DAY 45

LIKE A RUNAWAY TRAIN

Leviticus 15 & 16 and Matthew 27: 1-26

It is like a runaway train that cannot be stopped; the Chief Priest’s, the crowds, it all leads to the Crucifixion. No matter how many times I read it, there is Jesus, mostly silent, and it continues to roll forward. The readings from both the Old and New are merging for me today. The Old with it desire for me to be clean, for its proscription of the Day of Atonement, and the New with Jesus before Pilate...it is all merging and moving ahead.

Pilate could not stop it either…"he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”” Even after his wife told him to stop it, he could not.

I know it won’t stop. I know Pilate cannot stop it. I know they won’t choose Barabbas. I know that if I were in the crowd I would be yelling “Crucify Him.” The point of this story is not to judge those who were there that day. The point is that we must own our sin. The sacrifices in the Tabernacle that we have been reading about are very personal. Each person brings their own sacrifice. Each person must own it.

Every year we practice a discipline called the Stations of the Cross. We walk the path that Jesus walked to his death. At the Cathedral we do it on Wednesdays and then on Fridays I go to the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The priest in charge of the other Cathedral and I try to be at both each week. In many ways it is the process by which I own my part in this necessary sacrifice. It also a way for two different denominations to show our unity, our solidarity around this unifying act of our High Priest Jesus.

Listen again, not to our New Testament reading, but to our Old Testament Lesson. “And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins." (Leviticus 16:32-34)

Jesus is High Priest; Priest of His Father. He is also the sacrifice, the scapegoat, upon whom the sins of the world have been laid. God is not interested in us dying in our “uncleanness” ("Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst." Lev. 15:31) He has been telling the Israelites, His People, that we are to be separate, holy, for Him. God is interested in making us “clean”.

Of course history has shown that not only do we fail at it, the method by which God chose to keep us connected to him itself became corrupt. Jesus comes to get us back not only on the right path, but to make all other sacrifices unnecessary. Jesus comes as the “one, full, perfect, sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world” so that all who come and receive him shall have life everlasting.

In reality this runaway train is right on course with God at the throttle.  

DAY 44

AND THE ROOSTER CROWED!

Leviticus 14 and Matthew 26:51-75

Have they made a statue of you denying Jesus? We see they have of Peter. People often pick on Peter. I tend to think he is just saying what I am thinking. It is not that Peter denied (past tense) that this Carpenter from Nazareth, this Jesus, is the Christ…it is that I do (present tense).

The scene begins with the man soon to be denied restoring an ear. He seems to be in this business of restoration. In Haiti there is so much to restore, so much destroyed, and so much still decaying. It was January 12, 2010 that the 7.0 earthquake erupted in Haiti. More than two years have gone by – so quick to be destroyed and so long to restore. Jesus is about restoration and in many ways we are to be people who witness this as well.

Yet this man of restoration is spat upon and struck. Why? Why; because he challenged the power brokers of the day, because he challenged the forces that destroy and lead to decay. Because he is operating (and I pray you do not miss this) at a cosmic level. He is about the business of challenging the person who leads the charge of rebellion against God, and He will defeat this power…but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Yesterday I focused more on Jesus and did not comment so much on the disciples. Peter when the cock crows breaks down; he is undone. He has sworn allegiance to Christ, and at this most severe test he folds. Can you imagine how he feels? Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “I should have said this or that”? Have you ever wondered if you denied Christ? I have more than wondered. I know I have. It does not feel very good. Just last week I left an interaction wondering how I could have better made a point about Jesus, wondering if my “kindness” was in the end a denial of Him who bore the trial we read about today.

Regardless of our (my) weakness Jesus restores: He will restore Peter beautifully in John chapter 20. In many ways this is what we read about in the Old Testament. Restoration is possible! Healing is possible! Once done an offering sanctifies the person to be restored to the covenant community and then they are anointed to signify their renewed dedication.  We also read about the clothing. The clothing is not just about sin, but about decay! It needs to be removed, cut away from what is becoming new.

