Biddulph Thursday, pm 3rd July 2008.
Place: Biddulph AOG. Date: Thursday, pm 3rd July 2008.
Text: John 1:17. Theme: The Tabernacle, Part 2.
Introduction: Reading: John 1:17
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
The Door to the Outer Court (Exodus 27:16-17)
Here is a new picture for you this week. I remember a story Mr Moore told many, many years ago, it goes like this: All the animals of the jungle came across a wall in their way; all had an idea how to deal with the wall.
The kangaroo = wanted to jump over the wall.
The rhino = wanted to run and knock down the wall.
The lion = wanted to roar the wall down.
The elephant = wanted to pull the wall down.
The gorilla = wanted to swing over the wall.
The tiger = wanted to tear the wall down.
The giraffe = wanted to look over the wall.
The cheetah = wanted to run around the wall.
The parrot = wanted to fly over the wall.
Then the monkey said, “Let us find the doorway through the wall!”
Well last week we walked all around the outer curtain. Tonight we can do what the animals wanted to do, or we can enter today through the door way into the tabernacle. Remember the curtain was 75feet x 150 feet, and the height of the curtain is 81/2 feet high, so we cannot see what is inside the curtain until we enter in.
This is the fact of the Gospel of salvation, unless you enter in through the grace and mercy of God’s grace, you cannot see God’s glory, and you cannot have eternal life. Our door way is the “Cross of Calvary” when Jesus the son of God, paid the price for our sin, H e died that we could live. Jesus said, said “I am the Door; if any man enters through Me he shall be saved” John 10:9.
Let us find now the door way! The way into the court of the tabernacle was beautiful and wide. The rest of the court curtain was pure white linen, plain and unadorned; but the entrance was hung with curtains that where lovely to behold, and marvellous in their working. The white linen all around spoke of God’s righteousness, but the curtains at the gate spoke of grace and mercy, for they spoke of Christ Himself.
The width of the entrance was over thirty feet wide; there was ample way for all to walk through! Notice it was a door way with out steps, there is no labour or work for mankind to do to enter this door way, it is by grace alone. Had this door way been narrow, some would say it is only for the few or the elect, no this door way was wide for all that would enter in.
The curtain and the door way where the last thing to be built when the tabernacle was moved, it is like the king’s wedding supper in Luke 14:17 “And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.” Read Exodus 40:33 “And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.” When it was build, Moses said “IT IS FINISHED.”
You see when the gate was hanged last; Moses was able to say “It is finished!” Where will we hear those words again? At Calvary when Jesus was hung on a cross, and He spoke them, “IT IS FINISHED!” This way of access to God clearing proclaimed a finished work. Salvation is a finished work; redemption for sinners is a completed redemption.
The Door of the Outer Court was a large curtain, made of fine linen, coloured in blue, purple, red and white. The curtain was supported by wooden pillars that were based in brass sockets.
With silver capitals, just like the other pillars of the Outer Court curtain. The door curtain was fastened to the pillars with gold hooks.
Each of the colours has a meaning:
Purple indicates kingship: “Behold your King” Zechariah 9:9, pointing to Matthew's gospel, where Jesus, the descendant of King David (Matthew 1:1), declares after rising from the dead: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Me” Matthew 28:18.
Red indicates blood: “Behold My servant” Isaiah 52:13; 53:5, pointing to Mark's gospel, where Jesus says He “came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.
White indicates purity and a right humanity: “Behold the man” Zechariah 6:12, pointing to Luke's gospel, where Pilate says of Jesus “Behold, I have found not one fault in this man” Luke 23:4, 14.
Blue indicates heavenly and godly: “Behold your God” Isaiah 40:9, pointing to John's gospel, where doubting Thomas eventually says to Jesus “My Lord and my God” John 20:28.
These four colours are woven together to become the complete Door, just as the four gospels combine to give a complete picture of Jesus. Jesus Christ is pure and righteous, kingly and godly, and this is how He as a man can be our ransom, the Door for us to enter into God's presence in the Tabernacle.
Jesus said “I am the Door; if any man enters through Me he shall be saved” John 10:9 and “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to (God) the Father except through Me” John 14:6. This claim by Jesus is unique and limited, but just look at Jesus' life and His conduct: Simon Peter (one of His closest disciples) could later say of Him “He did no sin, neither was there any deceit found in His mouth” I Peter 2:22.
Spend time to look at the Door. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus and discover for yourself His character, His compassion, His carefulness, His teaching, His power. The Door of the Outer Court is the only way in, inviting and attractive. The Door speaks of both the compassion and the kingship of Jesus, His nature as God and a genuine man, Son of God and son of man. Jesus said “I am the Door; if any man enters through Me he shall be saved” John 10:9.
Do take a good look at the Door; then enter in through the Door. Once you are inside the Tabernacle, you will discover so much about what Jesus meant by “be saved” and how this can come about in your experience, beginning at the Burnt Offering Altar and the Laver.