1 Samuel 28:7-8 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a
woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his
servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” 8Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other
clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night;
and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name
to you.”
It is alleged that since King Saul of Israel went to a witch, and the witch allegedly called up the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel, then the pagan worldview of witchcraft / paranormalism must be legitimate. Is this the case? What can we observe about this text concerning the subject of mediums, witchcraft and ghosts? It will be contended in today's blog that the understanding of the supernatural advocated by Mediums and witchcraft is inaccurate and dangerous for anyone, especially Christians, to dabble in or consider. Below are some thoughts on this worldview from 1 Samuel 28.
1. Mediums and witchcraft flourishes in times of fear
As you go down through the passage, we read these words in 1 Samuel 28:9-10 "But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what
Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the
land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”
10Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD
lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
King Saul had earlier issued a decree in 1 Samuel 28:3 that forbade the practice of witchcraft and the removal of those who did. Since Samuel was dead, King Saul in supposed honor of the prophet made it law. However the sworn enemies of Israel, the Philistines, came to threaten war against Israel. When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, the Bible states in 1 Samuel 28:5 "he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly". Being that Saul was spiritually not in fellowship with the Lord, he was incapable of receiving direction from the Lord - hence prompting him to consult a witch at Endor. In an ironic twist, fear drove Saul to consult this Medium - the very type of person he had but days before banished from Israel.
2. Mediums and Witchcraft feed off of error
Upon meeting with her, Saul requested in 1 Samuel 28:5 for this witch to conjure up the spirit of Samuel. Saul was operating out of fear, not faith. Saul should had known better - since the scripture earlier condemns the practice and worldview of witchcraft among God's people. (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-12) Nonetheless he ignores God's Law and the witch soon discovers that the one inquiring her in disguise is none other than King Saul himself! At first she hesitates, ironically having more of a conscience than the King! However she does as Saul requests, and conjures up a spirit.
Clearly this episode is occuring at a time where much fear was prevailing in the land and where the concern for biblical fidelity was at a low-point. Our day and age is clearly marked by much fear and little or no understanding of scripture. Passages such as 1 Timothy 4:1 state - "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later
times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits
and doctrines of demons."
3. Mediums and witchcraft fall prey to spiritual deception
So did this witch at endor see Samuel? 1 Samuel 28:11-14 records the episode - "11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for
you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12When
the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to
Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.” 13The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but
what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up
out of the earth.” 14He
said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he
is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his
face to the ground and did homage.
Now the text in verse 12 indicates that the woman saw what appeared to be Samuel. However her response to Saul is one of surprise, since she realizes it is Saul in disguise. Furthermore, verses 13-14 tells us what she is really seeing: a "divine being" coming up out of the earth. The word translated "divine being" is used in this instance to describe "gods" or demonic beings in the Old Testament. (Deuteronomy 32:16-17) When the text tells us in verse 14 that Saul "knew it was Samuel", we then understand that the scripture is giving us the view of these events from an already deceived Saul's vantage point.
Matthew Henry, the great Bible Commentator notes: "But, if people will be deceived, it is just with God to say, "Let them be
deceived." That the devil, by the divine permission, should be able to personate
Samuel is not strange, since he can transform himself into an angel of light!
nor is it strange that he should be permitted to do it upon this occasion, that
Saul might be driven to despair, by enquiring of the devil, since he would not,
in a right manner, enquire of the Lord, by which he might have had comfort."
More tomorrow.
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Evangelism tool - The Hand
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Today's Blog is featuring an evangelism tool that I had learned years ago. The tool is called "Hand to Hand" and utilizes the human hand in presenting a six-point outline of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have over the years used this technique and have found it helpful and easy to remember, since we always have our hands with us. Perhaps some of you reading today may have heard of this method (or something similar to it). Below is a summary of this method and I would encourage you to try it out.
1. Thumb - The Bible begins with bad news
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
This is the one change I made to the technique, since the Bible begins by telling us about our sin-problem. We are law breakers and are spiritually separated from God at birth. So for me I would start by saying to the person how I usually want to hear the bad news first so that I can then have relief with the good news.
2. Index Finger - However the Bible tells us Good News
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life"
With the bad news of my sin functioning as a black silken cloth, you can now lay out before the person the diamond of the Gospel. Once we know our problem, we are prepared for the solution. Once you hear the diagnosis and understand its seriousness, only then will you be ready for the cure.
3. Middle Finger - The Bible tells what God did for you
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This takes us to the center of the presentation - the cross. This is the event of salvation - without which no salvation could be offered.
4. Ring Finger - The Bible states you must make a committment to Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure
Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"
With Christ having accomplished salvation, now the event must become an experience in the person's life. They must repent and believe on Jesus Christ in order to have the accomplishment of salvation applied to their heart.
5. Little Finger - The Bible tells us that all you need to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure is faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
The little finger reminds us that faith alone is not only necessary, but sufficient to receive the gift of Eternal life through Jesus Christ
6. Palm of your hand - The Bible says that all who believe on Jesus Christ are Eternally secure
John 10:28 "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
This final point is the clincher to your presentation. What I'll do is take my little finger (the faith alone finger) and place it in the palm of my other hand, enclosing my hand completely over it. This is to show the person that once they trust in Jesus Christ, He will not let them go - ever. Furthermore, for all who truly have trusted in Jesus Christ, not only will they not ever be lost, they cannot persist with contentment in a mindset that would ever want to be lost.
Today's Blog is featuring an evangelism tool that I had learned years ago. The tool is called "Hand to Hand" and utilizes the human hand in presenting a six-point outline of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have over the years used this technique and have found it helpful and easy to remember, since we always have our hands with us. Perhaps some of you reading today may have heard of this method (or something similar to it). Below is a summary of this method and I would encourage you to try it out.
1. Thumb - The Bible begins with bad news
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
This is the one change I made to the technique, since the Bible begins by telling us about our sin-problem. We are law breakers and are spiritually separated from God at birth. So for me I would start by saying to the person how I usually want to hear the bad news first so that I can then have relief with the good news.