I am left wondering, praying really, about what part of me needs to be cut away so that God can restore. I am left wondering what part of Haiti, of this little village of Pouly, we can help restore. May God be gracious.

DAY 43

GETHSEMANE STONE

Leviticus 13 and Matthew 26:26-50

Today I am in Haiti, I posted this before we left - please pray for our team.

Briefly let me comment on the Old Testament. It would be interesting to compare the job of a priest in Moses day to today. A butcher, a dermatologist, and who knows what else seem to be part of the prior job description. The over 1,800 words today having to do with skin diseases that we read about today communicates to me the seriousness of this issue within the community, and God’s providential hand in providing them the detailed instructions. It was a serious issue for people. Hansen’s disease (Leprosy) still exists today.

Today there is a more serious issue for us to ponder…Jesus’ last night. We find ourselves at Table with Jesus, we are in the Garden sleeping while Jesus pours out himself to his Father. We, along with Peter and the other disciples, have pledged our allegiance to Jesus in verse 35 only to witness his arrest in verse 50.

Today I do not want to look at us, at the humans, but rather I want to look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In a later post I will share some thoughts I have regarding Holy Communion, but today what of this Garden. Gethsemane is a garden where olives are pressed for oil. The picture above is a Gethsemane Stone. The crushing weight of the stone squeezes every last ounce of oil out of the olive. You might not think the stone all that big, but think about the smallness of the olive.

This is where Jesus prays. This is the moment of great trial for Him. In the coming chapters He will answer the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and even the Roman Governor. He will give his back to the smitters, be dragged along the Via Dolorosa (the way of grief), and he will be crucified – all in relative silence. Tonight however we hear Him.

We hear the weight of “this thing” that He is called to do. This thing that He described as he lifted the cup and said, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The Unblemished One, selected just days ago as He rode into Jerusalem, is about to be slaughtered, but first He bears the crushing weight of our sin.

Three times he prays, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Throughout the ages the crushing weight of the sin of the world is racing down the corridors of time to bear upon the Good-Man, this God-Man. What is our response?

DAY 42

ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER

Leviticus 11 & 12 and Matthew 26:1 - 25

At this point I looked ahead and asked, “So how many chapters are there in Leviticus?” The answer is 27; we are a bit more than a third of the way there. The readings for today with all the details about what to eat were tough. Then there are the directions about a woman after childbirth, “Gee I can’t wait to blog about this.” Then the New Testament, which usually gives some relief, tells of Jesus’ betrayal. There are days like this in life, where you have to pause and think; so here we go!

The overriding point of Leviticus 11-15 might be summed up as: how we live matters.

Chapter 11 of Leviticus is primarily about one thing: forming the people of God into a separate (holy) people. We often hear the phrase, "a holy people for God", how exactly does that happen? The people are in the wilderness and this journey of wandering is a journey of formation. They are being formed because when they get to their new home they will face many challenges by the cultures they encounter. Those cultures are not cultures that glorify God, quite the opposite. If they participate in those cultures they will not be a "holy people for God" rather they will be "unclean."

How do you form people into a separate distinct group? One way is by having them not eat the food that others eat and by not having them touch the food that other cultures view as sacred. Close personal friendships are often formed over a meal; if you never eat with them, you reduce the risk of abandoning your culture for theirs. This is even further reinforced if you think their food is abhorrent to God.

The Israelites were not alone in this approach. In the story of Joseph (Genesis 43) we read that the Egyptians were not allowed to eat with Semitic people. We also know that Egyptians view cows as sacred, while the Israelites could eat them. The point of Leviticus 11 - become my people - stay on My Side of things says God.

