#1
“The Tabernacle” Series
"THE EASTERN GATE!"
TEXT: Exodus
19:5-6; 25:8-9; 27:9-19; John
10:1-10
INTRO: One of the
great concerns of the Old Testament was the tabernacle. It fills many pages of Scripture ... and
many chapters within the book of Exodus. It was one of monumental items in the Old
Testament ... and a source of great teaching about God and His relationship to
man. We are going to spend several
messages in this series looking into the Tabernacle to discover God's message to
Israel and to us today! There was
nothing about the tabernacle that was without meaning ... every part was a mini
sermon to God's people ... then and now!
We
will begin at the entrance ... a very good place to
start!
Today
there are many religions within many cultures, most of those religions have
accepted Jesus Christ as a historical figure ... most even go so far as to
declare Jesus as special; as "prophet," "great teacher," a "good man," or even
as an "enlightened Holy man." Many
of the great religions have placed Jesus in the "GOOD CAMP." They do this of course while at the same
time declaring that there are many roads to God ... yet their view of Jesus
doesn't square with what Jesus taught. Jesus
clearly stated that He was the ONLY DOOR to God ... if other
religions call Him a prophet then they clearly agree that He speaks God's truth
... yet they completely contradict His teaching! In fact, they actually would say His
view on how to reach God is completely wrong ... that it is crazy, that it is
not true, that it is narrow-minded; BUT YET THEY CONTINUE TO SAY JESUS IS A
PROPHET AND WONDERFUL!
PROP.
SENT:
Jesus isn't the only one
that proclaimed He is the only way to God, the Father in the Old Testament made
the same statement ... through the TABERNACLE! God has always proclaimed that there is
a single door to finding Him, the only question remains with us; will we enter
THIS ONLY DOOR?
I. EXPLANATION Ex. 19:5-6; 25:8-9
A. Distinctive
Ex.
19:5-6
1. What was the reason God wanted
Moses and His people to build a tabernacle?
a. God was unfolding His plan of
salvation ... for all ages.
b. He would use this building to
reveal something about His love and the way to God.
2. The Pre-covenant stage God had
clearly stated, "I WILL BE YOUR
GOD"...
3. But now during the covenant stage
God had added something, "I WILL BE YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL BE MY
PEOPLE!"
a. God wanted a distinctive
people.
b. In fact in this passage the phrase
in the NIV "TREASURED POSSESSION" (19: 5b) (The KJV translates this phrase, "PECULIAR
TREASURE") is the Hebrew word, "SEGULLAH" meaning “MOVEABLE treasure.”
c. The Hebrew term thus already hints
at the tabernacle being a moveable building that would be the place for God's
dwelling.
4. Even the camping arrangement of
Israel demonstrated the distinctive role of God among His people. (3
tribes on each side with the Tabernacle in the middle, the form of a cross! –
ready to pick up and transport at a moment’s
notice)
a. Rameses II, the probable Pharaoh
Moses confronted had also used this kind of arrangement when the Egyptian army
camped ... they would put the King's tent in the center with the troops camped
around Pharaoh – he presented himself as god.
b. The uniqueness of
B. Dwelling Ex.
25:8-9
1. God's reason given for the
tabernacle is clearly stated, God desired to dwell with His people, He didn't
desire a distant relationship with His people, He would be present with
them!
2. This was God's desire ... and it
was God's design!
3. Interesting enough the tabernacle's design is given
backwards starting from the inside out ... from the Holy of Holies to the
entrance of the courtyard. This
clearly reflects that it was God moving toward man that was at the heart of the
building program. God was moving
toward them!
a. God is not interested in a distant
relationship with us!
b. God desires closeness with us; He
desires access to us and for us to have quick access to
Him!
c. He is not just some God way out
there ... He has come close!
II. EDUCATION Ex.
27:9-19
A. Design Ex.
27:9-19
1. We will examine the tabernacle and
it's furnishings from our starting point ... at the
entrance.
2. The entire design of the tabernacle
and all its furnishings ... including the materials used have educational
dynamics to them ... they are instructive about God's plan of salvation for
man!
