God's Presence: From Tabernacle to Incarnation

Devotional

Day 1: The Incarnation as Divine Presence

The incarnation, described as the Word becoming flesh, is a profound mystery that echoes the Old Testament concept of God dwelling among His people, as seen in the tabernacle. This emphasizes the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old to the New Testament. The Gospel of John introduces this mystery with the words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This passage culminates in the declaration that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," a phrase that literally translates to "pitched his tent among us" or "tabernacled among us." This imagery draws us back to the Old Testament, particularly the book of Exodus, where the tabernacle is central to the narrative of God's presence with His people. The tabernacle, or tent of meeting, was a portable sanctuary that symbolized God's promise to dwell among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. [00:40]

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of God dwelling among us through Jesus change the way you perceive His presence in your daily life?

Day 2: God's Central Role in Our Lives

The tabernacle's central placement in the Israelite camp symbolizes God's promise to be with His people, highlighting His role as their king and His desire for an intimate relationship with them. This serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and presence in our lives today. The placement of the tabernacle at the center of the Israelite camp symbolized God's central role in their lives. It was a visible reminder of His kingship, as God was their only king, dwelling among them. The structure of the tabernacle itself, with its outer court, holy place, and the innermost holy of holies, illustrated a progressive level of sacredness. The holy of holies housed the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred artifact, symbolizing God's throne and His covenant with Israel. [09:21]

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it." (Exodus 25:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you make God the central focus of your life today, ensuring His presence is at the heart of your daily decisions and actions?

Day 3: The Need for Purification and Sacrifice

The structure and elements of the tabernacle, such as the altar of burnt offering and the laver, illustrate the need for purification and sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who cleanses and redeems us. The tabernacle's elements, such as the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and the altar of incense, each held deep symbolic meaning. They pointed to purification, sacrifice, and prayer, respectively. The New Testament reveals that these elements foreshadowed the work of Christ, who is the light of the world, the bread of life, and the ultimate sacrifice for sin. [16:09]

"For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." (Hebrews 9:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life need purification and how can you invite Christ's redemptive work into those areas today?

Day 4: Reverence for God's Holiness

The holy of holies, with the Ark of the Covenant, represents the most sacred space, symbolizing God's throne and His covenant with Israel. It underscores the holiness of God and the reverence required in approaching Him. The tabernacle's construction was meticulously detailed by God to Moses, marking a pivotal moment in Old Testament religion. Before its establishment, there was no central sanctuary for worship. The patriarchs, like Abraham and Jacob, marked significant encounters with God by building altars, sacralizing both time and space. The tabernacle, however, became the focal point of God's presence, a tangible reminder of His promise, "I will be with you." [22:16]

"And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel." (Exodus 25:21-22, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe for God's holiness in your personal worship and prayer life?

Day 5: The Depth of God's Mercy

The mercy seat, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures Christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin. This highlights the depth of God's mercy and the completeness of Christ's sacrifice. The mercy seat atop the Ark, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures Christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin. This act of atonement was a profound expression of God's mercy, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself once for all to reconcile humanity to God. [23:40]

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude for the depth of God's mercy and Christ's sacrifice in your interactions with others today?

Sermon Summary

In the Gospel of John, the profound mystery of the incarnation is introduced with the words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This passage culminates in the declaration that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," a phrase that literally translates to "pitched his tent among us" or "tabernacled among us." This imagery draws us back to the Old Testament, particularly the book of Exodus, where the tabernacle is central to the narrative of God's presence with His people. The tabernacle, or tent of meeting, was a portable sanctuary that symbolized God's promise to dwell among the Israelites during their wilderness journey.

The tabernacle's construction was meticulously detailed by God to Moses, marking a pivotal moment in Old Testament religion. Before its establishment, there was no central sanctuary for worship. The patriarchs, like Abraham and Jacob, marked significant encounters with God by building altars, sacralizing both time and space. The tabernacle, however, became the focal point of God's presence, a tangible reminder of His promise, "I will be with you."

The placement of the tabernacle at the center of the Israelite camp symbolized God's central role in their lives. It was a visible reminder of His kingship, as God was their only king, dwelling among them. The structure of the tabernacle itself, with its outer court, holy place, and the innermost holy of holies, illustrated a progressive level of sacredness. The holy of holies housed the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred artifact, symbolizing God's throne and His covenant with Israel.

The tabernacle's elements, such as the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and the altar of incense, each held deep symbolic meaning. They pointed to purification, sacrifice, and prayer, respectively. The New Testament reveals that these elements foreshadowed the work of Christ, who is the light of the world, the bread of life, and the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The mercy seat atop the Ark, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures Christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin.

