This morning we come again to the Lord's table.
Earlier this morning we learned about the tabernacle in Alive with our kids.
And I wanted to just run over some of those things again this morning with us adults.
Because it really is amazing.
It really sheds a lot of light on what this table, the Lord's table, is all about.
First, let's remember what Jesus said at the Last Supper on the eve of his crucifixion.
You can probably complete the sentence from memory.
This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.
New covenant.
In Alive we've been talking about the old covenant.
I'm going to use some of our visuals from this morning.
The old covenant was the covenant that God made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.
God wrote down the commands, the laws, the decrees that the people were to follow in order to be his chosen, special, holy people.
It says that God etched those things onto the tablets of stone with his finger and gave them to Moses.
And this is what God said to Moses and the people on that occasion.
From Exodus chapter 19 verses 5 and 6.
He said,
God instructed Moses and the people to build a spectacular ark for this covenant.
A wooden box that was overlaid with gold and crafted beautifully.
On top was a cover called the mercy seat or the atonement cover.
It had two cherubim on the top made of solid gold.
And this was a very special thing.
It was the place where the covenant was kept.
The agreement.
The stone tablets were put right into the ark.
And this was how they were carried around with the people.
But not only that, this ark was the very place that God chose to be present among his people.
It says that God caused his glory to appear, to shine above the atonement cover,
right in the midst of the wings of those two cherubim.
If we take a step back, you'll notice the rings and the poles.
The obvious purpose was so that the people could carry the ark around from place to place as they traveled.
But a closer look tells us another aspect of the story.
The poles themselves were overlaid with gold.
Even the wooden implements used to carry God's special ark were to be overlaid with gold.
It speaks of God's matchless worth.
His splendor.
His royalty.
But there was another reason for the poles.
It was so that the ark could be moved without any need for the people to touch it.
It was kind of like Mount Sinai.
God was present there at Mount Sinai.
And so the place where he was became holy.
It became special.
And the people, because they were sinful, were not permitted to come close.
They erected barriers.
They were not permitted to touch the mountain, the place where God was.
Otherwise, it's said that God would break out against them.
His perfect goodness and justice would strike out against them if they touched the mountain.
Giving them the punishment that they deserved for their sins.
The poles were kind of like that.
They were a way for God's holy ark.
The place where he was present to remain separate from the touch of sinful man.
And this separation, this whole idea of God being holy, special, distinct from us sinful human beings,
this reality that distance must be maintained between God and us,
it's written all over the way that the tabernacle was arranged.
The tabernacle had a system of curtains that would be set up around its outer border,
forming a courtyard inside, separating the holy from the common.
The place where God was from the place where the people were camped.
And then inside this courtyard was the tent of meeting.
It was covered with a number of different things to protect it from the elements.
It was covered completely at the sides and the rear.
And the entrance was curtained off.
Another form of separation.
The worshipers could come into the courtyard when they were ceremonially clean.
But only the priests were allowed to enter the tent of meeting.
And then inside the tent of meeting, there was a back room, which was also curtained off.
It was called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place.
It was the place where God's Ark of the Covenant was kept.
The very room in which God appeared above the mercy seat of the Ark.
By God's decree, only the high priest was permitted to enter into that room.
And only once a year, on the Day of Atonement,
when he did the priestly work of making atonement for the sins of the people.
So this was the old covenant.
The old terms.
The old agreement.
Animal sacrifices were to be offered regularly on the bronze altar.
In the courtyard.
And only by the priests.
And hands and feet were to be washed with water from the bronze basin.
Before doing the work of the priest.
The punishment for a priest failing to wash his hands before entering the tent of meeting.
To touch or handle the things in there.
Was death.
And we might think at first,
Wow.
Isn't that harsh?
Why would God kill someone for forgetting to wash their hands?
But the lesson here is not that God is harsh.
It's that God is holy.
It's that God is worthy.
God is holy.
Also inside the tent of meeting.
There was a lampstand.
That needed to be kept lit.
