Recognition of Guilt.

Leviticus 5-6, Luke 4

If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. – Leviticus 5:17 ESV

There is a pattern here:

…and he realizes his guilt… – Leviticus 5:2

…when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt… – Leviticus 5:3

…when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these… – Leviticus 5:4

…though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt… – Leviticus 5:17

…if he has sinned and has realized his guilt… – Leviticus 6:4

While the various kinds of offerings mentioned in these chapters can get a bit confusing, it is perfectly clear that they are associated with the sins of men and their guilt for having committed them. Yet, it is important to recognize that their guilt was a reality, whether they knew about it or ever acknowledged it. Their punishment was assured because their sin was readily apparent in God's eyes. But should they come to recognize their guilt and the sin that caused it, they had an opportunity to do something about it. God provided a means by which they could deal with their guilt and receive forgiveness. Guilt alone is not enough. To recognize your guilt, but have no way to effectively deal with it, would lead to hopelessness and despair. Guiltiness is a state of being, not a state of mind. A person who exceeds the speed limit unknowingly is just as guilty as the person who does so willingly and purposefully. Guilt is the condition in which sin leaves us. We stand as guilty, whether we realize what we have done or not. That is why the book of Leviticus seems to put so much emphasis on inadvertent sins, or sins committed in ignorance. Guiltiness is our standing before a holy God, whether we recognize our condition or not. Sin is sin, regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional.

It is interesting that the emphasis seems to be on recognition of guilt, not recognition of sin. The fact is, all men are sinful. We sin daily, through acts of commission (those things we do that violate God's law) and omission (those things we fail to do in keeping with God's law). The New Testament makes it clear that we are to confess our sins. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 ESV). But what we sometimes fail to understand is that confession of sin includes the idea that we understand that we stand as guilty before God because of our sin. We are sinners and we are guilty. But we must recognize that fact.

What does this passage reveal about God?

God seems to want mankind to understand the true nature of their condition. Sin has permeated our ranks. It has infected each and every one of us. Our condition before Him is as a criminal standing before a judge. He is fully guilty and worthy of the judgment, whether he acknowledges his guilt or not. But our incredible God has provided a way by which we can enter our guilty plea before and place ourselves at His mercy. In the Old Testament, they were able to bring sacrifices before God. In essence, they recognized their guilt, confessed it through the act of bringing their sacrifice, then received God's forgiveness. "And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven" (Leviticus 5:10 ESV). God forgave not just their sin, but their guilt. The sacrificial animal gave its life so that they might live. Rather than standing before God as guilty of sin and condemned to death, they were able to stand before Him as forgiven, their sins having been atoned or paid for.

When Jesus came to the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, the passage he read included the words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19 ESV). This Old Testament prophecy was speaking of Jesus Himself. He was the one who had come to set free those who were captive to sin, living in spiritual blindness, and suffering the oppression of a life lived attempting to make themselves right with God through their own human effort. Jesus offered a new way, a better way, the only way to get right with God. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 ESV). He offered rest from the wearisome burden of attempting to please God through acts of self-righteousness.

What does this passage reveal about man?

The life of the average Israelite was one filled with a constant realization that they couldn't measure up to God's righteous demands. They were always guilty, because they were always sinning. Theirs was a life of perpetual guilt, requiring constant confession, the costly need for sacrifice, and the never-ending need for God's forgiveness. And while that description may sound depressing and a bit unfair, it was all simply designed to teach man that his sins were serious and his guilty standing before God was inescapable and irreparable without God's mercy and grace.

The same is true today. We all stand guilty before God, whether we recognize it or ever acknowledge it. The guilt of mankind is a non-negotiable reality. And all men are in the same boat, needing some means for having their guilty verdict irreversibly wiped away. But God could not just ignore man's guilt, He had to pay for it. The penalty had to be paid. The sentence of punishment had to be meted out. To someone. So just as the case of the animals used in Old Testament sacrifices, God sent His Son to take man's place. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24 ESV).

