Sunday 10:16:11

Imagine if you were given the opportunity to meet God. What would it be like? What would he be like? Today we’re going to read about people who had the opportunity. Exodus 19:9-25 v. 9 – “I am going to come to you.” God would be meeting the Israelites. His presence with them. v. 10 – “consecrate them for two days” – there is always a need for people to be purified before they can be in the presence of God. “wash their clothes.” v. 11 – “be ready by the third day b/c the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people”! They were going to see God for themselves! On the third day this revelation of God would happen – Just like the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. V. 12 – “Put limits” – in the OT, there were restrictions; people could not be in God’s presence. Jesus had not put away their sins. They were cleansed, but not purified. God’s plan at redemption, still at a distance. Not so with the NT; we are purified, sins removed, and there is nothing left to keep us from God’s presence. “do not go up the mountain” “or you shall be put to death.” People had no right, no authority, no claim to God. Despite their washing, they were still sinners worthy of death in the presence of holy God. v. 16 – “thunder, lightning, thick cloud, loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.” v. 18 – “the Lord descended on it in fire” – fire is a sign of the Lord’s presence. “Smoke billowed up like a furnace.” “The whole mountain trembled violently.” Exodus 20:18-21 v. 18 – “Thunder, lightning, trumpet, smoke,” so terrified at the ferocity of God, “they stayed at a distance.” v. 19 – “speak to us yourself, but do not have God speak to us or we will die.” They were so terrified of God’s presence, his holiness and aware of their inability to stand in his presence. They asked Moses, “Mediate for us.” You speak to us. There would be another mediator between God and man. There would be another one to speak on God’s behalf to man, and represent man to God. v. 21 – “the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached” There would be another prophet who would boldly approach God’s presence. Deuteronomy 18:15-19 a prophecy about another prophet to come. v. 15 – a prophet like [Moses] one of Abraham’s descendants – a brother. v. 16 – quoting from Exodus 20 “let us not hear his voice or see his fire anymore or we will die.” v. 17 – the Lord said, “what they say is good.” Why is that good? Why is it good that they wanted a mediator? B/c they needed a mediator, it was the plan of God all along. Although the people didn’t know it, they were asking for Jesus Christ to mediate for them. They needed someone who could stand in God’s presence – who could do that? They needed someone who was able to stand in God’s holiness – who could do that? Only someone who was holy, who never sinned. They needed someone who could relate to them – who could do that, a man, just like them. They were asking for Jesus Christ. They needed him desperately. That was God’s plan all along – a mediator, redeemer, savior. v. 18 – God would speak to us through him, and we will listen to him. v. 19 – “if anyone does not listen… I myself will call him to account.” Do you know him? If you know him, do you know your need for him? Do you understand he still sits at the Father’s throne interceding for you? That’s right where I need him. Mark 6:1-6 People who met God by way of this promised prophet. v. 3 - Some people from his home town, though, knew his family, knew he grew up as a common laborer in a common family. They could not see him for who he was. They took offense at him. There are people you know who don’t know Jesus as mediator. It will be a dreadful thing to meet God without Jesus. v. 6 - “He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Their unbelief amazed Jesus. v. 2-3 – What a difference from facing God alone. Some people were amazed at his teaching. You should be amazed. This was the one who created all this, when he spoke, he spoke as one having authority. Are you amazed? Or is this all too familiar? Marvel at this. Meditate on it. In Jesus, we get to meet God. He is the brother who would stand in the Father’s presence, speak to us on His behalf, and speak to God on our behalf. Set aside some time today to let the Word of God wash over you. Read it, turn it over in your mind. Let it penetrate your heart and your consciousness.