A New Covenant

This morning we come again to the Lord's table.

Earlier this morning we learned about the tabernacle in Alive with our kids.

And I wanted to just run over some of those things again this morning with us adults.

Because it really is amazing.

It really sheds a lot of light on what this table, the Lord's table, is all about.

First, let's remember what Jesus said at the Last Supper on the eve of his crucifixion.

You can probably complete the sentence from memory.

This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.

New covenant.

In Alive we've been talking about the old covenant.

I'm going to use some of our visuals from this morning.

The old covenant was the covenant that God made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.

God wrote down the commands, the laws, the decrees that the people were to follow in order to be his chosen, special, holy people.

It says that God etched those things onto the tablets of stone with his finger and gave them to Moses.

And this is what God said to Moses and the people on that occasion.

From Exodus chapter 19 verses 5 and 6.

Exodus 19:5

He said,

God instructed Moses and the people to build a spectacular ark for this covenant.

A wooden box that was overlaid with gold and crafted beautifully.

On top was a cover called the mercy seat or the atonement cover.

It had two cherubim on the top made of solid gold.

And this was a very special thing.

It was the place where the covenant was kept.

The agreement.

The stone tablets were put right into the ark.

And this was how they were carried around with the people.

But not only that, this ark was the very place that God chose to be present among his people.

It says that God caused his glory to appear, to shine above the atonement cover,

right in the midst of the wings of those two cherubim.

If we take a step back, you'll notice the rings and the poles.

The obvious purpose was so that the people could carry the ark around from place to place as they traveled.

But a closer look tells us another aspect of the story.

The poles themselves were overlaid with gold.

Even the wooden implements used to carry God's special ark were to be overlaid with gold.

It speaks of God's matchless worth.

His splendor.

His royalty.

But there was another reason for the poles.

It was so that the ark could be moved without any need for the people to touch it.

It was kind of like Mount Sinai.

God was present there at Mount Sinai.

And so the place where he was became holy.

It became special.

And the people, because they were sinful, were not permitted to come close.

They erected barriers.

They were not permitted to touch the mountain, the place where God was.

Otherwise, it's said that God would break out against them.

His perfect goodness and justice would strike out against them if they touched the mountain.

Giving them the punishment that they deserved for their sins.

The poles were kind of like that.

They were a way for God's holy ark.

The place where he was present to remain separate from the touch of sinful man.

And this separation, this whole idea of God being holy, special, distinct from us sinful human beings,

this reality that distance must be maintained between God and us,

it's written all over the way that the tabernacle was arranged.

The tabernacle had a system of curtains that would be set up around its outer border,

forming a courtyard inside, separating the holy from the common.

The place where God was from the place where the people were camped.

And then inside this courtyard was the tent of meeting.

It was covered with a number of different things to protect it from the elements.

It was covered completely at the sides and the rear.

And the entrance was curtained off.

Another form of separation.

The worshipers could come into the courtyard when they were ceremonially clean.

But only the priests were allowed to enter the tent of meeting.

And then inside the tent of meeting, there was a back room, which was also curtained off.

It was called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place.

It was the place where God's Ark of the Covenant was kept.

The very room in which God appeared above the mercy seat of the Ark.

By God's decree, only the high priest was permitted to enter into that room.

And only once a year, on the Day of Atonement,

when he did the priestly work of making atonement for the sins of the people.

So this was the old covenant.

The old terms.

The old agreement.

Animal sacrifices were to be offered regularly on the bronze altar.

In the courtyard.

And only by the priests.

And hands and feet were to be washed with water from the bronze basin.

Before doing the work of the priest.

The punishment for a priest failing to wash his hands before entering the tent of meeting.

To touch or handle the things in there.

Was death.

And we might think at first,

Wow.

Isn't that harsh?

Why would God kill someone for forgetting to wash their hands?

But the lesson here is not that God is harsh.

It's that God is holy.

It's that God is worthy.

God is holy.

Also inside the tent of meeting.

There was a lampstand.

That needed to be kept lit.

There was a table that was to have fresh bread kept on it.

Changed weekly.

One loaf for each tribe of Israel.

There was an incense altar.