Jesus' role as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of man was so important that Satan attempted to stop Him before He ever got started. The book of Luke records the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, and Satan's three-pronged attack on the Savior, designed to invalidate His role as the sinless, obedient Son of God. He tried to get Jesus to replace God's will with His own. He wanted Jesus to disobey His Father and, therefore, discredit Himself as the sinless sacrifice. But his attempts failed. Jesus remained faithful and obedient to His Father's will. And as a result, mankind was given a means by which their guilt might be eliminated once and for all. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1 ESV).

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

I am no longer guilty of sin. My sins have been forgiven. But I must never forget the to recognize that apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross, I would be as guilty as the greatest sinner. I would still be deserving of death and stuck in a never-ending treadmill attempting to satisfy a holy God through my sin-stained efforts. My former status as guilty before God makes my current status of forgiven, accepted and righteous all that much more remarkable and hard to believe. He has set me free from sin, guilt, condemnation and the ultimate penalty of death. "And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven" (Leviticus 5:10 ESV). That is exactly what Jesus did for me.

Father, never let me forget to recognize the reality of my guilt before You prior to Christ's death on my behalf. I don't ever want to take for granted my salvation and my standing before You as righteous. Thank You for the remarkable gift of Your Son. Amen

Unintentional Sin. Intentional Solution.

Leviticus 3-4, Luke 3

If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. – Leviticus 4:13-14 ESV

"But I didn't know!"

How many times has that pitiful plea graced the ears of the average parent? We've all been there. We've all had a child who we caught in an act of what appeared to be obvious disobedience and disregard for our authority, only to find out that their sin was inadvertent and unintentional. They didn't know they were sinning. They didn't mean to break the rules, but they did. And while we may have extended grace and diminished the degree of punishment meted out, their ignorance didn't eliminate their guilt. How many speeding tickets have you ever talked your way out of using the excuse, "But I didn't know!"?

In the case of the people of Israel, God had a predetermined plan for dealing with just such a case. He knew there were going to be times when the people sinned unintentionally. But their ignorance did not eliminate their guilt. God's law was intended to reveal any and all sin in the lives of God's people, whether intentional or not. Sins of commission and omission all had to be dealt with, because God is a holy God. He cannot tolerate sin. By placing of the hand on the head of the animal, the unintentional sins were transferred from the guilty party to the "substitute." The unintentional sins of the people still required the shedding of blood as propitiation or payment for the sins committed, whether they were intentional or not. God had to be appeased. The penalty for sin was still death. But God provided a means by which His righteous requirements might be satisfied and forgiveness be given. Twice in chapter four we read, "And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven" (Leviticus 4:31 ESV).

What does this passage reveal about God?

God's grace is amazing. Whether their sins were intentional or not, He provided a way for them to find forgiveness. God left no stone unturned and no loose ends when it came to man's sin and His provision for forgiveness. God knew that man was going to sin and that sometimes it would happen out of ignorance. But He also knew that sin was serious and the consequences were deadly, regardless of man's intention. Payment still had to be made. Blood had to be shed. Everyone, rich or poor, had to satisfy God's just demands – either with their own life or the life of an innocent substitute. And all of this pointed to a future day when God would send His Son as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of man. Paul reminds us, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 ESV). Elsewhere he writes, "None is righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10 ESV). He was simply echoing the sentiment of the prophet Isaiah who wrote, "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6 NLT). Paul made it painfully clear that "the wages of sin is death," but he also gave us the incredibly good news that "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 ESV). God, in His infinite mercy and grace, provided a way for man to find forgiveness for sin, not imperfectly or temporarily, but permanently and completely.

What does this passage reveal about man?

When John the Baptist showed up on the scene, preparing for and heralding the arrival of Jesus, he was confronted by a people who were steeped in their sinfulness. There were the chosen people of God, but they had long since given up living as those set apart by God and for His glory. They had begun to see their worth as based on their heritage as descendants of Abraham. They viewed themselves as righteous because of their blood line, rather than because of the blood of the sacrifices they offered each year. Being descendents of Abraham was their get-out-of-jail-free card. They thought they were guaranteed a right standing with God because they were born into the right family tree. But John bluntly reminded them, "God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham" (Luke 3:8 ESV). He warned them about God's coming judgment. He told them that their lives needed to reflect a passion for the things that pleased God. "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise" (Luke 3:11 ESV). He told the tax collectors to "collect no more than you are authorized to do" (Luke 3:13 ESV). He told the soldiers to "not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14 ESV).

