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Wednesday October 30 - Unfolding revelation
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the
realitiesthemselves. Hebrews10:1
One thing I love about Scripture is how methodically it unfolds the principles God wants us to understand. Consider the metaphor of ‘leaves’ in the Bible. In Eden, Adam and Eve create an inadequate covering from leaves (Genesis 3:7), setting up leaves as a type of self-righteousness. Isaiah confirms this, saying that ‘all our righteousness is like filthy rags’, and that ‘we all fade as a leaf’ (64:6). So, when Jesus performs the odd miracle of cursing a fig tree (Matthew 21:19), we understand; God isn’t looking for self-righteous leaves, but the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Let’s consider an even greater unfolding revelation. In Genesis 22, God intervenes as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac and provides a ram to take his place (v 13). One ram saves one boy. In Exodus, God instructs the Hebrews to paint the blood of a lamb on the doorposts as the ‘angel of death’ passes over (Exodus 12:7,13,14). One lamb saves one household. Cross into Leviticus 16, and on the Day of Atonement, one lamb is sacrificed and its blood sprinkled on the ‘mercy seat’ (v 15). One lamb saves one nation. Now we understand, in John 1:29, as John the Baptist sees Jesus walking towards him and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”, that one lamb, the Lamb, saves the whole world.
Lord, as you have unfolded your principles in your word, unfold all of this in me as I walk in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Thursday October 31 - Christ: our propitiation
...we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... opened for us through the curtain... Hebrews 10:19-20
When studying theology, there are several terms that students must repeat and reread in order to grasp them. Terms like hamartiology, the teleological argument, expiation, exegesis, hermeneutics all give students real headaches (have fun looking them up!). One term I had real difficulty with is ‘propitiation’, found in older or literal translations of the Bible. In Romans 3:25 Paul speaks of Jesus, ‘whom God set forth as a propitiation by his blood’ (NKJV). Hold on to your hat now as we step into the original Greek of the New Testament to grasp this incredible term.
Hilasterion is what is translated ‘propitiation’ in English, and this appears only a handful of times in the Greek Bible (the Septuagint). In the Old Testament, Hilasterion is translated ‘mercy seat’, and is the cover on the Ark of the Covenant, the place where the priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:13-15). What a beautiful picture then, that Jesus is our hilasterion / propitiation, our ‘mercy seat’ before God; his blood is sprinkled that we may find grace, forgiveness, favour, and eternal life in his name. The priests went into the Holy of Holies only once a year, behind the curtain of the temple where the Ark was. How profound it is that as Jesus died on the cross that curtain was torn in two (Matthew 27:51). He is our Mercy Seat! It is finished!
Father, I thank you for the Mercy Seat of Jesus, who has taken all my sin and guilt. Thank you, Lord, thank you. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY