Sanctuary

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21.5

Praise God for inviting us to live on the resurrection side of the cross. The resurrection truly changed everything.

James York writes, “The resurrection changed everything. The disciples buried their fear and sin then they courageously spread the gospel, the good news of life and love. They formed the world’s first inclusive community including Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, rich, and poor. All were welcomed and loved. Together they worked with the risen Jesus now guiding each of them through the Holy Spirit in their heart and mind to begin breaking down every ethnic, social and cultural barrier. The resurrection inspired them to sacrifice property, possessions, reputation, vocations and positions. The resurrection enabled them to forgive and to help others discover that resurrection life is conquering every form of death.“

The disciples now seeing believed.

What do you believe?

Heaven believes Good Friday finished it. Heaven believes on Good Friday Jesus conquered sin and death. Heaven believes Good Friday is the end – it is the death of death. Heaven believes on Good Friday Jesus made atonement for the whole world.

Romans 3.22-26 says, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Heaven believes the crucifixion is inextricably linked to the resurrection. Matthew’s Gospel record the following, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27.51-54

Heaven doesn’t see the crucifixion and the resurrection as two separate events. On Good Friday as Christ dies the dead are raised to life. This event is a foreshadowing of resurrection – immediately after Christ breathes his last – this connects victory to the seeming defeat.  

These raised saints entered earthly Jerusalem where the temple veil had been torn. The way into God’s full presence was opened. This scene is only a foretaste of what will come in our heavenly Jerusalem when God’s true temple will be open and unveiled, and the resurrected saints will dwell with the Triune God forever!

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19.11-16

What does heaven believe about you?

Heaven believes you’re worth it. Heaven believes you’re worth all of that.

You are worth all of heaven’s suffering. You are worth all the pain. All the sin. All the wrath.

So that you might know God’s kindness, the richness of His mercy. So that you might know His love, and live in His love, and rest in His love. So that you might know how to live and love “on earth as it is in heaven.” So that you might know: (Philippians 3.10-11) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

What do you believe?

Easter is raw reality. Easter stands in stark witness, not to the meaning of death, but to the meaning of what it is to go on despite death, in the face of death–because of death – because of resurrection.

To fully celebrate Easter means to stand in the light of the empty tomb and decide what we are going to believe – to decide what difference it makes – and what to do next.

What do you believe?

Pray through what heaven believes and declares, Revelation 21.3-7.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Pray through the truth found in John 10.1-18

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

On Monday we were reminded of our enemy. We have an enemy. On Wednesday we read the prayer, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.”

Our Good Shepherd has ultimately conquered every enemy, including the evil one of this world. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.” John 16.33

Psalm 23 reminds us that our Good Shepherd goes before, preparing a table for you in the presence of your enemies. It’s important to remember our enemies aren’t always people. Our enemies are anything that stands in the way of us believing “we lack nothing.” Most poignantly, that belief is attacked by our wants and our fears.

What is it that makes you afraid? What is it that causes worry, anxiety, or discontent? In the presence of those enemies, our Good Shepherd prepares a table. A table of refuge, a table of peace, a table that overflows with blessing, “my cup overflows.”

Psalm 23 is a livable reality for the here and now, and it points to an eternal future. A future that includes a meal at a table. Here’s how Revelation 19 portrays this meal.

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
⁸ Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.

One of the most striking images of the risen Jesus, our Good Shepherd in the book of Revelation is “the Lamb that was slain.” Those who have been invited to the table are wearing robes that have been made white (paradoxically) by “the blood of the Lamb.”

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we too have conquered death and now, one day will share eternal life with God and the Lamb. And it’s the Lamb (the risen Christ) who now leads the flock. In a striking reversal of roles, the slain Lamb has become the Good Shepherd.

Our Good Shepherd has prepared a table before you. Come and eat.

We believe these truths are true. What do you believe?

Reflection:

1. Who or what are your greatest enemies?

2. How do you sense God’s presence bringing you peace in the presence of your enemies?

3. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” How might you fully live into this truth today?

Pray through the truth of Luke 22.14-20 and John 13.34-35.

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22.14-20

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13.34-35

“Dad, you talk too much about darkness. You need to talk more about the light.”

That’s what I heard from my seven-year-old in the backseat as we drove home.

            “What do you mean, Adele? It was a funeral.”

            “Dad, there’s light though… in order for there to be a shadow there has to be light.”

            “Say that again, Adele.”

            “Dad, you have to have light in order for there to be a shadow.”

Yet another truth I’ve learned so profoundly from my kids.

The old King James version puts Psalm 23.4 this way,

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

This is likely why Psalm 23 is so often read at funerals. We are reminded of the central promise of the Bible, “Thou art with me.” Even in death, or the darkest valley, God is with us. His Presence comforts us. He disarms our deepest fears.

One way our Good Shepherd is so profoundly present in darkness is through His people. More than anything else God uses people to bring light and life to other people. His Spirit is present in and through His sheep.

In Scripture, the church is referred to as “The body of Christ.” His church is given different gifts, expressing different parts of His Body. As His sheep move into the darkness, toward those suffering, mourning, or grieving, we do so not only as a part of the Body but rather as the manifest presence of Christ Himself. You are the Body of Christ bringing light and life to everything/everyone you touch. You are the joy bringer, the beauty, the grace, the love of Christ to a lost and dying world.

We believe these truths are true. What do you believe?

Reflection:

1. How have you experienced God’s presence, comfort, and light in your darkest valley?

2. Who have you welcomed as the manifest presence of Christ? Who has welcomed you?

3. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” How might you fully live into this truth today?

Pray through the truth of Isaiah 61.1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.