That was to be stoked with a fresh batch of incense in the morning.

and at sundown.

Even the wick trimmers for the lamp,

God said they were to be made of gold.

It's like, don't even think of using

just an iron pair of wick trimmers

on my lampstand.

I, the Lord Almighty,

I'm in the next room just beyond the curtain

above the mercy seat of the ark

and you must show me the reverence

and honor that I am due

or else be guilty of profaning my holy name

and bear the only fitting consequences.

Through all of this,

God was helping us understand the truth

of who he is in relation to us.

He is the glorious, exalted,

perfectly good and just creator.

Choosing to live among a bent,

stubborn and sinful people.

This tabernacle was the way for God

to be among his people

and for his people to be near him.

There had to be separation

between the common and the holy,

the clean and the unclean,

the righteous and the guilty.

We talked about the high priest's outfit this morning.

It was to have little golden bells

around the bottom hem.

You can barely see them in this picture.

And they would tie a rope around his ankle

before he went into the most holy place

on the day of atonement

into the very presence of God.

The bells served to help the regular priests

know that the high priest was still alive

while he was in there.

And the rope around his ankle

was to pull him out

in case he did something

and the Lord struck him dead.

Can you imagine the fear

and trembling of the high priest

on that one day a year

when it came time

to enter into the very presence

of Yahweh, the creator?

The one who knew every sinful thought,

desire, word spoken,

deed he had ever done.

This whole idea of God's holiness

is difficult to understand.

But that's why the tabernacle

was the way that it was.

It was to help people,

to help us see the invisible reality

of how things are between God and us,

creator and creature,

the righteous one and sinners.

I find what Paul said

in his letter to Timothy

quite helpful

in reflecting on this.

2 Timothy 2, verse 20.

2 Timothy 2:20

Paul says there,

In a large house there are articles

not only of gold and silver,

but also of wood and clay.

Some are for special purposes

and some for common use.

Those who cleanse themselves

from the latter

will be instruments

for special purposes,

made holy.

Useful to the master

and prepared

to do any good work.

Now Paul has his main point here

and I'm not going to get into that.

It's a whole separate discussion.

But his illustration is helpful,

at least to me.

He points out how we all understand

the way that it works in a house.

There are both articles

for special purposes

and there are those

that are for common purposes

or we might say lower purposes.

And there's something right

about maintaining that separation,

that distinction.

We save the best dishes,

the china,

the silverware,

the best towels

for those special occasions

and to honor those special guests.

That's what holiness is all about.

It's about that separation.

Some occasions are set apart

and special

and so we honor that guest

or that life event

or that milestone

by bringing out the best articles

of the house,

putting on the best meal

that we can.

It would be wrong

in those special moments

to use the chamber pot

or the toilet brush

or a dirty old rag

to give that honored guest

the towel

that's half ripped apart,

shredded and stained

to wash their face.

Who of us doesn't at least

understand that natural impulse

to tidy and clean

before company comes over?

Not to impress others

or to put on airs

but simply to bless and honor

and show love

to our guests.

So now we take that

and we apply it to God.

What should we do for Him?

What is fitting?

What is right

if He was to come live with us,

among us,

in the camp where we are?

He is absolutely worthy

of the very best,

the gold wick trimmers,

the washing of our hands

before handling His stuff

in the place of meeting.

I wonder,

could it be

that we've lost a sense

of the holiness of God?

Or could it be

that we are so bent by sin

that we have never appreciated it

as fully as we should?

And yet,

even though there is

much here to make us tremble

and wonder

at God's holiness,

do you see the other reality here?

also.

God could have destroyed them all

at Mount Sinai

if He wanted to.

In fact,

it's a wonder that He didn't

after they made the golden calf

blatantly disobeying His command

only weeks after He gave it to them.

God could have simply

just cleansed the earth

of their presence,

but He didn't.

He gave all these instructions

to Moses

about the tabernacle

and the ark.

Why?

Because He loved

these people.

Bent and sinful

though they were,

He desired to live

among them

and to be with them.

He wanted a loaf of bread

representing each one

of the tribes

of Israel

in His presence

at all times.

Bread is food

and it speaks

of fellowship.