There was a table that was to have fresh bread kept on it.
Changed weekly.
One loaf for each tribe of Israel.
There was an incense altar.
That was to be stoked with a fresh batch of incense in the morning.
and at sundown.
Even the wick trimmers for the lamp,
God said they were to be made of gold.
It's like, don't even think of using
just an iron pair of wick trimmers
on my lampstand.
I, the Lord Almighty,
I'm in the next room just beyond the curtain
above the mercy seat of the ark
and you must show me the reverence
and honor that I am due
or else be guilty of profaning my holy name
and bear the only fitting consequences.
Through all of this,
God was helping us understand the truth
of who he is in relation to us.
He is the glorious, exalted,
perfectly good and just creator.
Choosing to live among a bent,
stubborn and sinful people.
This tabernacle was the way for God
to be among his people
and for his people to be near him.
There had to be separation
between the common and the holy,
the clean and the unclean,
the righteous and the guilty.
We talked about the high priest's outfit this morning.
It was to have little golden bells
around the bottom hem.
You can barely see them in this picture.
And they would tie a rope around his ankle
before he went into the most holy place
on the day of atonement
into the very presence of God.
The bells served to help the regular priests
know that the high priest was still alive
while he was in there.
And the rope around his ankle
was to pull him out
in case he did something
and the Lord struck him dead.
Can you imagine the fear
and trembling of the high priest
on that one day a year
when it came time
to enter into the very presence
of Yahweh, the creator?
The one who knew every sinful thought,
desire, word spoken,
deed he had ever done.
This whole idea of God's holiness
is difficult to understand.
But that's why the tabernacle
was the way that it was.
It was to help people,
to help us see the invisible reality
of how things are between God and us,
creator and creature,
the righteous one and sinners.
I find what Paul said
in his letter to Timothy
quite helpful
in reflecting on this.
2 Timothy 2, verse 20.
Paul says there,
In a large house there are articles
not only of gold and silver,
but also of wood and clay.
Some are for special purposes
and some for common use.
Those who cleanse themselves
from the latter
will be instruments
for special purposes,
made holy.
Useful to the master
and prepared
to do any good work.
Now Paul has his main point here
and I'm not going to get into that.
It's a whole separate discussion.
But his illustration is helpful,
at least to me.
He points out how we all understand
the way that it works in a house.
There are both articles
for special purposes
and there are those
that are for common purposes
or we might say lower purposes.
And there's something right
about maintaining that separation,
that distinction.
We save the best dishes,
the china,
the silverware,
the best towels
for those special occasions
and to honor those special guests.
That's what holiness is all about.
It's about that separation.
Some occasions are set apart
and special
and so we honor that guest
or that life event
or that milestone
by bringing out the best articles
of the house,
putting on the best meal
that we can.
It would be wrong
in those special moments
to use the chamber pot
or the toilet brush
or a dirty old rag
to give that honored guest
the towel
that's half ripped apart,
shredded and stained
to wash their face.
Who of us doesn't at least
understand that natural impulse
to tidy and clean
before company comes over?
Not to impress others
or to put on airs
but simply to bless and honor
and show love
to our guests.
So now we take that
and we apply it to God.
What should we do for Him?
What is fitting?
What is right
if He was to come live with us,
among us,
in the camp where we are?
He is absolutely worthy
of the very best,
the gold wick trimmers,
the washing of our hands
before handling His stuff
in the place of meeting.
I wonder,
could it be
that we've lost a sense
of the holiness of God?
Or could it be
that we are so bent by sin
that we have never appreciated it
as fully as we should?
And yet,
even though there is
much here to make us tremble
and wonder
at God's holiness,
do you see the other reality here?
also.
God could have destroyed them all
at Mount Sinai
if He wanted to.
In fact,
it's a wonder that He didn't
after they made the golden calf
blatantly disobeying His command
only weeks after He gave it to them.
God could have simply
just cleansed the earth
of their presence,
but He didn't.
He gave all these instructions
to Moses
about the tabernacle
and the ark.