Key Takeaways

1. The incarnation, described as the Word becoming flesh, is a profound mystery that echoes the Old Testament concept of God dwelling among His people, as seen in the tabernacle. This emphasizes the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old to the New Testament. [00:40]
2. The tabernacle's central placement in the Israelite camp symbolizes God's promise to be with His people, highlighting His role as their king and His desire for an intimate relationship with them. This serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and presence in our lives today. [09:21]
3. The structure and elements of the tabernacle, such as the altar of burnt offering and the laver, illustrate the need for purification and sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who cleanses and redeems us. [16:09]
4. The holy of holies, with the Ark of the Covenant, represents the most sacred space, symbolizing God's throne and His covenant with Israel. It underscores the holiness of God and the reverence required in approaching Him. [22:16]
5. The mercy seat, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures Christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin. This highlights the depth of God's mercy and the completeness of Christ's sacrifice. [23:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - The Word Became Flesh
[00:53] - The Tabernacle in Exodus
[01:38] - Construction of the Tabernacle
[02:26] - Patriarchal Worship
[03:36] - Sacralization of Time and Space
[04:37] - God's Universal Presence
[06:07] - Sacred Places and Holy Land
[06:52] - God's Promise to Be With Us
[08:00] - The Tent of Meeting
[09:21] - Central Placement of the Tabernacle
[11:15] - God as King Among His People
[12:45] - Structure of the Tabernacle
[16:09] - Elements of the Tabernacle
[22:16] - The Holy of Holies
[23:40] - The Mercy Seat and Atonement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 1:1-14
Exodus 25:8-9
Hebrews 9:1-5

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Observation Questions:

What does the phrase "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" mean in the context of John 1:14, and how does it relate to the concept of the tabernacle? [00:25]
How was the tabernacle constructed according to God's instructions, and what was its significance in the Israelite camp? [01:38]
What were the key elements found in the tabernacle, and what did each symbolize in terms of purification, sacrifice, and prayer? [16:09]
Describe the significance of the holy of holies and the Ark of the Covenant within the tabernacle. [22:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the imagery of God "pitching His tent" among us in John 1:14 enhance our understanding of the incarnation and God's desire for intimacy with His people? [00:53]
In what ways does the central placement of the tabernacle in the Israelite camp symbolize God's role as king and His promise to be with His people? [09:21]
How do the elements of the tabernacle foreshadow the work of Christ, and what does this reveal about the continuity of God's redemptive plan? [16:09]
What is the significance of the mercy seat in the holy of holies, and how does it prefigure Christ's atoning work? [23:40]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the idea of God dwelling among us. How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in your daily life? [06:52]
The tabernacle was a central part of the Israelite community. How can you make God the central focus of your life and community today? [09:21]
The tabernacle's elements pointed to purification and sacrifice. What steps can you take to seek spiritual purification and renewal in your life? [16:09]
The holy of holies was a place of reverence and holiness. How can you approach God with a deeper sense of reverence in your personal worship? [22:16]
The mercy seat symbolizes God's mercy and Christ's sacrifice. How can you live out the reality of God's mercy in your interactions with others? [23:40]
Consider the role of the tabernacle as a reminder of God's faithfulness. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness during challenging times? [06:52]
The tabernacle was a place of meeting with God. What practical steps can you take to create a space in your life where you regularly meet with God? [07:42]

Sermon Clips

"In the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word was god and then it goes on for several more verses and the prologue comes to a conclusion later on in the chapter when john writes and the word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth and so on." [00:05:12]

"Literally the words that are used are these and the word became flesh and he pitched his tent among us or even more specifically the word became flesh and he tabernacled among us and when we look at the book of exodus we see three major themes of importance for our understanding of the whole scope of redemptive history." [00:56:04]

"God goes into painful detail with moses in giving instructions on how the tabernacle is to be constructed in the old testament and this is a decisive moment in the development of old testament religion because prior to the tabernacle there was no firmly established central sanctuary for the people of god." [01:38:56]

"The tabernacle as the tent of meeting the place where god says that he will come and be with his people and so he commands that moses built this enormous structure and it is a tent and the reason it is a tent is that the people of israel have not yet settled into the promised land." [07:38:00]

"The placement of the tabernacle at the center of the israelite camp symbolized god's central role in their lives. It was a visible reminder of his kingship, as god was their only king, dwelling among them. The structure of the tabernacle itself, with its outer court, holy place, and the innermost holy of holies, illustrated a progressive level of sacredness." [09:10:32]

"The holy of holies housed the ark of the covenant, the most sacred artifact, symbolizing god's throne and his covenant with israel. The tabernacle's elements, such as the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and the altar of incense, each held deep symbolic meaning." [14:32:56]

"The mercy seat atop the ark, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin. This highlights the depth of god's mercy and the completeness of christ's sacrifice." [23:20:24]

"The tabernacle's central placement in the israelite camp symbolizes god's promise to be with his people, highlighting his role as their king and his desire for an intimate relationship with them. This serves as a reminder of god's faithfulness and presence in our lives today." [09:21:00]

"The structure and elements of the tabernacle, such as the altar of burnt offering and the laver, illustrate the need for purification and sacrifice, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in christ, who cleanses and redeems us." [16:09:00]

"The holy of holies, with the ark of the covenant, represents the most sacred space, symbolizing god's throne and his covenant with israel. It underscores the holiness of god and the reverence required in approaching him." [22:16:00]

"The mercy seat, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice, prefigures christ's atoning work, offering reconciliation and covering for sin. This highlights the depth of god's mercy and the completeness of christ's sacrifice." [23:40:00]

"The tabernacle's elements, such as the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and the altar of incense, each held deep symbolic meaning. They pointed to purification, sacrifice, and prayer, respectively. The new testament reveals that these elements foreshadowed the work of christ, who is the light of the world, the bread of life, and the ultimate sacrifice for sin." [16:09:00]

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