Which brings us to Leviticus 12: children are a blessing from God (Psalm 127) and we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1). Yet we need to pause and realize that there is a difference between Leviticus 11 and 12. In chapter 11 God was talking about everyday life; what you eat and what you touch in your own tent. In chapter 12 God is talking about entering the Tabernacle. While they are still in the desert, the directions in Chapter 12 only apply to the Tabernacle. Later when they live in villages and towns, this regulation will not apply to their synagogues either, only the Tabernacle (and later Temple).

If chapter 11 is part of helping them be a holy people, chapter 12 is about what condition people, in this instance women, must be in to enter the truly holy place. The truly holy place, the place where God dwells, is not an earthly place. It is a slice of heaven if you like.

I have read many commentaries about this chapter written by both men and women. I will avoid much of the detail regarding what a woman is actually going through. I will simply say that being in the presence of God requires that we be 100% whole. We of course never are and that is why all the sacrifices are offered (and why Jesus ultimately made the complete one-for-all sacrifice). The point is that a woman after giving birth needs to recover and become whole. 

Now if you are still struggling with this rule, thinking that God is somehow being mean to women, then I would encourage you to go back to a very important point: God has already chosen these people, including women who have just given birth. It is done, the Covenant is made. They are God’s people and He loves them.  This is not about degrading a woman. It is about the holiness of God.

The New Testament reading is in some ways the antithesis of working to accept God on God’s terms. It is the beginning of the end: the start of, not the acceptance, but the complete and utter rejection, of God.

In Leviticus we are immersed in a sea of laws all of which are designed to make people “holy unto God” and in process teach them to put their complete trust in Him and Him alone. In the Gospel, have we not been immersed in a similar sea? For over twenty chapters "God come to earth" has flooded us with his teaching and compassion. Don’t think for a minute that if Jesus had only stayed around for one more year that everyone would change their minds. No, there are some who will reject. I don’t know why, but there are some who choose the other side.

It is especially brutal when it is a friend, a friend who will betray with a kiss.

The readings today hold up for us God’s desire for us to be his people and the degree to which we must go if we are to become wholly his. Again, this is not to earn our place at the table. He has already granted that. Rather, it is so that once we are at the table, we strive to live for him. The readings today also hold up that there is another alternative.

I don’t believe you can have “a little bit of God”. You are either all His, or against Him. People who call themselves neutral merely stand silent while those more aggressive come against the Gospel. History bears this point.

Today I am reminded that as a member of the family, I need to live into that inheritance.  

DAY 41

DETAILS & DIFFICULTY

Leviticus 8, 9 & 10 and Matthew 25: 31 - 46

The readings for today seem to provide details and difficulty. Leviticus 8 and 9, over 1,500 words, describe the consecration of the Aaron and his sons and Aaron’s offering. It takes seven days to consecrate them! It appears as if all five offerings were offered plus and offering for ordination. This would seemingly make sense as they are beginning to the use the Tabernacle for the first time.

When you begin something new it is usually exciting, and maybe even a little intimidating. What is something you have had to prepare for, something you had to wait for, before you could begin? Excitement grows and you are most likely really focused. But then we come to Leviticus 10. Unfortunate would be an understatement. Aaron’s sons (Nadab and Abihu) foolishly, and we are not sure why, offer incense…and it costs them their lives. God, Moses and Aaron move past the event, but the point is made…do not pervert the worship of the Lord.

This is a strong reaction by God. I think the point is similar to a statement I made about the Plagues, the Exodus, and being Covenant People: it is serious business. Over the years the Church has been pretty heavy-handed. The Church has laid on the guilt. The Church has realized her error, but I think overcorrected. Worship today is casual. We are lead to believe we can just wander in before a Holy God and say “Hi”! While I believe Jesus reveals a dimension of the Love and Approachability of God, would you really just wander in and casually say “Hi”?

Moses has spent seven days scrubbing Aaron and his sons, and they have been offering every form of sacrifice in order to be able to serve God: it is serious business.

