Sermon Tone Analysis

Five-year-old Brian had a pivotal verse to recite in an Easter program: “He is not here, he is risen” ().

Unfortunately, he could not remember what to say, and the director had to quietly remind him of his line.

He then confidently grabbed the microphone and triumphantly shouted, “He’s not here; He’s in prison!”

Potential Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shwUfS4_VpM

“Jesus went under the flaming sword” sermon clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKchxzyCw3Q

Good morning everyone!

It is great to have you hear at THE PLACE Church.

Garden of Eden.

Kicked out.

Flaming Sword.

“The only way back in, was under the flaming sword.”

Israelites were told how to build the temple.

One area very special in the temple.

It was a place called the “holy of holies”.

One person, once a year with a rope tied around him.

Sacrifice.

Those who had gone under the sword, made the way for the high priest to enter into this “holy of holies” where God’s presence dwelt.

So, what is man’s desire?

Relationship with God.

And, for generation after generation there was but one way that could happen.

A sacrifice had to be made and that sacrifice would cover over the sins of the people for one year.

That sacrifice was done on the “Day of Atonement”.

Atonement = to make reparation for a wrong or an injury (Literally, the sins of the priest and the sins of the people).

Day of Atonement: The Holy of Holies was entered once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals (a bull offered as atonement for the Priest and his household, and a goat offered as atonement for the people) and offer incense upon the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat which sat on top of the ark in the First Temple (the Second Temple had no ark and the blood was sprinkled where the Ark would have been and the incense was left on the Foundation Stone).

The animal was sacrificed on the Brazen Altar and the blood was carried into the most holy place.

The golden censers were also found in the Most Holy Place.

Now… WHO was the only one who could enter in to the Holy of Holies?

Answer: The High Priest

Now, listen to what the Bible says about Jesus:

Oh… wait.

Now, that makes a little more sense when I am viewing this through the Jewish perspective because it was ONLY the high priest who could enter in to the holy of holies and offer the blood to cover the people of their sins.

How does redemption enter our lives?

Through his blood.

What has happened because of his blood?

We have been brought near.

And now… we come back to this day and the words of Jesus as he was sitting down for his final meal with His disciples and you hear...

Matthew 266:28

And now it makes so much sense.

They understood it.

They knew it.

They

The priest.

The Blood.

The Victory.

Charles Spurgeon spoke these comforting words:

I know what the devil will say to you.

He will say to you, ‘You are a sinner!’

Tell him you know you are, but that for all that you are justified.

He will tell you of the greatness of your sin.

Tell him of the greatness of Christ’s righteousness.

He will tell you of all your mishaps and your backslidings, of your offences and your wanderings.

Tell him, and tell your own conscience, that you know all that, but that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and that, although your sin be great, Christ is quite able to put it all away.