Why?
Because He loved
these people.
Bent and sinful
though they were,
He desired to live
among them
and to be with them.
He wanted a loaf of bread
representing each one
of the tribes
of Israel
in His presence
at all times.
Bread is food
and it speaks
of fellowship.
He wanted that reminder
in His presence
of each one
of the sons of Jacob
and their children.
And then there was
the high priest's uniform.
God wanted it crafted
in a certain way
and a part of the design
was to have this
breastplate
over the chest
with precious gemstones
in it.
a unique gemstone,
one for each
of the twelve tribes
of Israel.
Was it only a reminder
to the high priest
that He served
on behalf of all
the tribes of Israel?
Or was it also
a kind of memorial
before God
that each son of Jacob
was uniquely precious
to Him
and all their children
after them?
So yes,
there is holiness,
fear,
trembling,
reverence,
and awe.
But there is also
deep mercy,
kindness,
patience,
love,
the desire for relationship.
God knew that the people
would continue to sin,
to continue to give in
to that inward
sinful nature.
And for that,
there was mercy.
There was a way
to make atonement
with sacrifices
to turn away
God's punishment.
And for the time,
God was willing
to take the life
of an animal
belonging to
the guilty person
in the stead
of the life
of the guilty person.
This was the old covenant,
the old terms,
the old agreement.
But now let's turn
our gaze again
to Jesus.
What did He say?
This cup
is the new covenant
in my blood
which is poured out
for you.
Do you hear this?
Jesus says
there's going to be
a new arrangement
between God
and you.
A new deal
with new terms.
And I will be
the sacrifice
that establishes
this new covenant,
says Jesus.
My blood
will be poured out
for you.
That's what the cross
is all about.
A new covenant
with God.
I'm going to read now
three chapters
from Hebrews.
And I want you
to let these words
soak in
just how wonderful
this new covenant
that Christ brought
really is
compared
to the old one.
The first bit
is from chapter 4
and then we'll skip
to chapter 7.
chapter 5.
Verse 6.
Therefore,
since we have
a great high priest
who has ascended
into heaven,
Jesus,
the Son of God,
let us hold firmly
to the faith
we profess.
For we do not
have a high priest
who is unable
to empathize
with our weaknesses,
but we have one
who has been tempted
in every way
just as we are,
yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach
God's throne of grace
with confidence
so that we may
receive mercy
and find grace
to help us
in our time of need.
Over to chapter 7
verse 11.
If perfection
could have been attained
through the Levitical priesthood
and indeed the law
given to the people
established that priesthood,
why was there still need
for another priest
to come?
One in the order
of Melchizedek,
not in the order
of Aaron.
For when the priesthood
is changed,
the law must be changed
also.
He of whom
these things are said
belonged to a different tribe
and no one
from that tribe
has ever served
at the altar
for it is clear
that our Lord
descended from Judah.
In regard to that tribe,
Moses said nothing
about priests.
And what we have said
is even more clear
if another priest
like Melchizedek
appears,
one who has become
a priest
not on the basis
of a regulation
as to his ancestry,
but on the basis
of the power
of an indestructible life.
For it is declared,
you are a priest
forever
in the order
of Melchizedek.
The former regulation
is set aside
because it was weak
and useless
for the law
made nothing perfect.
and a better hope
is introduced
by which we draw
near to God.
And it was not
without an oath.
Others became priests
without any oath,
but he became a priest
with an oath
when God said to him,
the Lord has sworn
and will not change
his mind.
You are a priest
forever.
Because of this oath,
Jesus has become
the guarantor
of a better covenant.
Now there have been
many of those priests
since death prevented them
from continuing in office.
But because Jesus
lives forever,
he has a permanent priesthood.
Therefore,
he is able to save
completely
those who come to God
through him
because he always lives
to intercede
for them.
Such a high priest
truly meets our need,
one who is holy,
blameless,
pure,
set apart from sinners,
exalted above the heavens.
