May 19, 2010

Numbers 28

Why did God spend so much time with the details of these offerings? Very candidly, it is rather tedious. This is especially true in our day when we do not offer bloody sacrifices. And it must have been tedious for them also. I marvel at how meticulous things had to be for the offering unto God. Why is there such detail? The reason is so wonderful that I wouldn’t want you to miss it for anything in the world. It is actually the preciousness of Christ that is brought to our attention here—in fact, the abiding preciousness of Christ.[1]

-J. Vernon McGee

McGee continues to point out that the Lord calls these “My” offering, food, offerings. They belong to Him. McGee points out that some are savory offerings and some are not. He posits that the sweet savory offering speak of the person of Christ and the non-savory offerings speak of the work of Christ. He says that they demonstrate that the Father is satisfied with Christ. I think that is a little too weak. He is more than satisfied with Him. The Father is delighted with Christ, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus goes above and beyond the standard. So in these sacrifices we see the glory of Jesus. The Father delights in Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

John 6:22-44

My former church has a corporate seal. In 13 years of pastoring there I only used it once or twice. I know we used it once for official documents for a loan on the building. I think we have used it on another occasion. The seal is proof that the church as a corporation has put its approval upon something. When we did our loan, we were unable to get it without the seal being on the proper page of the paper work. That seal represents all the authority of the body of Cape Fear Alliance Church. In Jesus' day a seal was not a mechanical press that leaves and impression in paper but it was a process of putting wax on the document and then pressing an engraved object into the wax. It might have been a ring pressed into the wax or a cylinder rolled over the wax but it would have left a distinct impression that was a testimony to the authenticity of the document and carried the authority of the sender. Jesus bears the seal of God the Father. He is the authentic Creator. He carries all the authority of the Father.

As such He comes to us as the authentic Bread and Water of Life. He alone can satisfy our hunger for Life and He alone can quench our thirst for Life. He has promised that if we come to Him, if we believe or trust or cling to Him that He will not turn us away thirsty or hungry. He will satisfy our need. And having eventually died, He will raise us up to Life on the last day. No mere human can do that. Only the one bearing the seal of the Almighty Creator can do that. Jesus bears that seal! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John



[1]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. Nu 28:1