From: February 9, 2024
“But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:32 ESV).
Jesus said this to His disciples to encourage them. For He had already warned them that they would all stumble and scatter that very night. Yet He wanted them to look past His coming betrayal, crucifixion and death, and their own failure to stay with Him, to His promised resurrection and return to Galilee. For none of them were from the big city of Jerusalem, but were Galileans with Him. Like a Good Shepherd, Jesus would go before them. They would stumble and scatter, but He would gather them again in Galilee.
In John 21, Jesus was waiting for His disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, after Peter had taken them out all-night fishing without any luck. It was there that Jesus restored them to Himself and reminded them of their calling.
God did something similar with Jacob in Genesis 35. For He called Jacob to return to Bethel, the place where Jacob had first encountered God personally. It had been the turning point of his spiritual life. And when Jacob returned to Bethel, God appeared to Jacob and gave him a new name, the name, “Israel” (Gen. 35:9-10).
Sometimes we have to go back to the place where we first believed. We have to remember the time when we first followed Jesus. When we stumble and are tempted to scatter from following, we must remember the time when we first answered His call.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to always follow Jesus wherever He leads. Yet, when we stumble, we know that You are there to pick us up. Strengthen us and remind us of the call You have on our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 9, 2023
“Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense” (Exodus 30:1 NLT).
The Lord gave Moses specific instructions for the furnishings inside the Tent of Meeting. Among these instructions were detailed plans for the making and use of an altar for burning incense. Meditation on these furnishings are a worthy pursuit for the Christ-follower. For they each symbolize a different aspect of Christ’s ministry. Therefore, let us consider how the incense altar points to its fulfillment in Christ.
Consider the incense. It was a special fragrant incense that Aaron was to offer every morning and evening as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense represented the intercessory prayers of the high priest and of God’s people. As David wrote, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you” (Psa. 141:2).
Next, notice the Incense Altar’s pattern. It had a square top with horns on its four sides, making it like a smaller version of the Burnt Offerings Altar (See Ex. 27:1-8). Its four horns were to be consecrated with the blood from the sin offering for atonement taken from the Altar for Burnt Offerings. Even the fire that was used to burn the incense was to be taken from the Altar for Burnt Offerings. However, the Incense Altar was overlaid with gold and only used for burning incense, while the Burnt Offerings Altar was overlaid with bronze and was used for all the sacrificial offerings. The Incense Altar was made holy by the blood and fire from the Burnt Offerings Altar, just as the prayers of the saints are made holy by the blood of the Lamb, Christ Jesus.
Finally, consider the placement of the Incense Altar. It was to be placed “in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony” (Ex. 30:6). In other words, the Incense Altar was to be placed on the outside of the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies, directly in front of where the ark of the covenant was placed inside the holy of holies. The ark represented God’s presence. The veil represented the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. So, every time Aaron offered incense, he was facing the mercy seat of God, yet he was unable to approach it fully because of the veil. The smoke from the incense passed over the veil where Aaron couldn’t enter, except once a year, on the Day of Atonement when he carried the blood of the lamb to be sprinkled on the mercy seat, which was the lid of the ark.
Yet, the veil was torn in two when Christ died on the cross (Matt. 27:51), opening up “a new and living way” for believers to approach God (Heb. 10:20). And just as the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard was a type of Christ’s death on our behalf, the altar of incense in the Holy Place was a type of Christ’s mediation on our behalf. For just as the incense was offered day and night, so now Christ always intercedes for us. As the book of Hebrews says, “Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25). Everything in the Tabernacle points to Christ. The Altar of Incense points to Christ’s intercessory ministry as our Mediator.
PRAYER: Dear Father, as we read Your Word, we are amazed at how everything is fulfilled in Christ. Help us to meditate on Your Word with the help of Your Spirit. Strengthen us to carry Your Word to the nations. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: February 9, 2017
We remember that Peter made this promise, but we forget that all the other disciples said the same, “I will not deny you.” Jesus had taught his disciples that the cost of discipleship involved denying oneself, taking up one’s own cross daily and following him (Luke 9:23). Yet, he predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. I think Peter meant it. And so did the other disciples. They all wanted to be able to deny themselves and follow Christ, even unto death. Their spirits were willing, but their flesh was weak (Mark 14:38). It wasn’t until after the Day of Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, that Peter was able to truly deny himself and follow Jesus even unto death. We must be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit in order to deny ourselves and truly follow Jesus.
From: February 9, 2016
The night Jesus was betrayed to be crucified, He joined His disciples in singing a hymn before going up to the Mount of Olives to pray and await His betrayer. What hymn did they sing? The traditional hymn that the Jews would have sung for Passover were the “Hallel” (“praise”) psalms found in Psalms 113-118. As the Rabbi, Jesus would have led the hymn, no doubt from memory, “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! (Psa. 113:1)… When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language (Psa. 114:1)… The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul! (Psa. 116:3-4)… Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psa. 118:5-6)… Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psa.118:29). I wonder, did His voice break with emotion as He sang? Did the disciples feel the heaviness of the Spirit blanket the upper room during their singing? Did the heavenly choir of angels grow silent to hear their Lord’s voice? Listen all creation! The Lord Jesus is singing on the night of His betrayal!
From: February 9, 2015
Trials and temptations often come in pairs. We can’t avoid the former, but we can watch and pray, so that we avoid falling into the latter. Be alert to that which tempts. Pray in advance for strength so you won’t be led into its trap. Pray as Jesus taught us, “Lead us not into temptation…”
From: February 9, 2014
This is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene the night before His trial and crucifixion. It’s one thing to follow God’s will into an unknown future, but quite another to obey with eyes wide open to suffering. Yet, this is what Jesus did. Oh, the love and obedience we see here! For the Lord drank that cup of suffering, swallowing all its bitter dregs of sin, separation and death. So that, we who believe on Him might receive His righteousness, sonship and eternal life.