2. Index Finger - However the Bible tells us Good News
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life"
With the bad news of my sin functioning as a black silken cloth, you can now lay out before the person the diamond of the Gospel. Once we know our problem, we are prepared for the solution. Once you hear the diagnosis and understand its seriousness, only then will you be ready for the cure.
3. Middle Finger - The Bible tells what God did for you
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This takes us to the center of the presentation - the cross. This is the event of salvation - without which no salvation could be offered.
4. Ring Finger - The Bible states you must make a committment to Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure
Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"
With Christ having accomplished salvation, now the event must become an experience in the person's life. They must repent and believe on Jesus Christ in order to have the accomplishment of salvation applied to their heart.
5. Little Finger - The Bible tells us that all you need to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure is faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
The little finger reminds us that faith alone is not only necessary, but sufficient to receive the gift of Eternal life through Jesus Christ
6. Palm of your hand - The Bible says that all who believe on Jesus Christ are Eternally secure
John 10:28 "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
This final point is the clincher to your presentation. What I'll do is take my little finger (the faith alone finger) and place it in the palm of my other hand, enclosing my hand completely over it. This is to show the person that once they trust in Jesus Christ, He will not let them go - ever. Furthermore, for all who truly have trusted in Jesus Christ, not only will they not ever be lost, they cannot persist with contentment in a mindset that would ever want to be lost.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Jesus Christ the Forever Present Mediator
Numbers 18:1 "So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and
your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the
sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection
with your priesthood."
Numbers 18:32 ‘You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.’”
For the past several days we have been comparing Aaron, the first high priest of Israel to the ministry and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In nearly 30 spots in the book of Hebrews, parallels and pictures are drawn in showing how Aaron's life and ministry functions as a faint shadow of the substance of Christ's everlasting priesthood. (Hebrews 5:4-5) We have seen how Aaron foreshadows Jesus Christ as the Forever standing and living Mediator. Today we want to consider how Aaron and his sons ministries as the officiating priests of Israel picture Jesus Christ as the believer's Forever Present Mediator.
Picturing the Present Mediator bearing the burdens of the people
Aaron had stood as the people's mediator in Numbers 16, literally standing between the living and the dead - shutting down the wrath of God in the plague that killed nearly 15,000 Israelites. In Numbers 17 Aaron was confirmed by God to be the living mediator, with the miracle of the rod budding in the tent of meeting. God reveals in Numbers 18:1 that Aaron and his sons were to function as the guilt bearers "in connection with" the people and the tabernacle.
When we consider the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did in coming to earth, His work on the cross no doubt bore the sins of the people.
1. Isaiah 53:5 predicted Christ bearing our guilt - "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed."
2.Hebrews 2:17 "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
Having said that, we also know that following His resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ is our Present mediator bearing the burdens of the people.
3. Hebrews 4:14-16 states: "14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
We could cite many other passages, but the point is made: Jesus Christ is the Forever Present Mediator who bore the people's burdens, fulfilling the pattern pictured for us by Aaron.
Picturing the Present Mediator with possessions bought with a price
Numbers 18:16 states - “As to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs." Whenever an Israelite came to the sanctuary, they were to pay a price on behalf of every firstborn male on their household in the prescribed amount of silver. The reason being was because every firstborn in every home belonged to the Lord. Rather than having those boys be given to the service of the tabernacle, God prescribed the Jews to give money - redemption money - instead.
This money was to be used for the upkeep of the temple and to aid in the feeding and clothing of the priests who served. This was necessary, since Aaron and his sons did not have land and holdings like the rest of the tribes and clans of Israel. (Numbers 18:24) Quite literally every bit of food and provision that Aaron and his sons had was "redeemed", "bought with a price". As it was given to God, it was reckoned as belonging to Aaron and His sons. (Numbers 18:19)
When Jesus Christ came to die on the cross and rise from the dead, He had purchased sinners with His blood. Ephesians 1:7 states: "in whom we have redemption in His blood, the forgiveness of sins". According to Acts 20:28, the church, His bride, was purchased by the giving of His life. Ephesians 5:22-25 and others texts also bear out the fact that as Christians, we belong to the Lord, we have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:17-18) Every single believer as been bought and paid for by Christ. Christians are His inheritance according to Ephesians 1:12 - "to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory."
So having seen how Aaron pictures a present mediator bearing the people's burdens and with possessions bought and paid for, we consider the third pattern of the Eternal Present mediator...
Picturing the Present Mediator's work as the best offering to God
As much as Aaron and his sons were to bear the guilt of the people, we also read another truth in Numbers 18:32 - ‘You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.’” As the people brought their gifts and tithes to the Levites, the Levites in turn would tithe that amount to Aaron and his sons. It would be from those tithes that Aaron and his sons would be offering the "best of the best" to God.
This sacred set of gifts would enable the sons of Aaron to be deemed blameless in God's sight. If in anyway the gifts were profaned by Aaron or his sons - death would result. Clearly the limitations of even the best of gifts was looking forward to an ultimate gift, given by an Ultimate High Priest, that would never have the stigma of guilt or profaning by the Giver.
Thanks be to God when Jesus Christ offered Himself, He offered the Best that could be given. Furthermore, when He offered Himself on the cross, it was an offering incapable of being profaned, since the One offering was without spot nor blemish. (1 Peter 1:17-18). In fact we read these words in Hebrews 7:26-27 "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the Forever Present Mediator
As we close out today's blog, we have looked at the ministry of Aaron once again. We have noted how he pictures Jesus Christ as the believer's Forever Present Mediator. We have noted three characteristics of Jesus Christ as the Forever Present Mediator, namely....
1. He bears the burdens of the people, both in the past on the cross and currently for believers at the Father's right hand in Heaven. (1 John 2:1-2)
2. He has bought us with a price. We are His redeemed possession, His inheritance, saved to bring Him glory and pleasure. (Ephesians 1:12)
3. He gave His life as the Best offering possible to God. (Romans 5:6-10)
Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, the Forever Present Mediator!
