Jesus: The Door to Divine Compassion and Life

 

Summary

In today's exploration of the Tabernacle, we delved into the profound symbolism of its structure and materials, particularly focusing on the door that leads from the outer court to the holy place. This door, made of blue, purple, and scarlet, represents a divine mystery. Blue symbolizes the heavenly, scarlet the earthly, and when combined, they create purple, a color of royalty and majesty. This is a powerful metaphor for Jesus, who embodies both the divine and the human, the heavenly and the earthly. Jesus declared, "I am the door," signifying that He is the way to access the divine truth and life.

We examined three instances in the New Testament where Jesus resurrected the dead: Jairus's daughter, the widow's son at Nain, and Lazarus. Each miracle illustrates the blend of heavenly power and earthly compassion. When Jesus raised Jairus's daughter, He didn't seek glory but instead asked for her to be fed, showing His concern for her earthly needs. Similarly, when He resurrected the widow's son, He restored the boy to his grieving mother, demonstrating His empathy and understanding of human sorrow. In the case of Lazarus, Jesus's command for him to be unbound and set free highlights the liberation that comes through His divine intervention.

These stories remind us that Jesus is not just a figure of divine authority but also one of deep compassion and understanding. He bridges the gap between heaven and earth, offering us a path to spiritual fulfillment and earthly comfort. The Tabernacle's door, with its colors, serves as a reminder of this profound truth: that in Jesus, the divine and the human are perfectly united, offering us a way to experience the fullness of life.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Symbolism of the Tabernacle Door: The door of the Tabernacle, with its colors of blue, purple, and scarlet, symbolizes the union of the heavenly and the earthly. This reflects the nature of Jesus, who embodies both divinity and humanity, offering us a path to spiritual truth and life. [02:51]

2. Jesus as the Door: Jesus's declaration of being the door signifies His role as the gateway to divine truth and life. He is the bridge between the earthly and the heavenly, inviting us to enter into a deeper relationship with God. [04:30]

3. Compassion in Miracles: In the resurrection of Jairus's daughter, Jesus's concern for her physical needs after raising her from the dead highlights His compassion and understanding of human needs. This teaches us that divine intervention is not just about power but also about love and care. [06:55]

4. Restoration and Empathy: The resurrection of the widow's son at Nain demonstrates Jesus's empathy for human suffering. By restoring the son to his mother, Jesus shows that His miracles are acts of love that address both spiritual and emotional needs. [07:40]

5. Liberation through Jesus: The story of Lazarus's resurrection illustrates the liberating power of Jesus. His command to unbind Lazarus signifies the freedom and new life that come through faith in Him, emphasizing the transformative impact of His divine presence. [09:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:34] - Introduction to the Tabernacle
- [01:10] - The Three Openings
- [02:02] - The Significance of Colors
- [02:51] - Blue, Scarlet, and Purple
- [03:38] - Jesus as the Door
- [04:30] - Old Testament Connections
- [05:18] - Resurrection of Jairus's Daughter
- [06:04] - Compassion in Action
- [06:55] - The Widow's Son at Nain
- [07:40] - Empathy and Restoration
- [08:20] - Lazarus's Resurrection
- [09:02] - The Power of Purple
- [09:30] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 26:31-33 - Description of the Tabernacle and its components.
2. John 11:38-44 - The resurrection of Lazarus.
3. Mark 5:21-43 - The resurrection of Jairus's daughter.

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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three colors mentioned in the sermon that make up the door of the Tabernacle, and what do they symbolize? [02:02]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the colors blue, scarlet, and purple in the context of the Tabernacle door? [02:51]
3. In the story of Jairus's daughter, what specific action did Jesus take after raising her from the dead, and what does this reveal about His character? [06:55]
4. What was Jesus's immediate concern after raising the widow's son at Nain, and how did He address it? [07:40]

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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the symbolism of the Tabernacle door as described in the sermon help us understand the nature of Jesus as both divine and human? [03:38]
2. In what ways do the miracles of raising the dead, as discussed in the sermon, illustrate the blend of heavenly power and earthly compassion? [06:04]
3. How does Jesus's interaction with the grieving families in the resurrection stories reflect His empathy and understanding of human suffering? [07:40]
4. What does the command to "unbind" Lazarus signify about the nature of Jesus's miracles and their impact on those who experience them? [09:02]