John was demanding life change. He was letting them know that their lives were going to have to be distinctively different than what they had been. It wasn't going to be business as usual. They were to "bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8 ESV). Things were about to heat up. Expectations were about to ratchet up. He warned them, "even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Luke 3:9 ESV). God's expectations for holiness hadn't changed. His demands for a people who would live holy lives and act in accordance with His Word and in keeping with their character as one of His children, had not changed.

But only one man could do what would bring satisfaction to God. Only one man was going to be able to live up to God's exacting standard, perfectly and completely. And at the baptism of Jesus, God said, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22 ESV). Like no other man had ever been able to do before, Jesus pleased God. He met His standard and lived up to His holy requirements. And He would continue to do so throughout the days of His life on this planet.

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

I am the recipient of God's amazing grace. Rather than having to try and live up to God's impossibly demanding standards, I have been offered forgiveness of sin through the death of His Son. I have had my debt paid in full by the sinless Son of God. Paul tells us, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). All of my sins, intentional and unintentional, have been taken care of by Jesus. But I must remind myself of this daily. Because not only is God pleased with His Son, He is pleased with me! I sometimes find that hard to comprehend, and sometimes even harder to believe. My sins have all been paid for. My debt has been settled. Jesus made atonement for me, and I am forgiven.

Father, Thank You for the remind of Your gracious provision for my sin through the death of Your Son. Never let me take it for granted. Don't allow me to ever forget that I am now pleasing to You because the selfless, sacrificial death of Your Son brought pleasure to You. He satisfied Your righteous demands and allowed You to shower me with grace, rather than wrath. Amen

Holy Unto the Lord.

Leviticus 1-2, Luke 2

If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.  – Leviticus 1:3-4 ESV

Reading through book of Leviticus can be a formidable task. In fact, when most people attempt to read through the Bible, Leviticus is usually where they begin to bog down and even give up. They may even be tempted to simply skip this book altogether. But while Leviticus is full of mind-numbing details about sacrifices and ancient Hebrew rituals, there is much we can learn from its pages. All throughout the book, you will see references to clean and unclean, purification, holiness, and atonement. As in the verses above, you will see the repetitive use of the phrase, "accepted before the Lord." Similarly, you will see references of offerings and sacrifices being offered "to the Lord" and providing "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." All throughout the pages of Leviticus you will see individuals, like you and me, bringing their offerings to the Tabernacle and sacrificing them unto the Lord. Their offerings were costly. They were required to bring the best of what they had. They could not bring a sick lamb or a defective bull. They were required to offer up to the Lord the very best. It was truly a sacrifice. And it was to be offered willingly and gladly, not begrudgingly. I am reminded of the words of Paul to us as believers, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1 ESV). As New Testament saints, we are no longer required to offer animal sacrifices to the Lord, because Jesus Christ has offered Himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of man. But we are to give to God what Christ has died to redeem: Our lives. And it is costly to sacrifice our lives to Him. Paul goes on to tell us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2 ESV). We are required to give up our allegiance to this world and our love affair with the things of this world.

That is the picture of Leviticus. As the people of God, the Israelites were being asked by God to set themselves apart from the rest of the world by following His requirements for them. The ritual laws and moral/ethical requirements were designed to set the people of God apart from the world around them. Holiness, purity, and acceptability are key themes in this book. Later on in the book, we will read the command of God, "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44 ESV). That is a fairly sobering and scary statement. But lest we think it doesn't apply to us as 21st -Century believers, we need to remember that these are the very words that Peter quoted: "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT). The theme of Leviticus is holiness – the holiness of God and His expectation of holiness among His people. The rituals and rules are merely a means to an end. They are the necessary requirements placed upon man by God that, if followed, will allow man access into His presence. 

What does this passage reveal about God?

