TODAY’S READING IN THE ONE YEAR BIBLE: FRESH OIL, YEAR OF JUBILEE and RICH, YOUNG RULER
Leviticus 24-25:46; Mark 10:13-31; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 10:20-21
Congratulations! Today we begin our third month of reading through the Bible together. We are one-sixth of the way through our spectacular tour of God’s redemptive history with 66 different outlook points prepared by 40 different authors. We are taking in the stories and picking up the native vocabulary of the Redeemed people of God, something that the Holy Spirit will use to speak to us for the rest of our days!
We are currently beholding a multifaceted jewel in the Book of Leviticus which reflects what Jesus described as “worship in spirit and truth”, that is, on God’s terms, not ours. The Holy Spirit wants to be sure that our understanding of what is unveiled in the New Testament is informed by what He has introduced in the Old Testament. The gospel reality is that Christ entered that which is not yet perceivable to the natural eye of a “greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation” in order to obtain for us “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12).
We trust that the Holy Spirit is shedding light on the Scriptures and that you are beholding the Living Word in the written Word.
In Leviticus 24 we learn more about what is required in the Holy Place. In the Old Covenant, only one tribe of the twelve had access to the middle sanctuary. Only Aaron and his sons, of the priestly tribe of Levi, were given permission to minister in the middle sanctuary.
What about the others? How were they able to experience being in the presence of God? They were represented in the Holy Place in two ways: First, they were represented as the twelve stones upon the breastplate over the heart of the Great High Priest. Secondly, they were present before the High Priest, represented by the twelve loaves of bread placed in two stacks upon the Table of Showbread with the obvious fragrance of frankincense upon them ensuring that He would be ever-mindful of all the tribes on whose behalf He would be interceding.
THE LIGHT OF THE LAMPSTAND
Nothing could be visibly manifested in the Holy Place apart from the light of the Lamp stand. This represents the Holy Spirit’s illuminating power (Leviticus 24:1). The priests are to regularly furnish pure oil to keep the lamp stand burning in the Lord’s presence throughout the night to ensure that they can minister in the light. As the priest would enter the tent known as “The Holy Place”, he would be facing the altar of incense and the veil that shields from view the inner sanctuary behind it known as the Holiest of All which housed the Ark of the Covenant . The golden lamp stand would be on his left and the table of Showbread would be on his right. This is where intercession would be made before the High Priest went beyond the veil to sprinkle the blood of the substitutionary sacrifice upon the mercyseat over the Ark on the Great Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
Leviticus 24:1-2 (NASB) 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the sons of Israel that they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.
THE OIL FROM THE OIL PRESS (GETHSEMANE)
It is fitting that the Garden is called ‘Gethsemane’ as ‘Gethsemane’ literally means ‘olive press’. Jesus, the Light of the World, was experiencing great spiritual pressure and resistance as He offered His great priestly prayers in Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46; John 17). He was feeling the olive press, the agony, in the garden. “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death” (Matt 26:38). The outer man was broken that the oil would come out. Out of His intercession would come pure oil. Jesus’ path to the cross would be illuminated with the fresh oil from the olive press, the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise all He could face would be the dark night of the soul during the hour of His suffering betrayal.
He prayed three times, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt 26:26:39). By the third time, the Spirit’s light is blazing with certainty and Jesus declares: “Behold the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Then He says with resolve, “Get up, let us be going; behold the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
PRESENT IN THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD
Leviticus 24:8 (NASB) 8 "Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before the LORD continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.
We also hear Jesus’ illuminated High Priestly intercession as if He were at the Table of incense before the veil, as He prays: “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.” (John 17:1-5). He then prays for his own in the world (John 17:6-26).
The High Priest is prompted to pray for the people when He sees the twelve loaves on the Table of Showbread. Leviticus 24 describes the Table upon which are placed twelve loaves, in two rows (or stacks) of six, representing the people of God (12 tribes of Israel, 12 disciples). These loaves had a small container of frankincense upon the two stacks that gave them a strong fragrance that could not be ignored. It is comforting to know that our Intercessor cannot forget us!
EXAMPLE OF JUST PUNISHMENT
The laws of God are backed up by His authority. The consequences of breaking His laws are that, with God’s disciplinary reinforcement, the transgressor becomes broken. The Lord disciplined those who did not take the Law seriously with just punishment as prescribed by the law. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu suffered the consequences of disregarding the Laws of the Tabernacle . They brought strange fire to the altar of incense, an unauthorized form of worship, and as a consequence were killed (Leviticus 10:1-3). This example during the first days of tabernacle worship brought a healthy fear of the Lord to the church in the wilderness, as much as did the disciplining of Achan in the first days of the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 7), and Ananias and Sapphira in the first days of the early church (Acts 5).
In Leviticus 24 the son of Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan blasphemed the Name of the Lord with a curse. He was held in custody until all details came to light. Then, according to the law, just punishment was administered. The severity of the judgment needs to be seen in the light of a holy God breaking into a world of sinners. Through the law and its reinforcement “the unspeakable sinfulness of sin” is “plainly shown” (Romans 7:13, Weymouth)
THE LAWS OF JUST RETRIBUTION
Leviticus 24:17-23 restate that there should be just retribution for crimes. These laws were seen as very compassionate for its time. Other nations often exacted punishment that was disproportionate to the crime committed or injury suffered. If a person caused another to suffer the loss of an arm, they would often be put to death. But the Law of Moses counteracted the lawlessness of the age by limiting punishment to that which was proportionate to the crime.
Leviticus 24:19-20 (NASB) 'If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.
