Friday, February 3, 2012

Friday, February 3rd

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 13-15.
Today's scripture focus is Hebrews 9:1-10.

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 


When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

John MacArthur has a fascinating sermon on this passage called The New Covenant Part 2 - and if you have the time I`d highly encourage you to read it or listen to it.

He describes in detail how the tabernacle and everything in it, pointed to Jesus Christ.  There are 50 chapters in the OT about the tabernacle and only 2 about creation.  The tabernacle is important.  And it is important because it all points to Jesus Christ.  Fascinating sermon, but too long to really summarize here.  Well, maybe just a few really quick ones.
The tabernacle had only one way to get into it, with only one door.  Jesus is the only way to God, He is the only door to God.
The courtyard was for everyone just as all are invited to join in the new covenant with Jesus.
The altar in the courtyard was a picture of Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
The laver, or wash basin, is the picture of Jesus as the cleanser of His people.
The Holy Place was only for priests, just as the work that Jesus does in heaven is only for believers.
In the Holy Place the lampstand is a picture of Jesus being the light of life (no longer the light of the world - but only the light to those who believe, He lights our path and lights the Word for us)
There is also the table of bread which is a picture of Jesus being our sustenance - He sustains us daily with His Word.
There is the altar of incense which is a picture of Jesus being our intercessor for us in heaven.
And there`s so much more - definitely read it if you have the time.

The point though, is the fact that the tabernacle and all it`s trappings, though divinely appointed at the time, were not enough.  They were a picture of what was to come in Jesus, the new and better high priest, the new and better sacrifice, with a new and better covenant by a new and better mediator in order to finally grant us full access to God.

And the writer of Hebrews never uses put downs in his comparisons.  Jesus is better than Aaron, but Aaron was still a great high priest.  Jesus is better than Joshua, but Joshua was still a great leader.  Jesus is better than angels, but the angels are still magnificent.  Not only is it wrong to build someone or something up at the expense of tearing someone else down, it doesn`t work because Jesus is not just better than a ho-hum priest - He`s better than the best high priest!  By elevating the angels, Aaron, Joshua, the priesthood, and then proving that Jesus is even better, he elevates Jesus even more.

But that doesn`t mean the old law was useless.  It was useful for many things, one of which was to be a picture of Jesus.  A promise anticipating the coming of a new covenant, a new high priest, a new sacrifice, a new mediator who could finally bring us into full access to God.  The old covenant was never meant to be permanent (and the transient nature of the tent of the tabernacle illustrated that beautifully).  A new, better, permanent covenant would come, and has come, in Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow's scripture focus:  Hebrews 9:11-14
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Exodus 16-18

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