon God to provide manna from heaven and water from rocks, can increase one’s faith. Once they crossed the Jordan River, the manna would cease, and they would live off the hills and valleys of Canaan.

Conformity

However, conforming to Canaan would pose an even greater danger. It is relatively easy to remain separate and distinct in the wilderness; as an outsider, you live differently. In Canaan, though, being separate might mean standing out when you would rather blend in. Following strange dietary laws is manageable when your only food is manna, and you’ve never encountered the aroma of pig roasting over an open flame.

The inhabitants of Canaan worshiped a multitude of false gods, and their idolatrous practices would constantly tempt Israel. With this in mind, God commanded them to destroy the abominable altars and places of worship. He clarified that He was not to be worshiped alongside these false gods. Yahweh was not to be added to the list of idols in Canaan; instead, the Israelites were to commit themselves solely to Him.

Israel’s mission was to stand out as distinct from other nations and serve as an example to them. In Deuteronomy, God emphasizes this unique calling by referring to Israel as His “treasured possession” on three occasions (7:6; 14:2; 26:18-19). He declared that Israel was set apart to bring praise, fame, and honor to His name above all other nations. Their holiness reflected their relationship with God and testified to His greatness.

Complacency

Besides comfort and conformity, complacency often leads to a lack of vigilance or mindfulness, which can result in forgetting God and His laws. In the book of Deuteronomy, the verb “remember” appears 15 times, while “forget” is used 14 times.

It’s easy to forget. When you’re old, they say, you can forget easily. But when you’re young, it’s just as easy. Mom used to tell me, “You’d forget your head if it weren’t attached.”

Here is Moses, 120 years old, telling a large congregation a third of his age not to forget. They must not forget God and His Word. What will keep you in a hostile place? The Word of God. What will keep you when you’re rocked to sleep with comfort? The Word of God. What will keep you from forgetting the Lord? The Word of God. What will keep you from conforming to the world? The Word of God.

Please note that Moses wasn’t giving them a new law; he reminded them of the original Law. New doctrines aren’t going to help a new generation, and removing old doctrines isn’t going to help. No, that new generation needed the original truth.

Not a Form, but a Voice

“And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:12-13).

When God revealed Himself to Israel at Mt. Sinai, He did not take on a visible form; instead, He spoke to them with His voice. This demonstrates that God is not limited to physical images but is revealed through His Word. Instead of providing an image for them to worship, God gave them His Word. When God created the heavens and the earth, He spoke it into existence with His Word. His creation vibrates with the power of that Word.

The Stones: The Written Word as a Reminder

“And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly” (Deuteronomy 27:8).

When Israel entered the Promised Land, they were commanded to write the Law on stones at Mount Ebal (27:1-8). This act served as a public declaration and a lasting reminder of God’s covenant. Instead of creating an image of God to worship, they were instructed to take stones, plaster them, and write the Law upon them.

Mount Ebal would have the Law they were to obey inscribed on it. If they failed to keep the Law, curses would follow. Unlike the dramatic voice from a mountain of fire and smoke, this would be a mountain with Words written on it. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim are located in Shechem, in central Canaan. Thus, the Law was meant to be central to Israel’s identity.

Shechem, located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in Canaan, served as a central gathering place for the tribes of Israel. With a rich history tied to the patriarchs, including Abraham, who built an altar there, and Jacob, who settled in the area, Shechem became significant for covenant renewal. Its convenient location facilitated gatherings of tribes from both sides of the Jordan River, promoting unity among the newly settled nation.

With all of this information, we can gather that the Word of God was to be a central location for Israel early in their settlement of Canaan. Likewise, the Word of God is to be central to the believer’s life.

The Heart: The Word is Near You

“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14).

In Deuteronomy 30, Moses calls Israel to a deep understanding: the Word of God is not confined to the thunder and smoke of Mount Sinai, nor is it merely inscribed on stones that can be left behind in Shechem. It is not something that they must travel far to find or cross rivers to grasp. Instead, the Word of God has astonishingly drawn near. It is not distant but is present—in their very hearts and on their lips. This is God’s great kindness, making His will accessible and His truth intimately close. They are not left wondering where to go or what to do. God’s Word is with them, ready to shape their hearts and guide their lives.

Moses connects this idea to the call in Deuteronomy 10:12-17 to “circumcise” their hearts. The nearness of the Word emphasizes that God desires more than mere external obedience, whether out of fear at Sinai or reverence before stones in Shechem. He wants their hearts to be tender and wholly His, free from pride and rebellion. The Word residing in their mouths and hearts is not distant or foreign—it is the life-giving truth implanted by God Himself, urging them to love Him with all they are. Their obedience does not require extraordinary feats or distant journeys; it requires surrender—a heart turned toward Him and a mouth ready to proclaim His truth. This is the essence of choosing life: to accept the Word that has come near and allow it to transform their whole being.