God is serious about holiness. He is deadly serious about sin. Sin had destroyed His creation and shattered the peace that had permeated the world He had made. It had damaged the relationship between man and God, separating them from one another and leaving man condemned to physical death and an eternal death marked by a permanent separation from the presence of God. In Leviticus we see God providing a means by which man could enjoy His presence once more. But in order for that to happen, sin had to be dealt with. God's holiness had to be recognized. His transcendence or "otherness" had to be comprehended by men. They had to understand that God was nothing like them. He was sinless and righteous. He was all-powerful and holy. As sinful men, they couldn't just walk into His presence or treat Him flippantly or carelessly. A big part of the goal of all the rituals and rules found in the book of Leviticus was that the people of God would recognize the true nature of their God. All of these sacrifices and offerings were to be a constant reminder of their sin and His holiness. Everything they were required to do was to be done "unto the Lord." It was all for His glory and intended to make them acceptable in His presence.

What does this passage reveal about man?

All of these rules and requirements can come across to us as somewhat arbitrary and antiquated. They seem a bit over-the-top and overly bloody. But you can't read the book of Leviticus and not understand that sin has a cost. Not only that, atonement for sin is equally costly. Every year, tens of thousands of animals were bled to death and sacrificed on the altar as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of man. When a man brought his bull or lamb to the Tabernacle as an offering unto the Lord, he had to bring his best animal, unblemished and spotless. Then he had to lay his hands on the head of the animal, designating it as his substitute or stand-in, symbolically transferring his sin onto the animal. Then that individual would kill the animal himself. He would take its life, shedding its blood "before the Lord" in order to "make atonement for him." Then he had to skin the animal, cut it into pieces and watch as the priests laid the dismembered carcass on the fire of the altar. This bloody, messy ordeal would end with the sacrifice becoming "a pleasing aroma to the Lord." That was the goal. That was the whole point. That animal's death and consumption by fire was accepted by God and, by proxy, made the one who made the offering acceptable and pleasing to God. 

Over in the book of Luke, we have recorded the birth of Jesus. He was born into an obscure Jewish family and, like any Jew, was required to keep the rituals and rules placed upon the people of Israel by God. On the eighth day after His birth, Jesus was circumcised, according to God's command. Days later, once His mother Mary had fulfilled the purification requirements spelled out in the Law (Leviticus 12:3-4), Jesus was brought to the Temple so that He could be offered as the firstborn. Ever since the Exodus, God had required that the Jews offer their firstborn male son as a sacrifice to Him. It was a ritualistic reminder of His killing of the firstborn in Egypt that led to their eventual release from captivity by Pharaoh. God told the people, "All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed" (Exodus 34:19-20 ESV). So when the time came, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, in keeping with the law of God. Everything about Jesus' birth and life was in keeping with His Father's law. Even Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17 ESV). It was Jesus' ability to keep God's law perfectly and to live a human life without sin that made Him the acceptable sacrifice to God. He was able to do what no man had ever done – live in complete obedience to the law of God and without sin. And His death as our sinless sacrifice has made access into God's presence possible for any who will accept the free gift of His substitutionary death on their behalf. Like the Israelite who was required to lay his hand on the head of that lamb and trust that God would accept find him acceptable and pleasing, we must, in essence lay our hands on the head of Jesus, and trust that His death in our place will make us pleasing and acceptable to God. 

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

So much of what God requires of me can seem daunting and impossible. I am to love my neighbor. I am to live sacrificially and count others as more important than myself. I am to die to myself daily. I am to live in submission to the Holy Spirit and bear fruit in the form of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice each and every day of my life. I am to live in unity with other believers, forgive those who hurt me, give to others without expecting anything in return. and keep myself unstained by the world's influence. But those things are not what make me righteous and acceptable to God. It is the work of Christ on the cross that makes me holy. All of those things are the byproduct of my new relationship with God through Christ. I have a new capacity to live differently and distinctively in this world. I have the power of the Holy Spirit within me to guide me and the Word of God to teach me. Any offering or sacrifice I make to God is not done as some kind of penance or to act as some form of atonement. They are to be the expression of a grateful heart to a gracious God who has made me acceptable in His sight. When Peter quotes God and says, "You must be holy because I am holy," he is not telling us to become something we are NOT. He is reminding us to live as what we ARE. We are holy. We belong to God. And our lives and actions should reflect our new nature and standing before God.