3. The starting point for man was the
entrance.
a. The first thing we note is that there is only
a single entrance ... one way in, one way out... the eastern
gate!
b. It faced east to symbolize the
coming of light ... indeed, Jesus as the door is also the “light of the
world!”
c. The outer wall made of white linen
cloth stood about 7˝ feet tall ... just tall enough not to see over ... held up
by poles on brass or bronze bases.
d. In fact almost all the metal parts
outside the tabernacle itself were made of bronze ... always symbolic of
judgment in Scripture ... the inside choice of metal was gold ... the symbol of
royalty. Even this was significant,
outside was judgment, and inside was God’s presence, His
royalty.
e. The reason for the outer wall
enclosing a courtyard was to separate a distinct area that was set apart for the
sacred, Holy ground so to speak.
f. This would enable
g. The entrance itself was about 30
feet wide, the width of the entire east side was 75
feet.
h. The curtain for this entrance was
made of cloth in four colors:
(1. Blue -- symbol of
heaven
(2. Purple -- symbol of
Royalty
(3. Scarlet -- symbol of sacrifice, or
blood offering
(4. White -- symbol of
purity
i. Even the tent pegs used to
hold the walls in place were made of brass, a symbol of
judgment.
B. Didactic Ex.
27:9-19
1. As said, all things pertaining to
this tabernacle, even the courtyard and outer wall were intended to teach us
about God and His desire to save us.
2. Great truths about the
entrance:
a. As stated already, everything metal
outside the tabernacle was made mostly of bronze ... a symbol of judgment. As one approached the entrance therefore
he was confronted with the reality of judgment ... until he got
inside!
b. The single entrance, no other way
in, and no other way out! This
truth becomes obvious in Jesus' teaching concerning Himself, "No one comes to
the Father except through me!" It is also true in Jesus’
statement about Himself being the “door.”
c. The entrance was not made of a huge
wooden door that could be locked ... the entrance allowed people in whenever
they wanted, day or night, whenever!
d. God has made entrance possible at
any time; all you have to do is come!
e. The white linen clothe that was the
wall around this courtyard immediately reminded the Israelites that within was
purity ... white was the symbol of cleansing and purity. Approaching God meant
purity.
f. Even the fact that this
tabernacle area was at the center of
3. Why only a single
entrance?
a. To simplify the way
in!
b. Man makes salvation so complicated
... we have more religious regulations.
c. And many religions on the planet
... some of which teach good moral things.
d. No matter how wonderful a religion
is however or how many good things result from those religions they all still
fall short of entering into a relationship with God ... to do this we must
come through one single gate -- JESUS!
ILLUS: All
religions of this earth, even those that teach good things still fall short of
saving people ... like the fire several years ago in the WINECOFF HOTEL in
Atlanta Georgia. Though a modern
fire station was only 2 blocks from the hotel more than 100 lost their lives,
the reason: the personNEl were well
trained, but the equipment was inadequate ... the ladders were too short to
reach the people on the upper floors, many PLUMMETED to their deaths or perished
on the BALCONIES overcome by fire AND smoke. The intentions were good ... good people
worked there, the desire was right ... it was the system that was inadequate ...
and so it is with all "good" religions, many of the people are sincere ... but
their systems are inadequate to save!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. There was one entrance ... for
rich, for poor, for powerful, for lowly estate, rank and riches meant nothing
... entrance was the same for all!
5. The entrance was always open as
long as the person was alive ... once dead they could not enter ... the only
death allowed in the courtyard and tabernacle was the sacrificial
animal.
a. Thus we must choose to enter while
we live, no salvation opportunities exist after death if we neglect the only way
in while we live, it is now through Jesus.
b. Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins
... He Himself shed His blood to make possible our
entrance!
6. The entrance was clearly visible
... it was obvious in that it stood out by the colors from the rest of the white
curtains ... it was NOT hard to see the entrance!
a. The only way to miss it was to NOT
look for it ... or to avoid it on purpose, or …
b. Look for it in the wrong
place!