He wanted that reminder

in His presence

of each one

of the sons of Jacob

and their children.

And then there was

the high priest's uniform.

God wanted it crafted

in a certain way

and a part of the design

was to have this

breastplate

over the chest

with precious gemstones

in it.

a unique gemstone,

one for each

of the twelve tribes

of Israel.

Was it only a reminder

to the high priest

that He served

on behalf of all

the tribes of Israel?

Or was it also

a kind of memorial

before God

that each son of Jacob

was uniquely precious

to Him

and all their children

after them?

So yes,

there is holiness,

fear,

trembling,

reverence,

and awe.

But there is also

deep mercy,

kindness,

patience,

love,

the desire for relationship.

God knew that the people

would continue to sin,

to continue to give in

to that inward

sinful nature.

And for that,

there was mercy.

There was a way

to make atonement

with sacrifices

to turn away

God's punishment.

And for the time,

God was willing

to take the life

of an animal

belonging to

the guilty person

in the stead

of the life

of the guilty person.

This was the old covenant,

the old terms,

the old agreement.

But now let's turn

our gaze again

to Jesus.

What did He say?

This cup

is the new covenant

in my blood

which is poured out

for you.

Do you hear this?

Jesus says

there's going to be

a new arrangement

between God

and you.

A new deal

with new terms.

And I will be

the sacrifice

that establishes

this new covenant,

says Jesus.

My blood

will be poured out

for you.

That's what the cross

is all about.

A new covenant

with God.

I'm going to read now

three chapters

from Hebrews.

And I want you

to let these words

soak in

just how wonderful

this new covenant

that Christ brought

really is

compared

to the old one.

The first bit

is from chapter 4

and then we'll skip

to chapter 7.

chapter 5.

Verse 6.

Therefore,

since we have

a great high priest

who has ascended

into heaven,

Jesus,

the Son of God,

let us hold firmly

to the faith

we profess.

For we do not

have a high priest

who is unable

to empathize

with our weaknesses,

but we have one

who has been tempted

in every way

just as we are,

yet he did not sin.

Let us then approach

God's throne of grace

with confidence

so that we may

receive mercy

and find grace

to help us

in our time of need.

Over to chapter 7

verse 11.

If perfection

could have been attained

through the Levitical priesthood

and indeed the law

given to the people

established that priesthood,

why was there still need

for another priest

to come?

One in the order

of Melchizedek,

not in the order

of Aaron.

For when the priesthood

is changed,

the law must be changed

also.

He of whom

these things are said

belonged to a different tribe

and no one

from that tribe

has ever served

at the altar

for it is clear

that our Lord

descended from Judah.

In regard to that tribe,

Moses said nothing

about priests.

And what we have said

is even more clear

if another priest

like Melchizedek

appears,

one who has become

a priest

not on the basis

of a regulation

as to his ancestry,

but on the basis

of the power

of an indestructible life.

For it is declared,

you are a priest

forever

in the order

of Melchizedek.

The former regulation

is set aside

because it was weak

and useless

for the law

made nothing perfect.

and a better hope

is introduced

by which we draw

near to God.

And it was not

without an oath.

Others became priests

without any oath,

but he became a priest

with an oath

when God said to him,

the Lord has sworn

and will not change

his mind.

You are a priest

forever.

Because of this oath,

Jesus has become

the guarantor

of a better covenant.

Now there have been

many of those priests

since death prevented them

from continuing in office.

But because Jesus

lives forever,

he has a permanent priesthood.

Therefore,

he is able to save

completely

those who come to God

through him

because he always lives

to intercede

for them.

Such a high priest

truly meets our need,

one who is holy,

blameless,

pure,

set apart from sinners,

exalted above the heavens.

Unlike the other

high priests,

he does not need

to offer sacrifices

day after day,

first for his own sins

and then for the sins

of the people.

He sacrificed

for their sins

once for all

when he offered himself.

For the law

appoints as high priests

men in all their weakness,

but the oath

which came after the law

appointed the Son

who has been made perfect

forever.

Now the main point

of what we're saying

is this.

We do have

such a high priest

who sat down

at the right hand

of the throne

of the majesty

in heaven

and who serves

in the sanctuary,

the true tabernacle

set up by the Lord,

not by a mere human being.

