New Heights Christian Church
Kent, WA
Rev. Dr. Dan Folden
You can listen to Sunday’s sermons on the web.
So you can read ahead, text for next week’s sermon on5/18/03 is Hebrews 10:1-19.
Sermon: May 11, 2003 – Mother’s Day
A Friend in High Places!
Hebrews 9:12-28NIV
24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Hebrews 9:24NIV
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Hold Fast; Remain Faithful!
A Friend in High Places!
Hebrews 9:12-28NIV
We are nearing the end of our study in Hebrews. After today, only two more sermons to go. We will be concluding our study at the end of chapter 10 because last fall I already spoke from chapters 11 through 13.
What I want to do this morning is take a walk with Jesus the Great High Priest into the tabernacle and note the significance of several items and pieces of furniture. It has been noted multiple times that the tabernacle points to Christ, is a type of Christ, is a picture of Christ. I would like to emphasizethat note this morning as I speak of our Friend in high places.
To get started I would like to give you a quick tour of the tabernacle, taking you in through the gate of the outer court, past the brazen altar and to the laver or water basin. Then we will enter the holy place and take note of the table of showbread, the altar of incense and the lampstand or menorah. Finally, we will enter through the veil into the Holy of Holies and focus on the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat or the Throne of God setting on top. There we will see animated the glory of God.
Thanks to Chris Tyler for his work of designing this animated media presentation.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness – media playerC:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\CHURCH New Heights\Sermon Resources\holy_asf\HOLY_NEW.ASF
God commanded the Israelites through Moses to build the tabernacle so that He might dwell among His people. God gave them precise directions in what to build, including the materials they were to use. This tent or tabernacle was to be where God would make His presence known to His people.
Through the tabernacle, God was creating a visual display of His provision of salvation through mercy and grace. He was also giving His people an introduction to the Messiah. The better we understand the purpose and function of the tabernacle, the better we will understand Christ, why He came and what He did for us.
Just as the tabernacle was God’s way of living among His people, so it was with Jesus. He took on human flesh and tabernacled among us. When we read in John 1, verse 14, that Jesus, the Word, made His dwelling among us, the word dwelling means tabernacle or tent. It is a direct link to the tabernacle of the Old Testament.
John 1:14 (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
OUTER COURT AND GATE
The tabernacle was surrounded by an outer court. This outer court separated the people from the sacred Tabernacle. The outer court had one entrance that faced the east. It was called the gate to the outer court. For anyone to ever enter the presence of God, it would take going through the first gate of the outer court.
John 10:7-11 (NIV)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He came riding on a foal of a donkey through the eastern gate of the city in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
The entrance to the court of the tabernacle was pointing to Christ. He is the gate into the court. He is also the only One who entered the gate in perfect righteousness, able to bring salvation to His people.
THE BRAZEN ALTAR
The first stop upon entering the court of the tabernacle was the brazen altar or altar of burnt offering. All animal sacrifices took place here.
Remember, we have a sin problem. It is sin that separates us from God. That sin problem must be dealt with before we can enjoy the presence of Almighty God. Thus, the first stop on our way to the presence of God is the brazen altar.
From our text in Hebrews 9, verse 22
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
We do not have the option to bypass the brazen altar. This altar points to the cross of Jesus Christ. The sacrifices that took place here foreshadow the Lamb of God who would one day be sacrificed for you and me.
THE LAVER
Through the gate, to the brazen altar and then to the laver. A laver is a basin of water for washing. This is where the priests washed their hands and feet before entering the Holy Place. Various writers take note that God did not give any size specifications for the laver. Their extrapolation is that this speaks of the immeasurable grace of God for forgiving the daily sins of a believer.
The laver certainly points to Christ as the One who extends forgiveness to us multiple times, even daily.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
But the laver could also speak to us of baptism. You see, immediately following Christ’s death on the cross, He was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. This is precisely the picture of baptism, where we are completely covered with water as though we were buried in death. This identification with Christ’s death is an acknowledgement that we are in need of someone to die for us. Our only hope for being cleansed of sin is in Christ’s ransom.
Facing judgment without a mediator, without a substitute to take our place, would mean eternal condemnation for us. The good news is that Christ took our place. In baptism, we attach ourselves to Christ’s death, as well as His resurrection.
From our text in Hebrews 9:27-28
27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Let’s pause for a moment here at the laver and look back at the brazen altar and remember the cross that Jesus died on. Listen, and sing along if you’d like, to the song, Child of God by Todd Proctor.