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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the symbolism of the Tabernacle door. How can you incorporate the understanding of Jesus as both divine and human into your daily spiritual practices? [03:38]
2. Consider a time when you felt a need for both spiritual and earthly support. How can you seek Jesus's help in bridging these needs in your life? [06:04]
3. Jesus showed compassion by addressing the physical needs of Jairus's daughter after her resurrection. How can you be more attentive to the physical and emotional needs of those around you? [06:55]
4. In what ways can you demonstrate empathy and understanding towards those who are grieving or suffering, as Jesus did with the widow at Nain? [07:40]
5. The story of Lazarus highlights liberation through Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you feel bound or restricted? How can you seek Jesus's help to experience freedom and new life? [09:02]
6. How can the concept of Jesus as the "door" influence your approach to entering into a deeper relationship with God? [04:30]
7. Reflect on the idea of Jesus as a bridge between heaven and earth. How can this understanding shape your interactions with others and your approach to sharing your faith? [03:38]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine and Earthly Union in the Tabernacle Door
The Tabernacle's door, adorned with blue, purple, and scarlet, serves as a profound symbol of the union between the heavenly and the earthly. Blue represents the heavenly realm, scarlet signifies the earthly, and together they form purple, a color of royalty and majesty. This symbolism reflects the nature of Jesus, who embodies both divinity and humanity. As the door to the holy place, it signifies the path to spiritual truth and life, inviting believers to enter into a deeper relationship with God. The colors remind us of the perfect unity found in Jesus, offering a way to experience the fullness of life. [02:51]

Exodus 26:31-33 (ESV): "And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the symbolism of the Tabernacle's door into your daily life, recognizing the divine and earthly aspects of your faith journey?


Day 2: Jesus as the Gateway to Divine Truth
Jesus's declaration of being the door signifies His role as the gateway to divine truth and life. He bridges the gap between the earthly and the heavenly, inviting believers to enter into a deeper relationship with God. This metaphor highlights the accessibility of divine wisdom and spiritual fulfillment through Jesus. By understanding Him as the door, believers are encouraged to seek a closer connection with God, recognizing Jesus as the path to spiritual enlightenment and eternal life. [04:30]

John 10:9 (ESV): "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to deepen your relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him as the gateway to divine truth in your life today?


Day 3: Compassion in Action through Miracles
In the resurrection of Jairus's daughter, Jesus's concern for her physical needs after raising her from the dead highlights His compassion and understanding of human needs. This teaches us that divine intervention is not just about power but also about love and care. Jesus's miracles are acts of compassion, addressing both spiritual and physical needs, reminding believers of the importance of empathy and love in their own lives. [06:55]

Mark 5:41-43 (ESV): "Taking her by the hand he said to her, 'Talitha cumi,' which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, arise.' And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate compassion and understanding in your interactions with others, following Jesus's example of love and care in His miracles?


Day 4: Empathy and Restoration in Jesus's Miracles
The resurrection of the widow's son at Nain demonstrates Jesus's empathy for human suffering. By restoring the son to his mother, Jesus shows that His miracles are acts of love that address both spiritual and emotional needs. This story highlights the importance of empathy and restoration in the Christian faith, encouraging believers to be mindful of the emotional and spiritual needs of those around them. [07:40]

Luke 7:13-15 (ESV): "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.' Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise.' And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother."

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of empathy and restoration? How can you be a source of comfort and support to them today?


Day 5: Liberation and New Life through Jesus
The story of Lazarus's resurrection illustrates the liberating power of Jesus. His command to unbind Lazarus signifies the freedom and new life that come through faith in Him, emphasizing the transformative impact of His divine presence. This miracle serves as a reminder of the liberation and renewal available to all believers, encouraging them to embrace the freedom found in a relationship with Jesus. [09:02]

John 11:43-44 (ESV): "When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out.' The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Reflection: What areas of your life feel bound or restricted? How can you invite Jesus to bring liberation and new life into those areas today?

