Full Sermon Access! based on Exodus 24:1-11

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Access to the White House in DC? Imagine a person in Washington, D.C., walking up to the White House and wanting access to the President of the United States. Imagine yourself going to the White House and wanting to talk to the President. You have your best shoes on. You have your best clothes on. You have a few things you would like to discuss with the President.

First, there is the problem of a new highway in your area that does not have an exit ramp close enough to your home. Second, you would like to pay less taxes and have other people pay more taxes. Couldn’t the President make some phone calls to address your concerns?

We know how that visit to the White House would probably end up. You would not be able to get into the White House, because the Secret Service would either arrest you or shoot you if you walked too close to the President’s home in Washington, D.C.

But what if the President sees you and invites you into the White House? What if he gives the command and the Secret Service lets you into the Oval Office? What if the President listens to your concerns and does all that you ask?

Too good to be true? With the President, yes. But with the King of the Universe, you have a friend in high places.

II. Brief history of Maundy Thursday and John 13:34-35. Today we are observing Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” comes from a Latin word that means “commandment” referring to the new commandment of Jesus. Jesus washed His disciples feet with water. He then told them in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Maundy Thursday also was the night Jesus instituted or began the sacrament of Holy Communion. He was later betrayed and arrested that same night.

III. Read Exodus 24:1 and comment. We are continuing the series based on the Book of Exodus. Exodus 24:1 tells us, “Then he said to Moses, ‘Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.’” Worship from afar. Do not come too close. Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the seventy elders do not have access. There are too many barriers between them and the Lord.

The Lord God is holy, all-powerful, almighty, and all-knowing. He is in a league of His own. He did come down to Mount Sinai in a cloud and glory. Still the leaders of Israel need to worship from afar. Why is that?

IV. Born dead in sins, by nature sinners, and rebels. The Bible tells us we are born dead in our transgressions and sins and wrongs. We are by nature sinners and wrongdoers. We are rebels and hard hearted.

V. Read Exodus 24:2 and comment on Moses as mediator. Exodus 24:2 states, “Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” Why does Moses get to have access to the Lord God? Moses is a mediator, a go-between for the people of Israel. Moses is going to bridge the gap between the Lord and the people of Israel. In what way?

VI. Read Exodus 24:8 and comment on blood in Egypt. Exodus 24:8 tells us, “And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” Blood is how the Israelites were able to get out of Egypt. The blood of a lamb was put on the doorposts of the people of Israel and the angel of death passed over their homes. But every home of an Egyptian that did not have blood on the doorposts had their firstborn child die.

Blood is how the Israelites get out of Egypt. Blood is how the Israelites gain access to God.

VII. Read Exodus 24:9-11 and comment on access through blood. Exodus 24:9-11 continues, “Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.” That is how Moses and the leaders of Israel were able to see and eat and drink with God. Now that is access!

That is God’s gift to us. Blood is how we get out of Egypt. Our Egypt is our sins, trespasses, iniquities, and wrongs. Blood is how we get access to God. Blood is what we need.

VIII. We need Jesus Christ’s blood. Whose blood? Jesus Christ’s blood. God planned to save us from sin, death, and the devil through Jesus Christ’s blood shed on the cross for us. The Roman soldiers whipped Him before taking Him to the cross. They crowned Him with a crown of thorns. They nailed Him to the cross. On the cross the words of John the Baptizer came true, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

IX. Read Hebrews 10:19 and comment about access to God. Hebrews 10:19 tells us, “Therefore, … we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (NIV84) Our confidence is not in ourselves and our abilities. Our confidence is in the blood of Jesus. By the blood of Jesus we have access to God. We have access to the King of the Universe. We have access to the King of kings and to the Lord of lords. We have access to the Creator of all things in heaven and earth.

X. Confidence in God for help and hope. Confidence in God is far better than confidence in the changing thoughts and ways of the unbelievers of the world. Confidence in God helps us through the highs and lows of this life. Confidence in God gives us hope in a world that offers very little hope.

XI. Conclusion. Unlimited access. That is what Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel were given. That is what we have through the blood of Jesus.

We no longer need to be on the outside looking in. We have access to the most powerful One in the entire universe. As we receive the gifts of God through faith at this altar tonight, we have access. We receive the true Body and true Blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of all our sins and wrongs. We receive renewed faith and confidence in the same Jesus who shed His precious blood for us. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.