Master’s Chapel CD – Song 12 - Child of God (1:50)
Child Of God
©1998, Praise Point Music
Words and Music by Todd Proctor
Your life laid down, crucified
Your arms stretched out and opened wide
To rescue me so I can be
A child of God
From nail-pierced hands and thorn-pierced brow
His blood flows down to me some how
It cleanses me so I can be
A child of God
Your life laid down, crucified
Your arms stretched out and opened wide
To rescue me so I can be
A child of God
From nail-pierced hands and thorn-pierced brow
His blood flows down to me some how
It cleanses me so I can be
A child of God
Praise to the Lamb that was slain
Praise to the Father who gave His Son away
The proof of love, the price of grace
You traded all to make my place
And died for me, so I can be a child of God
THE TABERNACLE/THE TENT
Having been forgiven of our sins, we are ready to enter the tabernacle. It is a tent, like a covering that offers protection. It is a picture of God’s covering, of His protection. The tabernacle was a visual communication that God was dwelling among His people. But, it also symbolized the protection He was giving to His people in the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. Light at night and shade by day. This was God’s presence among His people.
The tent covering was four layers. The outermost layer was badger skins. There was no particular beauty to this outer covering. Functionally, it was well able to resist the weather. We are told in the Scriptures (Isaiah 53:2) that Christ had no beauty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.
The second layer of coverings making up the tent or tabernacle was made from rams skins dyed red. It represented the goats that were sacrificed for atonement. It reminded the people of God’s provision of a ram when Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac on the altar. It reminds us of God providing Jesus as the Lamb of God as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The third layer of coverings was goat hair, representing the scape-goat that was used tosymbolize how our sins were taken away from us. Jesus Christ is our scape-goat who took away our sins from us.
The last and innermost layer of coverings, visible from inside the tabernacle, was the most beautiful. Four colored threads were used in this linencovering. White thread symbolizing purity. Red thread representing the blood of atonement. Blue spoke of heaven. And purple thread spoke of royality. Pictures of heavenly angels, the cherubim, were sewn into this covering. The beauty of the inner covering speaks of the beauty of holiness and the transformed inner man when Christ is welcomed into our hearts.
HOLY PLACE – TABLE OF SHEWBREAD
Upon entry into the tabernacle, to our right is the table of showbread. Twelves loaves are placed on the table each week by the priests representing each of the twelve tribes. Christ is represented here at the table as the bread of life. He sustains us with the nourishment of His word. Just as our physical bodies need daily nourishment from bread, so our spiritual bodies need daily nourishment from the word of God, the bread of life, Jesus Christ.
THE LAMPSTAND
To our left, on the south wall, stood the tall golden candlestick or menorah. This lampstand provided the only source of light within the holy place. It speaks of Christ as the light of the world. Even more specifically, the oil that was burned in the lampstand represented the Holy Spirit and the lampstand itself, represented the believer.
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
The priests would stand at the golden altar and offer incense daily as they prayed for the people. God likens the prayers of believers to incense going upward to Him. The altar also speaks of the role of Christ as our mediator and intercessor. Christ is now interceding on our behalf.
THE VEIL
The Holy of Holies was off limits to everyone but the high priest, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was the veil. It is this veil that was torn in two, from top to bottom, at the hour of Christ’s death.
This was a powerful testimony to the significance of Christ’s death in opening up the holy of holies to all who would take upon themselves intimate identification with Christ. With the understanding that Christ is the only perfect sacrifice for our sins, welcoming His blood as our cleansing, we are able to enter the Holy of Holies.
THE MERCY SEAT OF GOD & THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
The ark of the covenant was a gold covered box that held the most sacred artifacts: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod which budded, and a jar of manna. On top of the ark was the mercy seat of God. It was God’s throne on which He sat on the foundation of His law.
When Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, grace and justice met. The New Covenant was enacted and we have been given the privilege of personal access to Almighty God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The greatest expressionof love was spoken by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He took upon Himself our sins, became our sin bearer and then opened the way for us to have intimate communion with Almighty God, the Father.
Let’s again dwell on this thought as we listen to the words and music of the song, Here is love. Join in singing if you would like.
Master’s Chapel CD – Song 11 - Here is love (2:19)
Here is Love
Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He will never be forgotten,
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
The more we know about the tabernacle, the more we understand what Christ has done for us and how He is the fulfillment of the Law.
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness – media player
Amen.
Benediction:
Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.