ILLUS: In
the Sahara Desert there are 2 large stones that mark where a tragedy
occurred. A wealthy Egyptian
merchant paid his camel driver around $25,000 for a mouthful of water; however
they both died of thirst ... only several hundred feet from where they died was
a well that could have saved them ... they just didn't see it and thus
perished! They looked to each other
FOR SALVATION and missed the source NEARBY!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
III. ENTRANCE Jn.
10:1-10
A. Door
Jn.
10:1-6
1. Why take my word for this single
entrance ... let Jesus speak for Himself!
a. Jesus speaks clearly and
definitively about the way in!
b. While others may claim to be the
Shepherd ... and claim to have a "WAY IN"... they will all prove to be false
shepherds and their way in will lead to death!
2. Jesus very clearly describes that
until He comes again there will be many others who will claim to have another
entrance to God, many religions will come and go but in the end they will all
prove false!
a. Can you take a chance like this for
eternity? Can you afford to try
some other route to God other than that of Christ?
b. It is a huge gamble, you are
"PUTTING YOUR ETERNAL
3. Even the disciples had a hard time
understanding how direct Jesus was being concerning Himself as the only true
Shepherd, the only entrance to God!
a. Jesus clearly identifies all other
sources as leading to peril.
b. No other way in is legitimate other
than through the Shepherd, Jesus!
ILLUS: In
January, 1985 a large suitcase lay unclaimed and unmarked at customs in the Los
Angeles International Airport. When
custom officials opened the suitcase they found the curled up body of an
unidentified young woman. She had
been dead a few days already ... apparently she decided she would enter the U.S.
without going through the proper channels and it cost her her life. like people today, they think they will
enter heaven in some way, even though it isn't by the proper channels, Jesus
Christ ... but what awaits them is death, spiritual death, not life! Even if the young woman would have
survived the trip into the U.S. she would have been considered an "ILLEGAL
ALIEN" and would have been deported!
While some PEOPLE may seem to survive another route to God outside of
Christ they will find that when theY come before the throne of God He will
simply have to "DEPORT" them as illegal aliens ... they won't be citizens of His
Kingdom ... unless they become one through Jesus CHrist!
–
SOURCE UNKNOWN
B. Diagnosis Jn.
10:7-10
1. Christ's invitation for salvation
through Him is not to make your life worse or to take away the joy of life ...
quite the opposite!
a. It is to give you life that is
abundant!
b. Most religions in this world do
just the opposite ... they gravely restrict life!
ILLUS: Hara
KRISHNA’S shave their heads ... give up everything and chant; Some religions
have you walk for miles on your knees, others disfigure their bodies as
punishment for their desires, others exact trance-like states of total obedience
to man made laws ... some reverence animal life above human life or even
sacrifice human life to their gods and goddesses ... some even teach access to
God comes through precious gems or mediums. why settle for a "medium" faith when you
can have a "MAXIMUM GOD WITH ABUNDANT LIFE!"
–
SOURCE UNKNOWN
2. While man’s religions exact high
prices that you have to pay to receive eternal life ... Jesus offers salvation
at a price HE PAID! We just receive
it as a gift ... and then on top of that He gives abundant
life!
3. The diagnosis is simple ... why
settle for junk just when you can have the genuine!
4. Why try a door that goes to nowhere
except Hell when you can take DOOR #1 that goes to heaven! “LET'S MAKE A DEAL!” ... accept the
winning door!
a. The path to God has been made
simple ... a single entrance!
b. And the cost has already been paid
in Christ... all who enter can!
c. Why settle for less ... when you
can have it all!
5. You
won't find another door that leads to eternal life with God ... all
the rest lead to a lake of fire ... don't hesitate while you can to enter
in!
CONCLUSION: Many of the world's religions
accept Jesus as a great man or a great teacher ... some even accept Jesus as a
great prophet! Yet, they also
declare that there are many routes to God.
Jesus, however clearly stated He was the only way to God … thus
contradicting their view of Jesus as just a great prophet ... for if He was a
great prophet then they should accept His words as that of a great prophet. But, while they say Jesus is GOOD, they
say that what He says is BAD! Jesus
IS the only entrance ... wandering through any other will only lead to Hell, be
sure to pick the right door, pick door
#1!