Conclusion

Call to Action: Now!

As any preacher worth their salt, Moses pleads for his audience to make a decision for the Lord. Moses uses the word “today” 48 times in his sermons. The word calls for a decision to be made immediately without delay. The previous generation failed to believe and obey, and their graves stood as witness to their refusal. The same holds true today; you must decide to commit your life to Jesus. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t promised, all that’s left is today.

Jesus the Prophet Like Moses and the Better Israel

Earlier, I mentioned that the Bible is more than just a set of rules. When reading Deuteronomy, it might seem like an exaggeration to say that, as it primarily serves as a reminder of God’s Law. However, I also noted that the entire Bible is centered around Jesus. Both of these statements hold true when it comes to Deuteronomy.

First, while Deuteronomy is heavy with Law, it’s the first time in the Old Testament that God’s love is mentioned:

“And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 4:37).

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

God’s love and His Law are inseparably linked, flowing together as a display of His covenantal faithfulness and our responsive obedience. The Law is not a burdensome checklist but a pathway of delight for those who know the steadfast love of the Lord. Just as Deuteronomy reveals that God set His love upon His people, calling them to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might, Jesus echoes this in John’s Gospel: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). Love and obedience are two sides of the same coin—our obedience springs from love, and our love is proven in obedience. John’s epistle reaffirms this truth: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not grievous” (1 Jn. 5:3). God’s love gives us the power to obey, and His Law shows us the shape of love, pointing us to Jesus, the one who perfectly kept the Law for us and now calls us to walk in His ways.

The key to loving God and keeping His commands is Jesus Christ.

In the middle of Deuteronomy, there is a prophecy concerning Jesus. Moses says God will raise up a Prophet like himself. He says that God will “put my words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deut. 18:18).

Do you know which Old Testament book Jesus quoted more than any other? Deuteronomy. His detractors asked him, “what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answered: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Matt. 12:28-30).

Jesus is a better Prophet than Moses. But He’s also the true Israel. Standing on the banks of the Jordan, the new generation of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, fresh from forty years of wilderness failure. Centuries later, Jesus stepped into those same waters of the Jordan, baptized by John, and declared to be the beloved Son of God in whom the Father was well pleased (Matt. 3:17). But unlike Israel, Jesus was not led into a land of milk and honey but driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days of testing—a deliberate echo of Israel’s forty years of wandering. The devil’s opening attack—”If you are the Son of God”—was a calculated taunt aimed at unseating Jesus as Adam was in Eden (Lk. 3:38) and Israel was in the wilderness (Ex. 4:22). Adam ate what was forbidden, Israel grumbled against the manna, but Jesus, the true and better Israel, met each temptation with the sharp edge of Deuteronomy: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3). Where Israel demanded proof of God’s presence, Jesus refused to test the Lord His God (Deut. 6:16). And where Israel bowed to golden calves, Jesus rebuked the devil, declaring worship for God alone (Deut. 6:13). The Word was in His mouth because He was the Word made flesh, standing in perfect obedience where Adam and Israel had fallen. The wilderness that had exposed Israel’s rebellion became the proving ground of Jesus’ perfect faithfulness, as He triumphed as the faithful Son, the true Israel, and the one in whom all of God’s covenant promises are fulfilled.

Finally, through Jesus’ faithfulness to obey the entirety of the Law, He enacted a New and better covenant. One of which we can enter today. Jesus took the curse of the Law upon Himself so we could receive the blessings and benefits of a covenant with God (Deut. 21:22-23; Gal. 3:13).

The New Covenant, enacted through the precious blood of Jesus, is the final and decisive fulfillment of what the Old Covenant foreshadowed but could not accomplish. Israel failed to keep the Law because they did not mix it with faith (Heb. 4:2). Though holy and good, the Law was powerless to save because it depended on human effort, not the grace of God received through faith. But now, through Jesus, we can have our hearts circumcised—not by the hands of men, but by the Spirit, through faith and repentance (Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11). Just as Israel crossed through the waters of the Jordan, we pass through the waters of baptism, identifying with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). Paul reminds us that just as Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, so we are baptized into Christ, our greater Deliverer (1 Cor. 10:1-2; Gal. 3:27). And just as the Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism, so the Spirit will descend upon us to fill our hearts, marking us as sons and daughters of God (Rom. 8:14-16; Gal. 4:6). By faith, we are brought into this New Covenant, not as those who labor under the weight of the Law, but as those who are freed to walk in the Spirit, live as children of God, and enjoy the fullness of His promises forever.