Current Sermon Series: The book of John

Dear Wilderness Wanderer,

As the Jews followed God through the wilderness they always set up the Tabernacle at the center of their camp.  The Tabernacle represented the presence of God among his people.  We have seen that we too have a Tabernacle that we can go to meet with God.  In John 1:14 it says literally of Jesus, "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 

As we study the Gospel of John we discover that we are on a journey with Jesus traveling from the Outer Courtyard of the Tabernacle to the Most Holy place where we encounter the very presence of God. 

First, in Christ we encountered the Alter of sacrifice where all the guilt of our sins are forgiven.  We saw this when John declared of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Second, in Christ we encountered the Laver that contains holy water where our shame is washed away and we are refreshed in the Spirit.  We saw this when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well who carried the shame of several failed marriages and living with a man who was not her husband at that time.  Jesus offered her living water and said "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)

But for Christians it is not enough to have the guilt of our sins forgiven and our shame removed.  The Alter of sacrifice and the Laver were necessary but we want to enter the Holy Place!  Are you ready to move closer to God?

Now, in Christ we are ready to enter the Holy place where the first piece of furniture we encounter is the Table of the bread of the Presence.  Come this Sunday and enter the Holy Place were we will encounter and eat the Bread of Presence.
 
Blessings,

Craig