Numbers 18:32 ‘You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.’”
For the past several days we have been comparing Aaron, the first high priest of Israel to the ministry and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In nearly 30 spots in the book of Hebrews, parallels and pictures are drawn in showing how Aaron's life and ministry functions as a faint shadow of the substance of Christ's everlasting priesthood. (Hebrews 5:4-5) We have seen how Aaron foreshadows Jesus Christ as the Forever standing and living Mediator. Today we want to consider how Aaron and his sons ministries as the officiating priests of Israel picture Jesus Christ as the believer's Forever Present Mediator.
Picturing the Present Mediator bearing the burdens of the people
Aaron had stood as the people's mediator in Numbers 16, literally standing between the living and the dead - shutting down the wrath of God in the plague that killed nearly 15,000 Israelites. In Numbers 17 Aaron was confirmed by God to be the living mediator, with the miracle of the rod budding in the tent of meeting. God reveals in Numbers 18:1 that Aaron and his sons were to function as the guilt bearers "in connection with" the people and the tabernacle.
When we consider the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did in coming to earth, His work on the cross no doubt bore the sins of the people.
1. Isaiah 53:5 predicted Christ bearing our guilt - "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed."
2.Hebrews 2:17 "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
Having said that, we also know that following His resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ is our Present mediator bearing the burdens of the people.
3. Hebrews 4:14-16 states: "14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
We could cite many other passages, but the point is made: Jesus Christ is the Forever Present Mediator who bore the people's burdens, fulfilling the pattern pictured for us by Aaron.
Picturing the Present Mediator with possessions bought with a price
Numbers 18:16 states - “As to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs." Whenever an Israelite came to the sanctuary, they were to pay a price on behalf of every firstborn male on their household in the prescribed amount of silver. The reason being was because every firstborn in every home belonged to the Lord. Rather than having those boys be given to the service of the tabernacle, God prescribed the Jews to give money - redemption money - instead.
This money was to be used for the upkeep of the temple and to aid in the feeding and clothing of the priests who served. This was necessary, since Aaron and his sons did not have land and holdings like the rest of the tribes and clans of Israel. (Numbers 18:24) Quite literally every bit of food and provision that Aaron and his sons had was "redeemed", "bought with a price". As it was given to God, it was reckoned as belonging to Aaron and His sons. (Numbers 18:19)
When Jesus Christ came to die on the cross and rise from the dead, He had purchased sinners with His blood. Ephesians 1:7 states: "in whom we have redemption in His blood, the forgiveness of sins". According to Acts 20:28, the church, His bride, was purchased by the giving of His life. Ephesians 5:22-25 and others texts also bear out the fact that as Christians, we belong to the Lord, we have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:17-18) Every single believer as been bought and paid for by Christ. Christians are His inheritance according to Ephesians 1:12 - "to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory."
So having seen how Aaron pictures a present mediator bearing the people's burdens and with possessions bought and paid for, we consider the third pattern of the Eternal Present mediator...
Picturing the Present Mediator's work as the best offering to God
As much as Aaron and his sons were to bear the guilt of the people, we also read another truth in Numbers 18:32 - ‘You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.’” As the people brought their gifts and tithes to the Levites, the Levites in turn would tithe that amount to Aaron and his sons. It would be from those tithes that Aaron and his sons would be offering the "best of the best" to God.
This sacred set of gifts would enable the sons of Aaron to be deemed blameless in God's sight. If in anyway the gifts were profaned by Aaron or his sons - death would result. Clearly the limitations of even the best of gifts was looking forward to an ultimate gift, given by an Ultimate High Priest, that would never have the stigma of guilt or profaning by the Giver.
Thanks be to God when Jesus Christ offered Himself, He offered the Best that could be given. Furthermore, when He offered Himself on the cross, it was an offering incapable of being profaned, since the One offering was without spot nor blemish. (1 Peter 1:17-18). In fact we read these words in Hebrews 7:26-27 "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the Forever Present Mediator
As we close out today's blog, we have looked at the ministry of Aaron once again. We have noted how he pictures Jesus Christ as the believer's Forever Present Mediator. We have noted three characteristics of Jesus Christ as the Forever Present Mediator, namely....
1. He bears the burdens of the people, both in the past on the cross and currently for believers at the Father's right hand in Heaven. (1 John 2:1-2)
2. He has bought us with a price. We are His redeemed possession, His inheritance, saved to bring Him glory and pleasure. (Ephesians 1:12)
3. He gave His life as the Best offering possible to God. (Romans 5:6-10)
Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, the Forever Present Mediator!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Jesus Christ the forever living mediator
Numbers 17:8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the
rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced
blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.
Numbers 17 is a rich chapter in that it not only has something to say to the Christian with regards to the Lord being for them, but moreso in pointing us to the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have already seen how Aaron's ministry and person is a type or pattern of the ministry and Person of Jesus Christ. Numbers 16:41-50 gave us a pattern of Christ the forever standing mediator. Just as Aaron stood in place of the people before Holy God, making atonement and shutting down the plague, Christ has moreso done the same in making atonement by the cross and staying the wrath of God on all who believe on Him.
Today we want to consider the significance of the rod of Aaron that budded as revealing to us Christ the Forever Living mediator.
The Rod that Budded - its significance and meaning
In Numbers 17 God had Moses tell the leaders fo the twelve tribes to bring forth their staffs or rods. Each man was to writer their name on their respective rod, with Aaron writing his name upon the rod of Levi. Moses was then to place all the rods in the tent of testimony and retrieve them the next morning. When he did that, the eleven rods remained as they had the day before - dead sticks. However Aaron's rod had budded almond leaves, flowers and fruit.