Jesus, as the New Torah, reveals not only the compassion of God in executing justice but in extending mercy.
Matthew 5:38-40 (NASB) 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE- THE FIFTIETH YEAR AFTER THEY ENTER THE LAND
Yesterday we learned about the Sabbath law of rest for the people (Lev 23:3) and the Sabbatical year of rest for the land (25:1-7). In Leviticus 25 verse 8, we learn that a Year of Jubilee is to be held on the fiftieth year, the year after the seventh sabbatical year (the 49th year). This was an extraordinary law that involves the land lying fallow for an additional year (the 49th and 50th) and the cancelling of debts, the restoration of lost possessions, and the liberation of slaves. If a person had sold the family inheritance due to a debt incurred in a time of hardship, that inheritance could equitably be restored.
There is no record that Israel ever experienced this blessing. God promised that if they would trust Him for this that He would provide a bumper crop on the sixth year before the seventh sabbath that would provide enough food for three years!
But the significance of the Jubilee year and its laws are essential in the vocabulary of redemption.
The prophet Isaiah takes up the theme that the Jubilee Year is a powerful image to describe the salvation that God has promised to bring through the Messiah.
Isaiah 61:1-7 (NASB) 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD...
When Jesus commences His ministry He goes to his local synagogue in Nazareth and opens the scroll to read this passage. After reading it, he closes the scroll and sat down.
Luke 4:20b-21 (NASB) and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus was announcing the terms of Jubilee coming to fruition through the ministry of the Messiah. He was proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord, one in which good news is brought to those afflicted by debt, broken-hearted due to their loss of inheritance and their captivity as indentured servants.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: MARK 10:13-31
JESUS BLESSES THE CHILDREN
A child is aware of its needs. They rarely boast that they don’t need any help. They are happy to be blessed by others. Jesus welcomed little children to Himself and used them as examples of the humility that is found in “saving faith”. The kingdom of God is not something we can work for or deserve. Yet it is something we desperately need. Children are humble enough to admit they can’t save themselves. They are also happy about receiving gifts. Would that all were happy and humble and ready to receive the gift of the kingdom of God that Jesus offers.
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
In contrast to the happy, humble and hungry child, next on the scene in the Gospel of Mark is the self-confident, rich, young ruler. He had what everyone today wants. He had money, success, youth, and most likely, good looks (People with money usually give some investment in their appearance). And yet he knew that he was lacking something at the core. He needed eternal life.
Notice his approach. It was so different from the little children. He says, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was looking to do something to inherit something, not realizing that you need to be born into the kingdom to inherit it. How blinded we are by our own competencies. Our riches, our youth, our success, talents, knowledge, good looks and worldly influence cannot buy us the kingdom. No philanthropy or sacrificial service could merit eternal life. Eternal life is only available by a miracle of grace.
Jesus would make this clear to his disciples after the rich young ruler leaves. He said it was as hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle! How hard is that? It is impossible. Most likely the expression was a cultural equivalent to “not having the chance of a snowball in hell”.
Notice how Jesus lovingly engaged the man rather than rebuking him for what must have seemed to him as a ridiculous thought that he could DO something to enter the kingdom. First He questioned the man’s standards.
“Why do you call me good? There is none good but God.” (Mark 10:18)
He is saying that the standard of goodness is God Himself. If Jesus is perceived as being good it is because He is reflecting the nature of God. This standard of moral perfection is one that the rich young ruler could not possibly attain. It was too late. And Jesus proves it to him. He says:
“You know the commandments: You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”
Which commandments did Jesus omit? The Ten Commandments should convict us all of sin. But the young man replies:
“Teacher, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” (Mark 10:20)
Jesus did not repeat the command, “You must not covet.” But He could have. Covetousness causes us to put things in the place of God. “Covetousness is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).
Mark 10:21 (NASB) 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
So Jesus says, “there is still one thing you haven’t done.”
What was that thing? It was to repent. He was still thinking there was something he could do to inherit eternal life. Jesus was not saying that this man could be saved if he gave away his goods.
He was saying that he needed to repent of his sin of covetousness and self righteousness and follow Him to the cross to discover the gospel.
PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS:
Today we are praying for Bangladesh.
Pages 132-136 of “Operation World” list many prayer requests, including:
Answer to Prayer
Progress in the fight against poverty has been made. The thousands of NGOs operating contributed immeasurably to this. Bangladesh is now the furthest along of all South Asian nations toward meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals for 2015 (focused on poverty reduction, education, etc). Micro-credit has been the flagship strategy for this progress.
Challenge for Prayer
The cycle of poverty will perpetuate itself until fundamental changes occur. Pray for long-term, penetrating transformation in the following areas of desperate need:
a) The economy is sorely underdeveloped. Bangladesh has little infrastructure, very few natural resources, and therefore affords few ways of making an income. Most people work in agriculture or textiles for scandalously low wages. The majority of Bangladeshis live in gripping poverty, with a very small wealthy minority.
b) A solid social foundation for progress is lacking. Education levels are low (but improving), and overpopulation creates problems in a nation already wanting in land, resources and employment opportunities. Women have been the backbone of micro-credit success (80% of households participate in benefits from micro-credit), yet often suffer undignified and inequitable treatment.
c) A frightening vulnerability to changes in climate and economy. With such widespread poverty, a large proportion of income is spent on food. Significant rises in food prices have a devastating effect, but not as devastating as the effect of flooding from swollen rivers and monsoons. With alarming regularity, the nation is made to endure tragic loss of life and property.
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
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