Christ Would Not Go Out Free

The commandment of Moses regarding the Hebrew servant who would not go free, and would thus be marked by the awl through his ear, points to the submission of our Lord Jesus to His Father.

Christ as obedient servant is portrayed in Psalm 40, Isaiah 50 and Isaiah 53. His ear was open to His Father's commandments.

He delighted to do His Father's will, Hebrews tells us, which was to make an offering for sin.

He was obedient unto His Father, even to the death of the Cross! He was obedient as God's Lamb to be slain for sinners at Calvary!

How often our Lord Jesus' relationship with His people is pictured as familial. He said Himself that those who follow Him and obey His Father's will are his mother and sisters and brothers.

He is described as "not ashamed" to call us His brethren, having been made like unto us, that He might suffer death for us!

He is described as a bridegroom who loves His bride the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might render it perfect and spotless.

Thus, it is most astounding, and appropriate, that in Exodus 21, the reason that the servant would not go away from his master, but would abide forever, was that he loved his master, his wife, and his children!

Our Lord Jesus might have gone free from the awful service He had to perform, but He loved us! He loved His bride the Church! He loved His brethren! He loved His Father!

And so, Christ would not go out free.

He would not rescue Himself from that service on the Cross that He knew He must suffer. He loved us, therefore He would not escape His service. He would not go out free.

We have been loved with a sacrificial love we cannot fathom. Praise the Savior!