Quotes


The Tabernacle was basically a tent that had two apartments in it, a small one in the back called the holy of holies, and then there was a covering or an opening, and then there was a part in the front called The Holy place. There was another opening, and that kind of opened you out into a yard. In the yard, you would have a labor, kind of like a big bird bath, and in front of the labor, you had a big brass box, which was where they made their Altar and their sacrifice. Around this yard was this big white linen fence. [00:11:04]

There are three openings in the Tabernacle. The first one is known as the gate; that's the one that gets you into the outer Court. Then there's the third one, which most people are familiar with; it's called The Veil. The Veil was what separated the holy place from the holy of holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was. Then there's this second opening, which is basically the front of the tent proper; it's called the door. [00:53:52]

I found at least 24 different times in the Bible, and it just fascinated me that it was always the same way. Always it went like this: blue, purple, scarlet. I was talking to her about this thing, and her eyes lit up, and she said, "You don't get it, do you, brother HW?" She said, "Red and blue are primary colors; purple is a secondary color." She said, "These primary colors that are in nature, man can't reproduce them, but every other color comes from blending some of those primaries." [01:22:36]

When you mix the two, you get purple. She said, "Really, when you study this, brother Hoffman, it's not that it was blue and purple and Scarlet. What the real truth probably was is that there was blue and there was scarlet, and when they wove them both together, they got the color purple." That's the secret to what we're dealing with here today. This door, it's blue or Heavenly, it's Scarlet or Earthly, it's both. [02:00:59]

When you put the blue and the Scarlet together, you get this magnificent color, purple, which has always been given to royalty, something that's magnificent, something that should be honored and worshiped and venerated and exalted. That's our Jesus. You don't need to think in terms of father, son, Holy Spirit. Quit thinking in terms of three. All you got to do is think in terms of two: flesh or Spirit. [02:08:76]

Jesus said, "I'm the door," and there are so many in the New Testament. It is a direct quote from the old. So if you go back into the Old Testament, what's the most famous door in the Old Testament? The door between the outer court and the holy Place. Jesus said, "I'm that door. I'm the way for you to get in to the life and the truth that's in there." [04:10:75]

There are three places in the New Testament where Jesus resurrected dead people. He resurrected Jairus' daughter, who had just died. He resurrected the Widow's son at Nain; he was in the Box on the way to the cemetery. And he resurrected Lazarus, who was already buried. Jairus comes to him, and the Bible is very clear; he already knows his daughter's dead, and yet he comes to the Lord. [05:10:15]

Watch Jesus just grab this little girl and say, "Rise," and he pushes back the curtain and walks her out, and they're like, "Whoa, how did you do that?" The girl's daddy, he's bouncing off the walls, man. "Oh, right, I knew you could do it." What's the very next thing Jesus says? "I've done this so that you can glorify me." Nope. You know what he says? He looks around that crowd and he says, "Would one of you ladies make this little girl a sandwich?" [06:01:59]

They're on their way to the funeral. They're on their way to bury the boy. Now, here's what nobody preaches about. Nobody preaches about the mom. Listen to what it says: she is the Widow of Nain, and this is the Widow's son in the box, which means she's got a double whammy. She's not just buried her husband; now she's burying her only boy. She's lost her sweetheart and her son. [07:27:16]

Jesus walks up and does something you're not supposed to do. He reaches into the box, and he pulls this kid out of the box. Everybody in that funeral procession is stunned because they have just seen the most incredible display of heavenly power anywhere on the earth. What's the next thing Jesus says? "Son, go over to your mom because she's not sure you're real." [07:58:31]

Watch him go to Lazarus's. Watch that voice, "Lazarus," and watch that voice like a hunting dog going through every Crypt, every tomb. "Nope, not him. Nope, not him." Go all through hell. "Nope, not here." Go all the way to the bosom of Abraham, open up every door. Finally, you go in the banquet hall, and there's Lazarus in there having a big old time, and the voice says, "Lazarus, the boss needs you." [08:45:64]

That's not blue; that's not Scarlet; that's purple, baby. That's both of them. That's something from heaven and something so common being mixed together in one package. That's the Jesus we serve. [09:22:68]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?