Unlike the other
high priests,
he does not need
to offer sacrifices
day after day,
first for his own sins
and then for the sins
of the people.
He sacrificed
for their sins
once for all
when he offered himself.
For the law
appoints as high priests
men in all their weakness,
but the oath
which came after the law
appointed the Son
who has been made perfect
forever.
Now the main point
of what we're saying
is this.
We do have
such a high priest
who sat down
at the right hand
of the throne
of the majesty
in heaven
and who serves
in the sanctuary,
the true tabernacle
set up by the Lord,
not by a mere human being.
Every high priest
is appointed
to offer both gifts
and sacrifices
and so it was necessary
for this one also
to have something
to offer.
If he were on earth,
he would not be a priest
for there are already
priests who offer
the gifts prescribed
by the law.
They serve at a sanctuary
that is a copy
and shadow
of what is in heaven.
This is why Moses
was warned
when he was about
to build the tabernacle
see to it
that you make everything
according to the pattern
shown you
on the mountain.
But in fact,
the ministry
Jesus has received
is as superior
to theirs
as the covenant
of which
he is mediator
is superior
to the old one
since the new covenant
is established
on better promises.
If there had been
nothing wrong
with that first covenant,
no place
would have been
sought for another.
but God
found fault
with the people
and said,
the days are coming,
declares the Lord,
when I will make
a new covenant
with the people
of Israel
and with the people
of Judah.
It will not be
like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them
by the hand
to lead them
out of Egypt
because they did not
remain faithful
to my covenant
and I turned away
from them,
declares the Lord.
this is the covenant
I will establish
with the people
of Israel
after that time,
declares the Lord.
I will put my laws
in their minds
and write them
on their hearts.
I will be their God
and they will be
my people.
No longer will they
teach their neighbor
or say to one another,
know the Lord
because they will
all know me
from the least of them
to the greatest
for I will forgive
their wickedness
and remember
their sins
no more.
By calling this covenant
new,
he has made
the first one
obsolete
and what is obsolete
and outdated
will soon disappear.
Now the first covenant
had regulations
for worship
and also
an earthly sanctuary.
A tabernacle
was set up
in its first room
where the lampstand
and the table
with its consecrated bread
this is called
the holy place.
Behind the second curtain
was a room
called the most holy place
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.
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
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.
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
functioning.
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.
They are only a matter
of food
and drink
and various
ceremonial washings
external regulations
applying until the time
of the new order.
But when Christ
came
as high priest
of the good things
that are now
already here
he went through
the greater
and more perfect
tabernacle
that is not made
with human hands
that is to say
it is not part
of this creation.
He did not enter
by means of the blood
of goats
and calves
but he entered
the most holy place
once for all
by his own blood
thus obtaining
eternal redemption.
The blood of goats
and bulls
and the ashes
of a heifer
sprinkled on those
who are ceremonially
unclean
sanctify them
so that they are
outwardly clean.
How much more
than will the blood
of Christ
who through
the eternal spirit
offered himself
unblemished
to God
cleanse our
consciences
from acts
that lead to death
so that we may serve
the living God.
For this reason
Christ is the mediator
of a new covenant
that those who are called
may receive
the promised
eternal inheritance
now that he has died
as a ransom
to set them free
from the sins committed
under the first covenant.
In the case of a will
it's necessary
to prove
the death
of the one
who made it
because a will
is in force
only when somebody
has died.
It never takes effect
while the one
who made it
is living.
This is why
even the first covenant
was not put into effect
without blood.
When Moses
had proclaimed
every command
of the law
to all the people
he took the blood
of calves
together with water
scarlet wool
and branches of hyssop
and sprinkled
the scroll
and all the people.
He said
this is the blood
of the covenant
which God
has commanded you
to keep.
In the same way
he sprinkled
with the blood
both the tabernacle
and everything
used in its ceremonies.
In fact
the law requires
that nearly everything
be cleansed with blood
and without the shedding
of blood
there is no forgiveness.
