May 5, 2013
Scripture:
Scripture:
Ministry:
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own a King on a throne
Prayer
Luke 24:13 - 27
These two men were walking away from Jerusalem after the death of the Lord Jesus. These men were so sad that when the Lord joined them, they didn’t even recognize him. While they walked along, Jesus explained to them that He was supposed to die. He started with the books of Moses and went through the Psalms and the Prophets, showing them how the stories and prophecies foretold his death.
Can you think of any stories in the Old Testament that Jesus might have pointed to when talking to these men? If we start with the books of Moses, He might have told the story of Abraham being willing to offer Isaac from Genesis; and maybe He reminded them how a lamb’s blood was shed to save the Israelites from the angel of death in Exodus. Then, in Leviticus, He could have pointed out how all offerings pointed to His death. He also could have reminded them of the time that Moses put the brazen serpent on a pole, and how this pointed to His crucifixion. He might have shown them how Psalm 22 resembled His death. He could have gone to Isaiah 53 and brought out how the prophet told of His death many years before it happened. There is a rhyme that says this:
The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed.
Now, let’s look at a passage of scripture in the Old Testament and then we will look at its parallel in the New Testament.
Exodus 35:4 - 35
Exodus 36:1 - 7
The tabernacle is where the Israelites offered sacrifices as they traveled through the wilderness. During it’s construction, God told Moses to ask everyone with a willing heart to give materials. Many of the children of Israel donated material, but some gave of their time and abilities instead. Maybe one gave some fabric and another might have helped sew into the right size or shape. Then the Lord equipped two men—Bezaleel and Aholiab—as the master carpenters for the building of the tabernacle. They also coached others in how to build certain parts of the tabernacle.
All the people that were used in the construction of the tabernacle had willing hearts. They were so willing that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing material for the tabernacle.
2 Corinthians 8:1 - 4
This is the New Testament parallel to our passages in Exodus. Just as the children of Israel were giving gifts for the tabernacle, so we can also give gifts to the Lord. One of the best gifts we can give the Lord is our heart.
1 Corinthians 12:8 - 10
Here the Lord was giving gifts (talents and abilities) to those in His service. He wanted them to use these gifts in the best way possible. Some of the gifts here are not applicable for us today. They were only needed for the introduction of the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 12:14 - 18, 23 - 26
The writer here is using the body as a picture of all believers. Just as every organ has a certain place in the body, so every believer has an important place in the body of Christ. Another place that the Lord wants believers is at His table.
In closing, it is important for us to remember that just as you would not purposely take a hammer and hit your thumb with it, so you should not purposely hurt or offend another believer. We are all part of the same body, the body of Christ.
Hymn 362 – Two little eyes
Prayer