Every high priest

is appointed

to offer both gifts

and sacrifices

and so it was necessary

for this one also

to have something

to offer.

If he were on earth,

he would not be a priest

for there are already

priests who offer

the gifts prescribed

by the law.

They serve at a sanctuary

that is a copy

and shadow

of what is in heaven.

This is why Moses

was warned

when he was about

to build the tabernacle

see to it

that you make everything

according to the pattern

shown you

on the mountain.

But in fact,

the ministry

Jesus has received

is as superior

to theirs

as the covenant

of which

he is mediator

is superior

to the old one

since the new covenant

is established

on better promises.

If there had been

nothing wrong

with that first covenant,

no place

would have been

sought for another.

but God

found fault

with the people

and said,

the days are coming,

declares the Lord,

when I will make

a new covenant

with the people

of Israel

and with the people

of Judah.

It will not be

like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them

by the hand

to lead them

out of Egypt

because they did not

remain faithful

to my covenant

and I turned away

from them,

declares the Lord.

this is the covenant

I will establish

with the people

of Israel

after that time,

declares the Lord.

I will put my laws

in their minds

and write them

on their hearts.

I will be their God

and they will be

my people.

No longer will they

teach their neighbor

or say to one another,

know the Lord

because they will

all know me

from the least of them

to the greatest

for I will forgive

their wickedness

and remember

their sins

no more.

By calling this covenant

new,

he has made

the first one

obsolete

and what is obsolete

and outdated

will soon disappear.

Now the first covenant

had regulations

for worship

and also

an earthly sanctuary.

A tabernacle

was set up

in its first room

where the lampstand

and the table

with its consecrated bread

this is called

the holy place.

Behind the second curtain

was a room

called the most holy place

which had the golden

altar of incense

and the gold-covered

ark of the covenant.

This ark contained

the gold jar of manna,

Aaron's staff

that had budded

and the stone tablets

of the covenant.

Above the ark

were the cherubim

of the glory

overshadowing

the atonement cover

but we cannot discuss

these things

in detail now.

When everything

had been arranged

like this

the priests

entered regularly

into the outer room

to carry on

their ministry

but only the high priest

entered the inner room

and that

only once a year

and never

without blood

which he offered

for himself

and for the sins

the people had committed

in ignorance.

The Holy Spirit

was showing by this

that the way

into the most holy place

had not yet been

disclosed

as long as the first

tabernacle was still

functioning.

This is an illustration

for the present time

indicating

that the gifts

and sacrifices

being offered

were not able

to clear the conscience

of the worshiper.

They are only a matter

of food

and drink

and various

ceremonial washings

external regulations

applying until the time

of the new order.

But when Christ

came

as high priest

of the good things

that are now

already here

he went through

the greater

and more perfect

tabernacle

that is not made

with human hands

that is to say

it is not part

of this creation.

He did not enter

by means of the blood

of goats

and calves

but he entered

the most holy place

once for all

by his own blood

thus obtaining

eternal redemption.

The blood of goats

and bulls

and the ashes

of a heifer

sprinkled on those

who are ceremonially

unclean

sanctify them

so that they are

outwardly clean.

How much more

than will the blood

of Christ

who through

the eternal spirit

offered himself

unblemished

to God

cleanse our

consciences

from acts

that lead to death

so that we may serve

the living God.

For this reason

Christ is the mediator

of a new covenant

that those who are called

may receive

the promised

eternal inheritance

now that he has died

as a ransom

to set them free

from the sins committed

under the first covenant.

In the case of a will

it's necessary

to prove

the death

of the one

who made it

because a will

is in force

only when somebody

has died.

It never takes effect

while the one

who made it

is living.

This is why

even the first covenant

was not put into effect

without blood.

When Moses

had proclaimed

every command

of the law

to all the people

he took the blood

of calves

together with water

scarlet wool

and branches of hyssop

and sprinkled

the scroll

and all the people.

He said

this is the blood

of the covenant

which God

has commanded you

to keep.

In the same way

he sprinkled

with the blood

both the tabernacle

and everything

used in its ceremonies.