Father, Thank You that my relationship with You is not based on my ability to live in obedience to some set of standards. Thank You that the way to get right with You was not based on me trying to live a sinless life, because I could never have lived up to that standard. But while I was still a sinner, mired in my sinfulness, You sent Your Son to die in my place and to act as my atoning sacrifice. In essence, ll I had to do was place my hand on His head and believe that He would be my substitute, my stand-in and that You would accept Him in my place. And You did. For that I am eternally grateful. Now continue to help me live as what I am – Your child, holy and acceptable in Your sight. Amen

The Redemption of the Lord.

Exodus 39-40, Luke 1

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. – Luke 1:68 ESV

The Tabernacle was completed and on the first day of the first month in the second year since their departure from Egypt, they erected it for the very first time. After many months of hard work and painstaking attention to detail, Moses and the people were able to see all the various pieces of the Tabernacle come together. They consecrated and anointed it so that it might be holy – set apart for God's use only. They cleansed and purified Aaron and his sons, then anointed and consecrated them as well, so that they might serve God as priests in His Tabernacle.

Then when all the work was done and the Tabernacle was complete, the glory of the Lord descended and took up residence. God confirmed the work with a visible sign of His presence. "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-35 ESV). What an incredible day that must have been. What an amazing sight to have witnessed. The visible glory of God descending in the form of a cloud and filling the Tabernacle. And His glory would rest above the Mercy Seat which sat on top of the Ark of the Covenant, in which were contained the Ten Commandments. "For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys" (Exodus 40:38 ESV). God was among them. His presence was visible to them.

What does this passage reveal about God?

God mercifully made Himself known to the people of Israel. He appeared in a form that allowed them to know He was among them, but was not His true essence. If God had appeared to them in all of His glory and revealed Himself to them as He truly is, they would have been destroyed. So the Tabernacle became symbolic of His holiness, majesty, glory and power. The cloud by day, hovering over the Tabernacle, and the fire by night glowing from within the inner recesses of the Tabernacle, became the representation of His presence among them.

"Finally God was dwelling among His people. His redemption of them was now complete. He had liberated them from bondage in Egypt (chs. 1-15) and adopted them as His special treasure (chs. 15-40). He had made a covenant with them and now blessed them with His presence. He would guide them from then on 'throughout all their journeys' (vv. 36, 38). The descent of God to take up residence in the midst of His people is therefore a fitting climax with which this book closes" (Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Exodus, Page 160).

What does this passage reveal about man?

While designed by God, the Tabernacle was a man-made structure. Without the presence of God it would remain nothing more than a man-made structure. In and of itself, it was beautiful, but incomplete without God's presence. It was His presence that assured their redemption was complete. Had God left them at any moment, they would have become just another people worshiping in just another building, but to a god who did not exist. Moses knew that God's presence was essential. Just a short time before this, he had prayed to God, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16 ESV). Without God's presence, their sacrifices would be in vain. It was His presence hovering over the Mercy Seat that made forgiveness possible. Without God's help, man is incapable of coming into His presence. Without God's intervention, sin would permanently block man's access and keep him in a perpetual state of isolation and condemnation. But God showed up. He came down and appeared to men in a form they could comprehend and offered redemption on their behalf.

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

Which is exactly what God has done for me. He sent His Son, born of a virgin, and in the form of a man. God took on human flesh and walked among us. He came in a form we could comprehend, but with the intention of providing us with redemption. By sending His Son as a man, God provided a way to pay the penalty due for our sin. He would offer His own Son as the sacrifice for the sins of man. His Son would do what no other man had been able to do – live a sinless life, in keeping with God's commands. He would become the spotless Lamb, the ultimate sacrifice for sins. John the Baptist, whose birth is described in Luke 1, would later say of Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV).

Regarding this aspect of Jesus' earthly ministry, Paul tells us, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7 ESV). God sent His Son to dwell among us. "He is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15 ESV). "No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us: (John 1:18 NLT). "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3 ESV).

God's plan all along was to send His Son. The Tabernacle was temporary. It was a symbol of something far greater to come. And Luke describes the advent or coming of Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, at his son's birth, prophesied, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David" (Luke 1:68-69 ESV). He knew that his son was only the herald of someone far greater to come – the Messiah Himself. He prophesied that John would "give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:77-79 ESV).

I have received the knowledge of that salvation. I have been given access into God's presence by the sacrifice of His Son. I have been the recipient of God's love and mercy. "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ESV). I have had the darkness of my life transformed by the Light of God, the Light of the world. And my redemption is complete.