We know from the design of the tabernacle itself that almond nuts, buds and flowers were incorporated in the design. For example in Exodus 25:31-40 the design of the Golden Lampstand featured such detail. Undoubtedly God was tying Aaron's identity to the tabernacle in which he ministered.
Later on in biblical history the prophet Jeremiah, at the onset of his ministry, is shown a vision of an almond tree in Jeremiah 1:11-12 - "The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” Undoubtedly God was validating Aaron's future place in His overall redemptive plan for His people.
Almond trees were usually one of the first trees to bud and sprout in the springtime. They were marked by showing forth their fruit and flowers before their leaves, a feature quite different from many other plants which put forth their leaves before their fruit. Furthermore, the word for Almond in the Hebrew language literally means: "to hasten, to quicken", thus God made Aaron's rod to have life that would put forth fruit haralding life and hope amidst death.
Aaron's ministry was being validated by God in the eyes of the people. His rod alone budded, reminding the people that only through Aaron and his descendants could the nation have the proper representation needed to stand before Holy God.
How Aaron's Rod points us to Christ, the Forever Living Mediator
We have pointed out in prior blogs that Aaron is a pattern or "type" of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 5:4-5 states this typology - And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”. In other words, when we look at the historical figure of Aaron the High Priest, we can gain a pattern and faint outline of the far superior Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 9:4 and 11 we see mention of Aaron's rod that budded: "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 4having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant". According to the writer of Hebrews, these details were used by the Holy Spirit to signify the truth revealed in Hebrews 9:11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation." Thus the rod of Aaron says something to us about Jesus Christ and His ministry as the believer's Forever Living Mediator.
Why Aaron's Rod? Note from the details we brought out already how this episode in Numbers 17 points the way to Christ the Forever Living Mediator:
1. Resurrection Life.
What is ressurrection life? It is life that is marked by incorruption and unfading power. When Moses found that rod, it had life in and of itself. Christ described how His ressurrection from the dead would be of His own accord. (John 10:17). We can also note that the Rod of Aaron was placed as a testimony against the rebels. From what we can tell, those leaves, buds and fruit did not wither. Whenever you take a branch off of a tree, it withers - but Aaron's rod had life in itself. Ressurrection life is also Divine life. Moses did not infuse the rod, nor did Aaron. It was God who did the work.
2. Resurrection Life is at the heart of faith
When Moses placed that rod at the doorway of the tent of testimony, it convicted the unbelief of the rebels. (Numbers 17:12-13) Biblical faith has at its heart the very essence of resurrection life. Romans 6:8-11states - "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Just as Aaron's rod had the miraculous power of God flowing through it, a power that was not part of it before, so it is with the Christian. Faith had to come to us. Galatians 3:25-26 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." It was by grace through faith we believed on Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This faith is tied to the resurrection life that so raised Jesus from the dead - 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
3. Resurrection life at the heart of faith points us to our Forever Living Mediator
Once Moses put Aaron's Rod in front of the Tent of Testimony, the congregation got the point: Aaron is the representative before God, and that they had better be careful how the treat Him. The people realized that without proper representation, they were exposed, without a means of defense. The miracle was used by God to affirm and confirm the identity of Aaron as the rightful mediator between God and the people of that time. The heart of faith recognizes the constant need for reliance upon Jesus Christ. Scripture and faith affirm and confirm the forever identity of Jesus Christ as the living mediator between believers and God:
-1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time."
-1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
-Hebrews 7:24-25 "but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
Numbers 17 is a rich chapter in that it not only has something to say to the Christian with regards to the Lord being for them, but moreso in pointing us to the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have already seen how Aaron's ministry and person is a type or pattern of the ministry and Person of Jesus Christ. Numbers 16:41-50 gave us a pattern of Christ the forever standing mediator. Just as Aaron stood in place of the people before Holy God, making atonement and shutting down the plague, Christ has moreso done the same in making atonement by the cross and staying the wrath of God on all who believe on Him.
Today we want to consider the significance of the rod of Aaron that budded as revealing to us Christ the Forever Living mediator.
The Rod that Budded - its significance and meaning
In Numbers 17 God had Moses tell the leaders fo the twelve tribes to bring forth their staffs or rods. Each man was to writer their name on their respective rod, with Aaron writing his name upon the rod of Levi. Moses was then to place all the rods in the tent of testimony and retrieve them the next morning. When he did that, the eleven rods remained as they had the day before - dead sticks. However Aaron's rod had budded almond leaves, flowers and fruit.
We know from the design of the tabernacle itself that almond nuts, buds and flowers were incorporated in the design. For example in Exodus 25:31-40 the design of the Golden Lampstand featured such detail. Undoubtedly God was tying Aaron's identity to the tabernacle in which he ministered.
Later on in biblical history the prophet Jeremiah, at the onset of his ministry, is shown a vision of an almond tree in Jeremiah 1:11-12 - "The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” Undoubtedly God was validating Aaron's future place in His overall redemptive plan for His people.
Almond trees were usually one of the first trees to bud and sprout in the springtime. They were marked by showing forth their fruit and flowers before their leaves, a feature quite different from many other plants which put forth their leaves before their fruit. Furthermore, the word for Almond in the Hebrew language literally means: "to hasten, to quicken", thus God made Aaron's rod to have life that would put forth fruit haralding life and hope amidst death.
Aaron's ministry was being validated by God in the eyes of the people. His rod alone budded, reminding the people that only through Aaron and his descendants could the nation have the proper representation needed to stand before Holy God.
How Aaron's Rod points us to Christ, the Forever Living Mediator
We have pointed out in prior blogs that Aaron is a pattern or "type" of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 5:4-5 states this typology - And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”. In other words, when we look at the historical figure of Aaron the High Priest, we can gain a pattern and faint outline of the far superior Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 9:4 and 11 we see mention of Aaron's rod that budded: "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 4having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant". According to the writer of Hebrews, these details were used by the Holy Spirit to signify the truth revealed in Hebrews 9:11 "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation." Thus the rod of Aaron says something to us about Jesus Christ and His ministry as the believer's Forever Living Mediator.