Which brings us to the New Testament: We normally see Jesus as the person who says “Come to me all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give your rest”. We see Him that way because He does say this! He is also the Judge. He separates the sheep from the goats: serious business.

I believe it is a mistake to so lower our image of God. I believe we confuse the Love, Compassion, and Mercy of God with some kind of anything is OK attitude. I believe we like seeing God as Grandpa (the kind that lets things slide and waits for the parents to get home and deal with it) and not Father. Think about it for a moment: God is always Father…He is no one’s Grandpa.

I suggested yesterday that we get ourselves twisted. Don’t let the details and even the difficulties of the passage confuse you. (I am still trying to get a really straight answer on Urim and Thummim).

The point I believe in all the “details and difficulties” is to follow God, He will keep us un-twisted. He will dwell with us, with all His Glory and with all His Holiness. 

DAY 40

DON’T GET TWISTED UP

Leviticus 6 & 7 and Matthew 25: 1 - 30

Yesterday I talked about the five offerings. I also highlighted that a portion of chapter six would finish up the directions for the last offering. Then in verse 8 of chapter six and in chapter seven specific directions are given to the priests with regard to what they are to do for each offering.

Lots of details: I am getting use to them after all the details on how to build everything. I am an Episcopalian Priest. Many people say that our worship services are very formal and full of details; they are right. As a priest today much of my life is different than the Old Testament, but there are similarities. I am to be very reverent as I serve at the Altar. Reverence requires a sense of intentionality, a sense of knowing why you are doing what you are doing, and trying as best you can to not let the routine become rote. It is easy to get this all twisted; to get all twisted up in the details. It takes paying attention and working at it.

Isn’t that what Jesus is talking about. Picture the scene: it is a cool night, your boss has just taken on the religious of the day (those whom Jesus has accused of getting it all twisted) you follow him out to his favorite spot, he sits down, so do you and your other close companions, and He begins to talk.  That is the scene we have entered. Jesus is on the Mount of Olives, close to the day of the Cross, and He is teaching.

His teaching in this setting began at the beginning of chapter 24. His disciples came up to him “and drew his attention to the buildings” – the Temple. Jesus tells them not to put their faith in it, he tells them it is all going to be destroyed, and he tells them not to worry about when it is going to happen. He then moves on to what they should be focused on.

Today we read two of his teachings – where one says stay awake and the other says use what God has given you for His Kingdom (not yours). The key in all of this (and there is a huge key that if we forget we get all twisted up) is the same key needed for Leviticus.

For Leviticus I have pointed out that the people are already chosen. They are not trying to convince God to love them. They are trying to become the people God has created by fulfilling the Law. They cannot, nor can we. Jesus fulfills it.

We are staying awake, we are working for the kingdom not to earn God’s love, but rather in response to Him. Don’t get that twisted. Most religions do. Most religions say you have to perform, and if you perform well enough God will love you and you will spend eternity with him. Think of an old fashion balance scale: you sins on one side having to be balanced by your good works on the other. That is not what Jesus is talking about.

Why, because we won’t be perfect. We will fall short. We will never get the scale balanced. If we think we have to earn God’s love, or earn our place in heaven all by ourselves, then we have gotten it somehow twisted. The Good News is that Jesus has fulfilled the burnt and sin offering – we are to offer ourselves, in some way, as the peace offering, but know that you are already chosen and when you turn to Christ, you become united with him in his death – and all the debt is paid.

What remains? Quite simply living as redeemed resurrected people, untwisted, and showing the way for others.

DAY 39

SETTING THE STAGE

Leviticus 4 & 5 and Matthew 24:29-51

Day 39, or are you thinking you are in the second day of your own wilderness experience, Day 2 of Leviticus! I am going to try and help and my prayer is that you will see that there are some principles in this Book of the Bible, that, while we no longer practice sacrifice, those principles are very real with respect to humanity and God; and that those principles are fulfilled by the person of Jesus Christ

Leviticus has five types of offerings. We learned about three yesterday, and we are reading about the other two today. Today we read of the sin offering and the guilt offering.