Father, it is amazing to see the parallels between the Old and New Testaments and see how You have been working all throughout history, preparing mankind for Your redemption plan. You have mercifully revealed Yourself over the centuries in so many ways, but the greatest expression of Your reality is the gift of Your Son who not only made you visible, but made our restored relationship with You possible. Thank You. Amen

Not Exactly Good News.

Luke 9

"For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said. "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead." – Luke 9:22 NLT

When these words came off the lips of Jesus, His disciples were less-than-ecstatic. In fact, they were surprised and confused. This wasn't exactly what they had signed up for. After all, they were fully expecting Jesus, as the long-awaited Messiah, to set up His kingdom on earth and destroy the oppressive rule of the Romans. He was going to be the warrior-king who, like His ancestor David, would wage war against the enemies of Israel and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem. It was going to be great, and the disciples thought they would be ruling right alongside Christ in His earthly kingdom. Now here He comes talking about suffering and death at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes of Israel. None of this made sense. Why would the religious leaders of their day want to kill the Messiah? This all had to sound preposterous to the disciples. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Jesus goes on to tell them that they were going to have to deny themselves and take up their own crosses if they were going to continue following Him. Wow! Not exactly good news.

But we know that is exactly what it was – good news. Jesus' death was the key to His coming. He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all. Ephesians 5:2 tells us that Jesus "gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." He died so that we might live. His death resulted in a different kind of victory than the disciples were looking for. He came to set them free from the rule of sin and the penalty of death, not the Romans. He came to give them victory over the grave, not some foreign occupying army. The life Jesus was offering was going to require death. His own. And it would require of the disciples a daily dying of themselves. They were going to have to die to their expectations and dreams. They were going to have to die to their addictive habit of trying to save themselves. They were going to have to lose their lives in order to gain the new life that Jesus offered. But it would prove to be an exchange that was well worth it. Our sin for His righteousness. Our forgiveness for His condemnation. Our new life for His death. His power for our weakness. Our salvation for His sacrifice.

So the bad news would prove to be very good news after all. And it still is.

Father, thank You for the good news regarding Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for coming up with a plan that was far better than anything the disciples could have dreamed up or dreamed of. Your way is the best. And I am grateful that the bad news regarding Your son's death would prove to be the best news of all time. Amen.

Wide-Eyed Wonder.

Luke 24

Then their eyes were opened. – Luke 24:31 NASB

It's just days after the death of Jesus. Two of His followers are slowly making their way from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus. As they walk along they discuss the events of the last few days. How did this all happen? Where did it all go wrong? Their Messiah, Jesus, had failed to establish His kingdom. Instead, He had suffered the fate of a common criminal by being hung on a Roman cross until dead. And their hopes had died with HIm. No more kingdom of the Jews. No more overthrow of the Roman oppressors. Their precious Messiah was now just a memory. A phantom of what might have been.

Suddenly, their intense conversation is interrupted by the voice of a stranger. They hadn't noticed him walking along beside them. He asks them what they are talking about. They are a little surprised and put out by this strangers seeming lack of awareness of current events. But they politely bring him up to speed on all that had happened in Jerusalem during the Passover celebration. They revisit the painful events of the last week, pointing out that Jesus, the Nazarene prophet, had been crucified by the Romans, thus ending any hope they had of Him redeeming Israel from their slavery to Rome.

They share one more interesting bit of news. It seems that the body of Jesus had disappeared. The tomb was empty. Some were even claiming that He was alive!

But they were headed home.

I love this story. Here are two followers of Jesus walking along the road with Jesus, but they fail to even recognize that He is there. Their eyes are blind to His presence. They talk about the risen Lord, but fail to see Him. Isn' t that just like you and me? We can get so wrapped up in our circumstances, sadly recounting how things have not turned out quite the way we expected since we started following Jesus, that we fail to see Him walking right beside us. We can accurately tell His story, including His death, burial, and purported resurrection, but be blind to His presence in our lives. Why? Because things are not as we expected they would be. Our version of the kingdom didn't come about. Sure, we hear He is alive, but we don't really believe it. Our eyes are blind to the reality of His presence.