Why Aaron's Rod? Note from the details we brought out already how this episode in Numbers 17 points the way to Christ the Forever Living Mediator:
1. Resurrection Life.
What is ressurrection life? It is life that is marked by incorruption and unfading power. When Moses found that rod, it had life in and of itself. Christ described how His ressurrection from the dead would be of His own accord. (John 10:17). We can also note that the Rod of Aaron was placed as a testimony against the rebels. From what we can tell, those leaves, buds and fruit did not wither. Whenever you take a branch off of a tree, it withers - but Aaron's rod had life in itself. Ressurrection life is also Divine life. Moses did not infuse the rod, nor did Aaron. It was God who did the work.
2. Resurrection Life is at the heart of faith
When Moses placed that rod at the doorway of the tent of testimony, it convicted the unbelief of the rebels. (Numbers 17:12-13) Biblical faith has at its heart the very essence of resurrection life. Romans 6:8-11states - "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Just as Aaron's rod had the miraculous power of God flowing through it, a power that was not part of it before, so it is with the Christian. Faith had to come to us. Galatians 3:25-26 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." It was by grace through faith we believed on Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This faith is tied to the resurrection life that so raised Jesus from the dead - 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
3. Resurrection life at the heart of faith points us to our Forever Living Mediator
Once Moses put Aaron's Rod in front of the Tent of Testimony, the congregation got the point: Aaron is the representative before God, and that they had better be careful how the treat Him. The people realized that without proper representation, they were exposed, without a means of defense. The miracle was used by God to affirm and confirm the identity of Aaron as the rightful mediator between God and the people of that time. The heart of faith recognizes the constant need for reliance upon Jesus Christ. Scripture and faith affirm and confirm the forever identity of Jesus Christ as the living mediator between believers and God:
-1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time."
-1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
-Hebrews 7:24-25 "but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
Sunday, October 21, 2012
How God validates you His servants
Numbers 17:1-5 "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a
rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according
to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod, 3and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for
there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households. 4“You shall then deposit them in the tent of
meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you. 5“It will
come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen
from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against
you.”
Perhaps you have come to today's blog, disappointed with life or disillusioned. You are a Christian, you read your Bible and are doing all you can to serve the Lord - and yet it seems as if everything is against you. Aaron in Numbers 16 and 17 would know what you are going through. He had survived two major attacks on his character and ministry. God speaks forth here in Numbers 17. Nearly 15,000 people lost their lives as a result of the twin mutinies recorded in Numbers 16. What God does for Aaron can truly offer encouragement to those who have been on the receiving end of attempted character assassinations.
How does God validate those who serve Him?
1. God identifies with His servants. Numbers 17:1-5
Notice what God says in Numbers 17:5 "Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you." You and I have to remember that when people attack God's servants, they are attacking Him. Jesus said that as much as is done to the least of His people, it is tantamount to being a direct attack upon Himself. (Matthew 18:1-10) God has not hung you out to dry - He is fighting for you and will stand by your side through your difficult circumstance. The Lord does not merely sympathize for you at a distance, he empathizes with you in close proximity to where you are at. He is there with you. At times he will speak loud and clear, and at other times His voice will be still and small, like with Elijah. (1 Kings 19:9-21) He is there with you no matter what. Remembers, Jesus said: "I'll never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
2. God indicates His servants. Numbers 17:6-8
What God did to validate Aaron in front of the people was to have each of the twelve tribes bring a rod to place in the tent of testimony. Each one was to write their name on the rod, with Aaron writing his name on the rod of Levi. (Numbers 17:3) Moses did as God commanded and placed all of those rods as dead sticks in the tabernacle of God. The next day when he went to retrieve them, eleven of them remained dead wood - however Aarons rod had budded!
God indicated his servant Aaron as a testimony to the whole nation! Aaron's calling and ministry had the life and favor of God running through it. His claims as Israel's High Priest were reinforced. God was not ashamed of his man. Woe to the others who would dare lay a hand on God's chosen man! 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 is a great verse to you who feel inadequate: "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
3. God immobilizes attacks upon His servants Numbers 17:9-13
The text tells us that when Moses' placed Aaron's rod before the Tent of Testimony as a sign against the rebels, they got the point! (Numbers 17:17:9-11). As a matter of fact, the people stated in Numbers 17:12-13 "Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying! 13“Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”
God totally immobilized the naysayers, he fought Aaron's battle - Aaron won in the Lord! The great preacher Warren Wiersby has made this observation of the outcome of Aaron's Rod and the people's response here in Numbers 17: "The people were fearful after they they had seen this demonstration of God's power. What the death of nearly 15,000 people could not do, the sole blossoming of a dead stick did accomplish." What was the accomplishment? The silencing of the enemy's lips.
We know after this episode in Israel's history, Aaron was never spoken against ever again. God demonstrated He was for Aaron, and understand He is for you too! My prayer today is that this blog has encouraged you. Do not fear, nor be dismayed, for greater is He (the Lord) in you who believes on Him, than he (Satan) that is in the world.
Perhaps you have come to today's blog, disappointed with life or disillusioned. You are a Christian, you read your Bible and are doing all you can to serve the Lord - and yet it seems as if everything is against you. Aaron in Numbers 16 and 17 would know what you are going through. He had survived two major attacks on his character and ministry. God speaks forth here in Numbers 17. Nearly 15,000 people lost their lives as a result of the twin mutinies recorded in Numbers 16. What God does for Aaron can truly offer encouragement to those who have been on the receiving end of attempted character assassinations.
How does God validate those who serve Him?