It was necessary
then for the copies
of the heavenly things
to be purified
with these sacrifices.
but the heavenly
things themselves
with better sacrifices
than these.
For Christ did not
enter a sanctuary
made with human hands
that was only a copy
of the true one.
He entered heaven
itself
now to appear
for us
in God's presence.
Nor did he enter heaven
to offer himself
again and again
the way the high priest
enters the most holy place
every year
with blood
that is not his own.
Otherwise
Christ would have had
to suffer many times
since the creation
of the world.
But he has appeared
once for all
at the culmination
of the ages
to do away
with sin
by the sacrifice
of himself.
Just as people
are destined
to die once
and after that
to face judgment
so Christ
was sacrificed
once
to take away
the sins
of many.
And he will appear
a second time
not to bear sin
but to bring salvation
to those
who are waiting
for him.
The law
is only
a shadow
of the good things
that are coming
not the realities
themselves.
For this reason
it can never
by the same
sacrifices
repeated
endlessly
year after year
make perfect
those who draw near
to worship.
Otherwise
would they
not have stopped
being offered?
For the worshippers
would have been
cleansed once for all
and would no longer
have felt guilty
for their sins.
But those sacrifices
are an annual
reminder
of sins.
It is impossible
for the blood
of bulls
and goats
to take away
sins.
therefore
when Christ
came into the world
he said
sacrifice
and offering
you did not
desire
but a body
you prepared
for me.
With burnt
offerings
and sin offerings
you were not
pleased.
Then I said
here I am
it is written
about me
in the scroll
I have come
to do your will
my God.
First he said
sacrifices
and offerings
burnt offerings
and sin offerings
you did not
desire
nor were you
pleased with them
though they were
offered in
accordance with
the law.
Then he said
here I am
I have come
to do your will.
He sets aside
the first
to establish
the second
and by that
will
we have been
made holy
through the
sacrifice
of the body
of Jesus
Christ
once for all.
Day after day
every priest
stands and
performs his
religious duties
again and again
he offers
the same
sacrifices
which can
never take
away sins
but when
this priest
had offered
for all time
one sacrifice
for sins
he sat down
at the right
hand of God
and since
that time
he waits
for his enemies
to be made
his footstool
for by one
sacrifice
he has made
perfect forever
those who are
being made
holy.
The Holy Spirit
also testifies
to us
about this.
First he says
this is the
covenant I will
make with them
after that time
says the Lord
I will put my
laws in their
hearts
and I will
write them
on their minds
then he adds
their sins
and lawless
acts
I will
remember no
more.
And where
these have
been forgiven
sacrifice for
sin is no
longer necessary
therefore
brothers and
sisters since
we have
confidence to
enter the
most holy
place by
the blood
of Jesus
by a new
and living
way opened
for us
through the
curtain that
is his
body and
since we
have a great
priest over
the house
of God
let us
draw near
to God
with the
sincere heart
and with the
full assurance
that faith
brings
having our
hearts sprinkled
to cleanse us
from a guilty
conscience
and having our
bodies washed
with pure
water
let us hold
unswervingly
to the hope
we profess
for he who
promised
is faithful
a new
covenant
a better
covenant
better
promises
established
by a
greater
high
priest
who
offered
the
greatest
of
sacrifices
once for
all time
in the
greater
and more
perfect
tabernacle
of heaven
thus obtaining
eternal
redemption
everlasting
forgiveness
and free
access to
the holiest
place
to God
himself
this is what
we mark
with bread
and cup
this morning
not just
that Jesus
died on the
cross
but that
Jesus has
done all
this
for us
by his
death
because of
his love
a new
covenant
everlasting
forgiveness
and life
what an
amazing gift
of grace
Jesus is
to us
if you
believe in
your heart
that Jesus
has done
all this
for you
please
join with
us in
eating and
drinking
from this
table
in a
moment
Dave will
come up
and pass
out the
elements
and after
a couple
of minutes
of quiet
prayer and
reflection
we'll
partake
together
we'll wait
until everybody
has been
served
and then
we'll
partake
together