But then God does graciously opens our eyes, just like He did theirs in verse 31 of chapter 24. Something happens that makes us suddenly recognize that what they said was really true - He is alive! He has conquered death! He is exactly who He claimed to be! But what was it that opened their eyes? Why was it that they were unable to see the truth of the Savior's presence in their lives that day? I think it was a lack of vision. They had become near-sighted, unable to see beyond the borders of their own limited little worlds. Like me, they suffered from a severe case of spiritual myopia. Anything beyond their own little world was a blur. All they could see was that their hopes had been dashed, their dreams had failed to materialize, their goals had gone unreached, the desires had bone unmet.

Then Jesus opened up the Scriptures and helped them focus on something beyond themselves - namely Him. "He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (Vs 27). Later, at a casual meal in their home, Jesus broke the bread and handed it to them. "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (Vs 30). I am sure these two had heard first-hand accounts from the lips of the disciples of that final Passover meal they had shared with Jesus. They knew about the cup and the bread. And when Jesus broke it that day in their home, it all came into focus. Their perspective changed. They were no longer two myopic, disappointed, self-absorbed individuals. They were hopeful, expectant followers of the risen Lord. He really was alive. They had seen Him. They had experienced Him. So they returned to Jerusalem with "hearts burning" and hopes soaring.

Isn't that how we should live? Yet many of us mope around as if Jesus never had risen from the dead. Sure, we claim He has. We sing about it, talk about it, and say we believe it. Yet we fail to see Him in the everyday affairs of life. Why? Because we can't see the big picture. We are self-absorbed, focused on our own little kingdom agendas. Jesus has failed to deliver what we expected. Our lives have not turned out the way we planned. The future looks dark and out of focus. We fail to see beyond our immediate circumstances.

But He is there. Waiting for us to lift our eyes and see Him for who He really is. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords with His own agenda and His own plans – for this world and for our lives. His kingdom is bigger and better than ours. And He wants us to get a glimpse of it. When we do, we will see clearly for the first time why we are here and what it is that He wants us to do in us and through us.

Father, Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready my God, Thy will to see, open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! Amen.

God of the Impossible.

Luke 1

For nothing will be impossible with God. - Luke 1:37 ESV

This book starts out with a bang. A barren old woman finds herself pregnant. Her doubting old husband finds himself made mute. A young virgin girl gets the jaw-dropping news that she is going to have a baby - by the Holy Spirit! On top of that, the baby she is carrying would be called the Son of the Most High God. And that's all in just the first chapter.

But doesn't that make sense? I mean, here is God Himself breaking the barrier between Himself and mankind, by entering into the world in the form of a man. This is huge! This isn't just another day in Judea. God is about to shake things up in a big way. And Luke is there to record every last detail. Including the increased activity of the Holy Spirit. Zacharias and Elizabeth are told their son will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother's womb. Mary is told by the angel that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, causing her to conceive a son. Zacharias, at the birth of his son, John, finds himself filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesying.

These are incredible days. This is an amazing point in history. And the angel Gabriel sums it up best with his words, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Barren women, virgin girls, Roman occupiers, religious hypocrites, doubting priests, corrupt kings - nothing is going to stand in the way of the divine plan of God. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing can stand in His way. God can use the faithful and the doubting, the unborn and the old, the obscure and the powerful, to accomplish His agenda. And He's still doing it today.

He wants to use you. But do you really believe that nothing is impossible for Him? Do you trust that He can use even you to accomplish His will in His way? Mary did. So did Elizabeth, Zechariah, Joseph, and John the Baptist. God was about to do something radical on earth, and while we tend to think of Jesus' birth as having taken place in relative obscurity and anonymity, the reality is that some incredible things were happening behind the scenes. This was anything but business as usual.

And the same it true today. God is still shaking things up. He is still using the unknown, the unqualified, the unexpected, and the unlikely to do His will. And that includes you and me! Nothing is impossible for Him, because He is the God of the impossible.

Father, thank you for reminding me that nothing is impossible for You. The Bible is a fact-filled reminder of that reality. Keep my eyes open so that I can see you all around me. Don't let me fail to recognize your hand at work in the world and in my life. Because You are the God of the impossible. Amen