1. God identifies with His servants. Numbers 17:1-5
Notice what God says in Numbers 17:5 "Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you." You and I have to remember that when people attack God's servants, they are attacking Him. Jesus said that as much as is done to the least of His people, it is tantamount to being a direct attack upon Himself. (Matthew 18:1-10) God has not hung you out to dry - He is fighting for you and will stand by your side through your difficult circumstance. The Lord does not merely sympathize for you at a distance, he empathizes with you in close proximity to where you are at. He is there with you. At times he will speak loud and clear, and at other times His voice will be still and small, like with Elijah. (1 Kings 19:9-21) He is there with you no matter what. Remembers, Jesus said: "I'll never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
2. God indicates His servants. Numbers 17:6-8
What God did to validate Aaron in front of the people was to have each of the twelve tribes bring a rod to place in the tent of testimony. Each one was to write their name on the rod, with Aaron writing his name on the rod of Levi. (Numbers 17:3) Moses did as God commanded and placed all of those rods as dead sticks in the tabernacle of God. The next day when he went to retrieve them, eleven of them remained dead wood - however Aarons rod had budded!
God indicated his servant Aaron as a testimony to the whole nation! Aaron's calling and ministry had the life and favor of God running through it. His claims as Israel's High Priest were reinforced. God was not ashamed of his man. Woe to the others who would dare lay a hand on God's chosen man! 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 is a great verse to you who feel inadequate: "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
3. God immobilizes attacks upon His servants Numbers 17:9-13
The text tells us that when Moses' placed Aaron's rod before the Tent of Testimony as a sign against the rebels, they got the point! (Numbers 17:17:9-11). As a matter of fact, the people stated in Numbers 17:12-13 "Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying! 13“Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”
God totally immobilized the naysayers, he fought Aaron's battle - Aaron won in the Lord! The great preacher Warren Wiersby has made this observation of the outcome of Aaron's Rod and the people's response here in Numbers 17: "The people were fearful after they they had seen this demonstration of God's power. What the death of nearly 15,000 people could not do, the sole blossoming of a dead stick did accomplish." What was the accomplishment? The silencing of the enemy's lips.
We know after this episode in Israel's history, Aaron was never spoken against ever again. God demonstrated He was for Aaron, and understand He is for you too! My prayer today is that this blog has encouraged you. Do not fear, nor be dismayed, for greater is He (the Lord) in you who believes on Him, than he (Satan) that is in the world.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Jesus Christ the forever standing mediator
Numbers 16:46-48 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and
lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make
atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!” 47Then
Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the
assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on
the incense and made atonement for the people. 48He took
his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked.
Brief review from yesterday
Yesterday we demonstrated the comparisons between Jesus and Aaron, Israel's first high priest. We noted that in nearly 30 verses of the book of Hebrews, Aaron and the priesthood of Old Testament Israel stands as a type, a shadow, a pattern, of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 5:4-5)
Quick background of Numbers 16 - A Nation with two tragedies
In Numbers 16, tragedy had struck the nation of Israel not once but twice. In Numbers 16:1-40 we see the rebellion of Korah, the great grandson of Levi, leading 250 men to mutiny against Moses and Aaron. God judges them, resulting in their falling live into hell after being swallowed up by the earth.
In Numbers 16:41-50, the rest of the congregation responds the next day, accusing Moses and Aaron of killing God's people. The Lord wants to wipe out the nation, however Moses and Aaron intercede. This is the eighth prayer recorded in the book of Numbers. In this particular intercession of Moses on behalf of the people, he instructs Aaron, his brother and Israel's high priest, to make atonement and stave off the plague that had at that point wiped out nearly 15,000 people. What Aaron does as mediator between God and the people provides some striking foreshadowings of Jesus Christ - the Forever Mediator who stands between the people and God.
1. Satisfaction is made Numbers 16:46
Numbers 16:46 tells us that Aaron went as Moses instructed: "make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD" To make atonement means to satisfy the wrath of God. Thus Aaron, acting as a representative for the whole congregation, stood in the gap. Only he and his actions could stop the plague of death. Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, provided atonement, satisfaction (propitation) for the sins of the whole world that was to be applied to all who by grace through faith believe. (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2). Christ alone can protect the sinner from the plague of sin that leads to the second death - eternal punishment. (John 3:16) Christ came to provide protection from the wrath of God that is coming on this world. (Romans 5:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
2.Standing in the place of sinners Numbers 16:48b
Numbers 16:48a states about Aaron: "48He took his stand between the dead and the living". That phrase "He took His stand" refers to Aaron stationing himself, in firm resolve, not retreating until the wrath of God was complete. Those rebels did not deserve Aaron's standing in their place, nonetheless he did it. When Jesus Christ "took His stand", he did so not out of compulsion, but of His own accord. (John 10:17). As the Good Shepherd He gave His life for the Sheep. (Acts 20:28). He stood in the sinner's place - your place and mine, the innocent in place of the guilty, the wonderful in the place of the wicked - in order to bring us who believe unto God. (2 Coritnhains 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18)
3. Shutting down the wrath of God Numbers 16:48b
In the NASB the text reads in Numbers 16:48b - so that the plague was checked. In the original Hebrew we could literally translated this last phrase: "so that the plague was shut down". Think about how the sinner who believes on Jesus Christ is exempted from the wrath of God. The wrath of God is "shut down" for them. They are not subject to due penalty - they are justified by faith, declared righteous with the righteousness earned for them by Jesus Christ. (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21) Its as if around the cross is the Divinely dug fireline.
All of those who huddle on the ground around that barren cross are untouched by the wrath of God flaming around the edges. The circle is large in circumference, with room for you. When you by grace through faith believe in Jesus Christ, you are admitted. The flames cannot touch you. In that circle around the cross blows the sweet breezes of Heaven, the cool winds of grace and grows the lush grasses of faith. Outside the cross and its perimeter burns the wrath of God. All who remain in their sin will never smell Heaven nor feel a gentle breeze. They will ever be in torment.
Like the people in Numbers 16, only one could stay the plague - Aaron. In a far more profound sense, only Christ, the Forever Standing Mediator, can stay the consequences of wrath upon those who by grace through faith believe on Him. I pray you have so trusted in Him.