In fact

the law requires

that nearly everything

be cleansed with blood

and without the shedding

of blood

there is no forgiveness.

It was necessary

then for the copies

of the heavenly things

to be purified

with these sacrifices.

but the heavenly

things themselves

with better sacrifices

than these.

For Christ did not

enter a sanctuary

made with human hands

that was only a copy

of the true one.

He entered heaven

itself

now to appear

for us

in God's presence.

Nor did he enter heaven

to offer himself

again and again

the way the high priest

enters the most holy place

every year

with blood

that is not his own.

Otherwise

Christ would have had

to suffer many times

since the creation

of the world.

But he has appeared

once for all

at the culmination

of the ages

to do away

with sin

by the sacrifice

of himself.

Just as people

are destined

to die once

and after that

to face judgment

so Christ

was sacrificed

once

to take away

the sins

of many.

And he will appear

a second time

not to bear sin

but to bring salvation

to those

who are waiting

for him.

The law

is only

a shadow

of the good things

that are coming

not the realities

themselves.

For this reason

it can never

by the same

sacrifices

repeated

endlessly

year after year

make perfect

those who draw near

to worship.

Otherwise

would they

not have stopped

being offered?

For the worshippers

would have been

cleansed once for all

and would no longer

have felt guilty

for their sins.

But those sacrifices

are an annual

reminder

of sins.

It is impossible

for the blood

of bulls

and goats

to take away

sins.

therefore

when Christ

came into the world

he said

sacrifice

and offering

you did not

desire

but a body

you prepared

for me.

With burnt

offerings

and sin offerings

you were not

pleased.

Then I said

here I am

it is written

about me

in the scroll

I have come

to do your will

my God.

First he said

sacrifices

and offerings

burnt offerings

and sin offerings

you did not

desire

nor were you

pleased with them

though they were

offered in

accordance with

the law.

Then he said

here I am

I have come

to do your will.

He sets aside

the first

to establish

the second

and by that

will

we have been

made holy

through the

sacrifice

of the body

of Jesus

Christ

once for all.

Day after day

every priest

stands and

performs his

religious duties

again and again

he offers

the same

sacrifices

which can

never take

away sins

but when

this priest

had offered

for all time

one sacrifice

for sins

he sat down

at the right

hand of God

and since

that time

he waits

for his enemies

to be made

his footstool

for by one

sacrifice

he has made

perfect forever

those who are

being made

holy.

The Holy Spirit

also testifies

to us

about this.

First he says

this is the

covenant I will

make with them

after that time

says the Lord

I will put my

laws in their

hearts

and I will

write them

on their minds

then he adds

their sins

and lawless

acts

I will

remember no

more.

And where

these have

been forgiven

sacrifice for

sin is no

longer necessary

therefore

brothers and

sisters since

we have

confidence to

enter the

most holy

place by

the blood

of Jesus

by a new

and living

way opened

for us

through the

curtain that

is his

body and

since we

have a great

priest over

the house

of God

let us

draw near

to God

with the

sincere heart

and with the

full assurance

that faith

brings

having our

hearts sprinkled

to cleanse us

from a guilty

conscience

and having our

bodies washed

with pure

water

let us hold

unswervingly

to the hope

we profess

for he who

promised

is faithful

a new

covenant

a better

covenant

better

promises

established

by a

greater

high

priest

who

offered

the

greatest

of

sacrifices

once for

all time

in the

greater

and more

perfect

tabernacle

of heaven

thus obtaining

eternal

redemption

everlasting

forgiveness

and free

access to

the holiest

place

to God

himself

this is what

we mark

with bread

and cup

this morning

not just

that Jesus

died on the

cross

but that

Jesus has

done all

this

for us

by his

death

because of

his love

a new

covenant

everlasting

forgiveness

and life

what an

amazing gift

of grace

Jesus is

to us

if you

believe in

your heart

that Jesus

has done

all this

for you

please

join with

us in

eating and

drinking

from this

table

in a

moment

Dave will

come up

and pass

out the

elements

and after

a couple

of minutes

of quiet

prayer and

reflection

we'll

partake

together

we'll wait

until everybody

has been

served

and then

we'll

partake

together