Not Even Close

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 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, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

- Hebrew 1:1-4

Jesus speaks 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

- Hebrews 1:1-2

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

- John 14:6-9

Jesus sustains

He upholds the universe by the word of His power.’

- Hebrews 1:3

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

- Colossians 1:16-17

Jesus stands alone

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?

- Hebrews 1:5

“Let all God's angels worship him.”

- Hebrews 1:6

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

- Hebrews 1:13-14

Jesus: the True and Better Tabernacle

"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them."

- Exodus 25:8, NKJV

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."

- John 1:14, NKJV

God wants to dwell with His people.

In the Garden of Eden

The Tabernacle in the Desert

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…"

- Romans 5:12, NKJV

Sin was imputed to Jesus.

"saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.'"

- Luke 22:42, NKJV

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

- 2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV

Mary saw the real Ark.

"But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain."

- John 20:11-12, NKJV

Jesus presented the sacrifice to the Father.

"Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, "I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God."

- John 20:17, NKJV

Jesus: the True and Better Tabernacle

"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."

- Hebrews 9:11-12, NKJV

God's presence with His People is restored through Jesus.

"'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'"

- Hebrews 10:16-17, NKJV

Pentecost Sunday - The True and Better Sinai

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

- Acts 2:1-8 (ESV)

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” Peter's Sermon at Pentecost 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

- Acts 2:12-14 (ESV)

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

- Acts 2:37-39 (ESV)

Heaven makes a sound

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

- Acts 2:2 (ESV)

The world starts asking questions

 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

- Acts 2:12 (NIV)

Somebody has to speak

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

- Acts 2:14 (NIV)

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

- Acts 2:37 (NLT)

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

- Romans 10:14

The True and Better David

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

- 1 Samuel 16:7b

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”

- ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭48‬-‭50‬ ‭NIV

'The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”’ 

- Psalms 110:1-4 NIV

'“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.' 

- John 10:11

We need a true and better King.

Jesus is the True and Better David

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”

- Hebrews 10:1 (NIV)

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

- Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)

The shepherd king

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

- Psalms 78:70-72 (NIV)

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

- Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)

The representative warrior

The anointed ruler

“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.”

- 1 Samuel 16:13 (NIV)

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

The king after God’s heart

“Lord, remember David And all his afflictions; How he swore to the Lord, And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, Or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids, Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods.”

- Psalms 132: 1-6 (NKJV)

“Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel…”

- 1 Chronicles 28:4 (KJV)

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…”

- Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

David was Israel’s greatest king. Jesus is the King David served!

“He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” 

- Matthew 22:43-44 (NIV)

The True and Better Moses

Moses might have been the greatest of God’s leaders in the Old Testament.

'Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”’ '

- Exodus 2:1-10 NIV

'One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.'

- Exodus 2:11-12

'And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”’

- Exodus 3:9-10

The Exodus was the greatest act of salvation in the Old Testament.

'“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.'

- Exodus 6:6

'Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.'

- Psalms 106:8-10

Moses and the Exodus fell short.

'But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.'

- Psalms 106:13-14

'...Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”'

- Numbers 20:10b-12

God promised another great leader would come.

'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.'

- Deuteronomy 18:15

'For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.'

- Acts 3:19-22

The Messiah was greater than Moses.

'Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.'

- Hebrews 3:1-3

The True and Better Adam

12 …sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…

- Romans 5:12

Their origins were miraculous.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

- Genesis 1:26

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

- John 1:9-13

They were tempted.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

- Genesis 2:16-17

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

- Genesis 3:1-5

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

- Matthew 4:1

Adam failed. Jesus succeeded.

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

- Genesis 3:6-7

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

- Matthew 4:8-10

Adam blamed. Jesus took the blame.

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

- Genesis 3:11-12

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 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 2:22-24

The sin of Adam brought death. The sacrifice of Christ brings life.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Romans 5:18-21

The Better Adam

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

- Genesis 3:1

The enemy attacks what God said so you question who God is

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

- Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

When we stop trusting God we start replacing Him

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

- Romans 5:12 (NLT)

19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

- Romans 5:19 (NLT)

When you live in Christ Adam no longer defines you

9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

- Genesis 3:9 (NLT)

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. - 

- Romans 5:18 (NLT)

I Want More Love

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

- John 15:4-10

We’re already loved.

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you…

- John 15:9a

We don’t always experience God’s love.

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

- Romans 7:15

Jesus told us to abide in Him.

We can live with a greater awareness of God’s love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…

- John 15:10a

When we abide, we thrive.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- John 15:4-5

I Want More Joy

Life is hard.

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. 

- John 16:1-4

We’re supposed to “take heart.”

32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

- John 16:32-33

Jesus wants to give us joy.

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

- John 16:16

18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice…

- John 16:18-22a

We can look back at the Resurrection - and we can look forward to the reunion.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice… 

- John 16:22a

When God gives us joy, nothing can take it away.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

- John 16:32-33

…and no one will take your joy from you.

- John 16:22b