Brief review from yesterday
Yesterday we demonstrated the comparisons between Jesus and Aaron, Israel's first high priest. We noted that in nearly 30 verses of the book of Hebrews, Aaron and the priesthood of Old Testament Israel stands as a type, a shadow, a pattern, of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 5:4-5)
Quick background of Numbers 16 - A Nation with two tragedies
In Numbers 16, tragedy had struck the nation of Israel not once but twice. In Numbers 16:1-40 we see the rebellion of Korah, the great grandson of Levi, leading 250 men to mutiny against Moses and Aaron. God judges them, resulting in their falling live into hell after being swallowed up by the earth.
In Numbers 16:41-50, the rest of the congregation responds the next day, accusing Moses and Aaron of killing God's people. The Lord wants to wipe out the nation, however Moses and Aaron intercede. This is the eighth prayer recorded in the book of Numbers. In this particular intercession of Moses on behalf of the people, he instructs Aaron, his brother and Israel's high priest, to make atonement and stave off the plague that had at that point wiped out nearly 15,000 people. What Aaron does as mediator between God and the people provides some striking foreshadowings of Jesus Christ - the Forever Mediator who stands between the people and God.
1. Satisfaction is made Numbers 16:46
Numbers 16:46 tells us that Aaron went as Moses instructed: "make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD" To make atonement means to satisfy the wrath of God. Thus Aaron, acting as a representative for the whole congregation, stood in the gap. Only he and his actions could stop the plague of death. Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, provided atonement, satisfaction (propitation) for the sins of the whole world that was to be applied to all who by grace through faith believe. (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2). Christ alone can protect the sinner from the plague of sin that leads to the second death - eternal punishment. (John 3:16) Christ came to provide protection from the wrath of God that is coming on this world. (Romans 5:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
2.Standing in the place of sinners Numbers 16:48b
Numbers 16:48a states about Aaron: "48He took his stand between the dead and the living". That phrase "He took His stand" refers to Aaron stationing himself, in firm resolve, not retreating until the wrath of God was complete. Those rebels did not deserve Aaron's standing in their place, nonetheless he did it. When Jesus Christ "took His stand", he did so not out of compulsion, but of His own accord. (John 10:17). As the Good Shepherd He gave His life for the Sheep. (Acts 20:28). He stood in the sinner's place - your place and mine, the innocent in place of the guilty, the wonderful in the place of the wicked - in order to bring us who believe unto God. (2 Coritnhains 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18)
3. Shutting down the wrath of God Numbers 16:48b
In the NASB the text reads in Numbers 16:48b - so that the plague was checked. In the original Hebrew we could literally translated this last phrase: "so that the plague was shut down". Think about how the sinner who believes on Jesus Christ is exempted from the wrath of God. The wrath of God is "shut down" for them. They are not subject to due penalty - they are justified by faith, declared righteous with the righteousness earned for them by Jesus Christ. (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21) Its as if around the cross is the Divinely dug fireline.
All of those who huddle on the ground around that barren cross are untouched by the wrath of God flaming around the edges. The circle is large in circumference, with room for you. When you by grace through faith believe in Jesus Christ, you are admitted. The flames cannot touch you. In that circle around the cross blows the sweet breezes of Heaven, the cool winds of grace and grows the lush grasses of faith. Outside the cross and its perimeter burns the wrath of God. All who remain in their sin will never smell Heaven nor feel a gentle breeze. They will ever be in torment.
Like the people in Numbers 16, only one could stay the plague - Aaron. In a far more profound sense, only Christ, the Forever Standing Mediator, can stay the consequences of wrath upon those who by grace through faith believe on Him. I pray you have so trusted in Him.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Jesus Christ: The Supreme High Priest
Numbers 16:47-48 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the
assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on
the incense and made atonement for the people. 48He took
his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked.
Hebrews 5:4-5 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,“YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”;
Comparing Aaron (the Old Testament High Priest) and Jesus Christ
Throughout the book of Hebrews we are treated to comparisons between Old Testament people and events to that of Jesus Christ. One of those Old Testament figures that Hebrews uses to picture the person and work of Jesus Christ is Aaron. Whenever a person, event or situation is used to illustrate Christ or a doctrine in the New Testament - we call that manner of illustration "typology". A "type" or "typology" refers to a foreshadowing, a pattern, a form. The person or doctrine that is being pointed to is what Bible teachers call "an anti-type".
We see then in the above two scripture passages, Aaron, Israel's first high priest, as a "type", and Christ, the eternal high priest, as the "anti-type". Aaron's life, ministry and characteristics have points of commonality that point to the fuller and rich life, ministry and characteristics of Jesus Christ. Aaron is the shadow, Christ is the substance. With that said lets look at how the book of Hebrews uses Aaron to illustrate Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest.
1. Hebrews 1:3 refers to Jesus Christ having "provided purification for sins"
2. Hebrews 3:1 calls Christ the "High Priest of our confession"
3. Hebrews 4:14 calls Jesus the "High Priest who has passed through the heavens
How Jesus Christ is shown Supreme compared to Aaron and Melchizedek
These first three references use the title "High Priest" to describe Jesus Christ in His office as the believer's repesentative before God the Father. This title of course would had reminded the Jewish readers of the high priestly office of Israel. Of all the High Priests in Israel's history - none were considered greater than Aaron. However as you go further into Hebrews, you will discover that the author will use the mysterious figure Melchizedek (who is perhaps none other than Jesus Himself) to illustrate a superior priesthood to that of Aaron's, with Jesus then revealed to be greatest!
4. Hebrews 5:1-4 refers to Jesus as being "the appointed high priest", a desgination shared by Aaron in Hebrews 5:4. With Hebrews 5:4 being the clearest statement of Aaron being "a type" of Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, the book of Hebrews also uses another figure, Melchizedek, to reveal how Christ is superior to Aaron. Melchizedek was a priest that ministered to Abraham in Genesis 14, some 600 years before Aaron. With Aaron as the main figure of comparison, and Melchizedek the secondary figure, the writer of Hebrews weaves for us a rich tapestry of how Jesus Christ is the Eternal High Priest.