Rather than get bogged down with all the details (I actually made a table of each offering, who got what portion, etc. and it didn’t help me) I think it helps me more to think about what each sacrifice was all about. Specifically “why five, and what is each one for?”

After we learn about these types of offerings, then through the reminder of the book, among other things, we will learn when each type is to be offered.

I am going to summarize all five here, and then move on to Matthew 24:

I have to keep reminding myself that God gave the book of Leviticus to a people he already made a Covenant with. They are not trying to have God choose them – He already did! All of Leviticus is about God making them a holy nation and a royal priesthood.

I realize we read about the first three yesterday, but I am going to begin with summarizing them here in the order they are presented because the logic might flow better.

Burnt Offering is about our sinful nature and God's pleasure in accepting anyone who comes to Him. It required coming to Him in obedience to His prescribed sacrifice. There is a very basic point here, two actually. First we sin, we cannot be perfect (not new news, read Genesis 3). Second, and this is huge, God welcomes people who have the courage to admit they are not perfect – the fancy religious word is – sinner. We need to have the courage to admit it, and come to God as He prescribes.

Grain Offering is a joyful (oil) prayer (incense) of thanks to God. It was a gift to God from the best of the worshipper’s agricultural produce in an act of thanksgiving for sins forgiven. I am about to give you a bit of an advance, but I want this to make sense. In Leviticus 23 (I know that is days from now) you will read of a drink offering – it is not a new or sixth offering. It is a “variation in the theme of grain offering. Specifically the drink offering (or “libation”) was poured on top of the grain offering as a symbol of joy (Leviticus 23:13 and cf. Exodus 29:40-41).

As described yesterday the Peace Offering celebrated the sense of well being enjoyed by the worshipers as a result of the forgiveness their sins accompanied by the acceptance of the Lord, and the dedication of their life to him.

Similar to the Grain Offering there are variations in theme that we find ahead in Leviticus that it makes sense to talk about now. There were three primary peace offerings:

a. Thanksgiving Offering – a freewill offering given as an act of thanksgiving to God when He blessed someone without their asking for it. Only in this instance could an imperfect animal be offered (Lev 7:12-15).

b. Wave offering – the priest’s portion of the peace offering was waved before the Lord as a special act signifying that it was His (Leviticus 7:30-31).

c. Votive Offering – a freewill offering given because of a vow taken, or in relation to a favor, or a simple voluntary act of worship (Leviticus 7:16-17).

This brings us to the new offering and final two we read of today.

The Sin Offering might better be thought of as a “purification offering.” It dealt with two issues: the necessity of forgiveness from actual individual sins, even if unintentional. This compares to the Burnt Offering which is offered for our general sinful nature. The Sin Offering also provides for cleansing from ceremonial uncleanness.  

The last offering listed is referred to as the Guilt Offering. It is really about making reparations. Each sin has consequences. We sin against God and our neighbor. The guilt offering caused the individual to look beyond the sin to the damage it caused.  The person not only sought forgiveness, but first he or she also paid full restitution, adding to the price an additional percentage.

In many ways these first five chapter help get the stage set. Chapter six is going to finish up some details on the Guilt Offering, and Chapter seven is going to provide more specifics on the other offerings, but in many ways the stage is set.

The question you might ask yourself is, “Do we need offerings for these five areas of who we are?” That is really the question. The “How” we will read more about, but it revolves around what we a have read.

I did not comment on Matthew’s Gospel today. I will have a chance in the future. In many ways Jesus has Set the Stage, His Stage for the ultimate sacrifice.

The offerings in Leviticus had their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, there is no need for them today (Hebrews 10:1-18). In fact, after Jesus' sacrificed His life on the cross and rose again, the temple was destroyed in AD 70. No sacrifices have been made there since.