He didn’t stay dead . . .

Leviticus 1; Proverbs 17; John 20; Philippians 4

Leviticus isn’t known for being an exciting read, but the typology in it is fascinating. Typology is a literary device or figure of speech in which a something in the Old Testament is understood to correspond with a something in the New Testament. In most cases, the OT type points to Jesus Christ.

For instance, the burnt offering description says that the one who offered it must “lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” (Leviticus 1:4)

The word translated “to lay his hand on” means “resting or supporting oneself” on the animal. Through this act the worshiper identified himself with the animal as his substitute. In the NT, those who believe in Jesus Christ identify with His death and declare that they are totally resting their life on Him.

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” (Romans 6:8)

The burnt offering is repeatedly said in Leviticus to be “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” which is an anthropomorphic expression or figure of speech attributing human attributes to God. This expression indicates the Lord’s approval and acceptance of the completed sacrifice. In the NT, it says . . .

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)

As I was reading about the killing of lambs etc. I thought how shocked those OT people would have been had the animal on the altar returned to life. I remember my dad reluctantly disposing of a large dog because it was chasing the neighbor’s cows. He shot it between the eyes out in the trees. Two weeks later, that dog walked into the yard. What a stir that created! Most people would not have believed it.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19–20)

However, Thomas was not there and he didn’t believe it happened. He had to see it for himself . . .

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26–29)

Jesus, not a tough dog but the Lamb of God and a vulnerable and willing sacrifice, did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which John did not write in his gospel, but he said, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30–31)

Types don’t work backwards. We read them that way now after easily being able to see the fulfillment they pointed toward, but those slain animals could not save anyone offering them. They stayed dead, yet had a purpose . . .

“But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3–4)

Instead, the NT says that by the will of God, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) Jesus is the better sacrifice, the One needed to resolve the sin problem.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:16–18)

APPLY: Today, the OT points me again to Jesus who died for my sin — but He did not stay dead. He is no longer on the cross and He did not die so I could earn my salvation (like one cult believes). He died and rose. He is alive and He lives in me. He gives me His incredible peace and joy — and I can experience both even as the world news threatens. Because His offering was accepted, I am also accepted and death cannot rob me of His abundant life here — or His eternal life beyond this life.

Jesus, Lord of all

In Communion our church remembers the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. In Baptism, the people baptized proclaim their union with the Lord Jesus Christ as the rest of us, with great joy, celebrate their new life. The joy continues in my heart today as I think of what God has done in sending His Son to be my Savior.

Jesus came in the fullness of all that God is — to declare Him to us. Jesus is God in human flesh, yet the Bible warns that this will not be welcome news to everyone. Paul wrote: 

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:8–9)

The identity of Jesus is an affront to some people. I’m trying to think why, but all I know is my own difficulty in declaring Him. It is easier to talk about God than to name the name of Christ. Perhaps this is because whenever I do, there is a reaction. Besides that, just saying His name reminds me of my own sin, my shortcomings, my personal reason for believing. I worship and serve Jesus Christ because there is nothing else that is important, that I can boast about. Talking about Him is humbling.

Nevertheless, Jesus is everything. “He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18) He is ‘the firstborn of every creature’ (verse 15), meaning that Christ is the one out of whom creation was born.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1–3)

Because all things sprang from him, He is the original cause of all things, “the beginning of the creation of God.” And this makes me fall on my face, sense my nothingness in the light of Him. This is the same experience of anyone who hears and yields to this amazing King of kings. The Bible declares how He will be honored in heaven:

“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’” (Revelation 4:9–11)

Some will refuse to honor Him in faith. Even His disciples doubted at first. Eight days after He rose from the dead, His disciples were inside a room along with Thomas . . .

“Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:26–29)

Those who say they must see to believe are making excuses. Jesus is God raised from the dead, God revealed. The Bible says that one day everyone will know this:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9–11)

Jesus, I’ve no reason at all to hesitate at saying Your name. One day, everyone will say it — willingly or otherwise. Grant me whatever I need to boldly declare it now, even as I will forever in eternity.

Faith vs. Sight

Some things look better in the dark. The pictures in the brochures plus those who spend an evening in South Beach Miami rave about the colors and say it is so glamorous. Art deco interests me, so we drove over yesterday afternoon. Again, some things look better in the dark or at least not by sunlight. We were disappointed.

Light does not always make something look bad. If a person is attractive, sunlight or candlelight will not change that. If a building is constructed and kept in good shape, it will look as good or even better in full daylight as it appears in the dark or with subdued lighting.

The idea of walking by faith rather than sight has some parallels. That is, the object of faith is always the issue, not my ability to see or not. Whether I can see Jesus, or can see Jesus at work is not as important as who He is.

When I was a child, my father made me a Christmas gift. It was a total surprise. I’ve no idea when he worked on it, but even then, I realized this project had taken much time and was a gift of love. Did it matter that I could not see what he was doing? Of course not. The project did not depend on me seeing it happen, but on the loving man who made it happen.

Before Jesus was crucified, He told the disciples that He would rise again. After it happened and some of the disciples reported it to others, Thomas refused to believe it. He said that he had to see it for himself. His faith was in his own vision rather than in the One who made the promise to rise from the dead.

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26–29)

The faith that honors Jesus Christ believes what He says, even when I cannot see any evidence that what He says is working out. This is vital. He tells me that I have new life in Him. When I mess up, if I look at my actions as evidence for His promise, I will despair. Of course new life produces a new way to live, but the reason that I believe in Jesus has to be based on His nature, character, words, and promises, not on my successes or failures. 

My new life happens because of Jesus, not because of what I do.

God continually asks me to walk by faith, not by sight. This is regarding my personal life in Christ, but it also affects my concept of who God is. For instance, the chaos that is visible in the world stands in contrast to the Word of God that tells me He is sovereign, in control, and will eventually judge the world and bring in righteousness and truth. If I walk by sight and look to events as evidence of God’s omnipotence, then faith has to take a back seat. However, when the light of faith shines on the chaos, God shows me what it truly is ­--- a decaying system that can only look good to those in the dark. 

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Lord, more and more I realize how faith is tested by what is visible. When I was a new Christian, it seemed easy to see You or sense You at work. Now You are showing me that faith must not depend on what is visible and might even totally contrast what I see. You want me to believe in what You say, not in what I see. As that becomes an increasing challenge, Your Word and Your promises become even more precious. I’m glad that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I can rely on You because of who You are, and whether I’m surrounded by light, or whether all seems dark, You will always look good because You are good.