5. Hebrews 6:20 tells us that Jesus is "high priest forever"
6. Hebrews 7:5, 11-22 we see Christ's eternal priesthood being unlimited by death, whereby Aaron's priesthood changed from one generation to the next due to death.
7. In Hebrews 7:23-28 we see Christ the high priest who "is able to save to the uttermost". As the comparison between Christ and Aaron proceeds (with Melechizedek as background comparison), the differences between both starts to exceed their similarities.
8. Hebrews 8:1-6 reveals how both Aaron and Christ represent not merely two priesthoods, but two completely different covenants - Old (Aaron) and New (Christ). The point of Hebrews 8 is to show how Aaron's priesthood was temporary, whereas Christ's priesthood is a permanant priest hood.
9. Hebrews 9 and 10 finishes out the typology of Aaron and Christ by noting that Jesus alone could ascend and enter into heaven on behalf of the saints. Israel's priesthood (the Levitical priesthood, led by Aaron) was limited to service in the earthly tabernacle of the Old Testament, bring into that sanctuary the blood of sheep and goats. However Christ was able to enter the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, cleansing the consciences of those who by grace through faith believed on Him. Neither the Aaronic priesthood nor the Old Covenant system could cleanse the conscience of the worshipper. (Hebrews 9:14)
Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest
In all nearly 30 verses in Hebrews provides the powerful analogies between Aaron and Jesus. Through it all we learn that Jesus Christ is the believer's Supreme High Priest, ever able to mediate between God and man. Jesus Christ is the Eternal High Priest who passed through the Heavens, having sat down at the Father's right hand after providing purification for sins. (Hebrews 1-3) He is the
Eternal High Priest, able to save to the uttermost, forever being the source of salvation to all who believe, world without end. (Hebrews 4-10)
Hebrews 5:4-5 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,“YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”;
Comparing Aaron (the Old Testament High Priest) and Jesus Christ
Throughout the book of Hebrews we are treated to comparisons between Old Testament people and events to that of Jesus Christ. One of those Old Testament figures that Hebrews uses to picture the person and work of Jesus Christ is Aaron. Whenever a person, event or situation is used to illustrate Christ or a doctrine in the New Testament - we call that manner of illustration "typology". A "type" or "typology" refers to a foreshadowing, a pattern, a form. The person or doctrine that is being pointed to is what Bible teachers call "an anti-type".
We see then in the above two scripture passages, Aaron, Israel's first high priest, as a "type", and Christ, the eternal high priest, as the "anti-type". Aaron's life, ministry and characteristics have points of commonality that point to the fuller and rich life, ministry and characteristics of Jesus Christ. Aaron is the shadow, Christ is the substance. With that said lets look at how the book of Hebrews uses Aaron to illustrate Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest.
1. Hebrews 1:3 refers to Jesus Christ having "provided purification for sins"
2. Hebrews 3:1 calls Christ the "High Priest of our confession"
3. Hebrews 4:14 calls Jesus the "High Priest who has passed through the heavens
How Jesus Christ is shown Supreme compared to Aaron and Melchizedek
These first three references use the title "High Priest" to describe Jesus Christ in His office as the believer's repesentative before God the Father. This title of course would had reminded the Jewish readers of the high priestly office of Israel. Of all the High Priests in Israel's history - none were considered greater than Aaron. However as you go further into Hebrews, you will discover that the author will use the mysterious figure Melchizedek (who is perhaps none other than Jesus Himself) to illustrate a superior priesthood to that of Aaron's, with Jesus then revealed to be greatest!
4. Hebrews 5:1-4 refers to Jesus as being "the appointed high priest", a desgination shared by Aaron in Hebrews 5:4. With Hebrews 5:4 being the clearest statement of Aaron being "a type" of Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, the book of Hebrews also uses another figure, Melchizedek, to reveal how Christ is superior to Aaron. Melchizedek was a priest that ministered to Abraham in Genesis 14, some 600 years before Aaron. With Aaron as the main figure of comparison, and Melchizedek the secondary figure, the writer of Hebrews weaves for us a rich tapestry of how Jesus Christ is the Eternal High Priest.
5. Hebrews 6:20 tells us that Jesus is "high priest forever"
6. Hebrews 7:5, 11-22 we see Christ's eternal priesthood being unlimited by death, whereby Aaron's priesthood changed from one generation to the next due to death.
7. In Hebrews 7:23-28 we see Christ the high priest who "is able to save to the uttermost". As the comparison between Christ and Aaron proceeds (with Melechizedek as background comparison), the differences between both starts to exceed their similarities.
8. Hebrews 8:1-6 reveals how both Aaron and Christ represent not merely two priesthoods, but two completely different covenants - Old (Aaron) and New (Christ). The point of Hebrews 8 is to show how Aaron's priesthood was temporary, whereas Christ's priesthood is a permanant priest hood.
9. Hebrews 9 and 10 finishes out the typology of Aaron and Christ by noting that Jesus alone could ascend and enter into heaven on behalf of the saints. Israel's priesthood (the Levitical priesthood, led by Aaron) was limited to service in the earthly tabernacle of the Old Testament, bring into that sanctuary the blood of sheep and goats. However Christ was able to enter the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, cleansing the consciences of those who by grace through faith believed on Him. Neither the Aaronic priesthood nor the Old Covenant system could cleanse the conscience of the worshipper. (Hebrews 9:14)
Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest
In all nearly 30 verses in Hebrews provides the powerful analogies between Aaron and Jesus. Through it all we learn that Jesus Christ is the believer's Supreme High Priest, ever able to mediate between God and man. Jesus Christ is the Eternal High Priest who passed through the Heavens, having sat down at the Father's right hand after providing purification for sins. (Hebrews 1-3) He is the
Eternal High Priest, able to save to the uttermost, forever being the source of salvation to all who believe, world without end. (Hebrews 4-10)
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