And God Showed Up

Timothy Brisson

Old Made New • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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And God Showed Up

Old Made New: Pt. 6 (Lev. 9)

Pastor Tim Brisson

Luke 24 (NRSV)

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them,

“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Lucan Commission

• Jesus is the Suffering Messiah

• We are to proclaim repentance and forgiveness in His name

But what do the Scriptures say about the Messiah

God reconciles fallen world to Himself in, through, and with the Messiah, his Son

He mends the bonds, the relationships that were broken in the Fall

Let’s review and end up at tonight’s scripture

Let’s see how Leviticus us actually a key moment in God’s plan

Back to Genesis

Remember where were were, IT IS VERY GOOD

and then the Serpent says, DID GOD REALLY SAY

Adam and Eve turn to the Created instead of the Creator

and downhill it goes

Genesis 3:8 NRSV

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Look how God showed up - as a cool evening breeze

But now shame has entered the Garden

Creation is stained

From here on God put limits on His presence

Genesis 3:23–24 NRSV

23 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

We were supposed to guard the tree of life

Now God has to

God places his deputies in charge of security, the cherubim and a flaming sword

To keep us out

away from him and his presence, and his innermost creation - the garden

we got thrown out of the club and kicked to the curb

You even been thrown out, fired, rejected

God places a limit on our relationships

Keep the term limit in mind

Here is another limit that will play into the message tonight

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11 (NRSV)

1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

7 Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

So the whole earth had one language

they had a relationship

but how were they using it

to make a name for themselves

So God puts limits on our language, and therefore our relationships

Moving forward, God pulls the Israelites out of Egypt, and brings them to MT Sanai

There He meets and consecrates them

Exodus 19 (NRSV)

1 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

5 Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.”

When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.”

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder.

20 When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise many of them will perish.

22 Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves or the Lord will break out against them.” 23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’ ”

24 The Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

So just about three months after the Exodus, God makes plans to show up to his people, his chosen nation

Limits = to rope off, to tie off a boundary

When God shoes up, he puts on quite a show

But they were reminded not to breach the limits

Only Moses and Aaron had backstage passes

they had the laminates that got them behind the ropes

oh by the way, Exodus 20 - 10 commandments

and that is where we pick up tonight

Tonight is a bit of a review and a conclusion

we will see all the previous weeks come together

and the torch being passed to Aaron

last week we consecrated Aaron, and got him all dressed up in his fancy vestments

tonight is showtime

Now to tonight’s text

Leviticus 9 (NRSV)

1 On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord.

3 And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering; 4 and an ox and a ram for an offering of well-being to sacrifice before the Lord; and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.’ ”

5 They brought what Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting; and the whole congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. 6 And Moses said, “This is the thing that the Lord commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.”

7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the offering of the people, and make atonement for them; as the Lord has commanded.”

8 Aaron drew near to the altar, and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; and the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.

10 But the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage of the liver from the sin offering he turned into smoke on the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses; 11 and the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.

12 Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. Aaron’s sons brought him the blood, and he dashed it against all sides of the altar. 13 And they brought him the burnt offering piece by piece, and the head, which he turned into smoke on the altar.

14 He washed the entrails and the legs and, with the burnt offering, turned them into smoke on the altar.

15 Next he presented the people’s offering. He took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people, and slaughtered it, and presented it as a sin offering like the first one. 16 He presented the burnt offering, and sacrificed it according to regulation.

17 He presented the grain offering, and, taking a handful of it, he turned it into smoke on the altar, in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.

18 He slaughtered the ox and the ram as a sacrifice of well-being for the people. Aaron’s sons brought him the blood, which he dashed against all sides of the altar, 19 and the fat of the ox and of the ram—the broad tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat on them, and the appendage of the liver.

20 They first laid the fat on the breasts, and the fat was turned into smoke on the altar; 21 and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron raised as an elevation offering before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.

22 Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he came down after sacrificing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the offering of well-being. 23 Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting, and then came out and blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.

24 Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Now we see how all the sacrifices come together to atone, purify and consecrate the people, including Aaron who is just another person, though in his fancy threads

So Aaron and Moses, with their laminates, go backstage to the altar to finish the ceremony inside

and when they return

the y bless the people

AND GOD SHOWS UP

his glory

his massive splendor

obey so that I MAY appear

SO they obeyed - and GOD SHOWED UP

LOOK AT YOUR HANDOUT

so we have gone from being shut out of the garden

to seeing God on a mountain top behind limits

to seeing the glory of God appear up close

but through the priesthood, now of Aaron

See a pattern?

The limits on access to the glory of God are being being dialed back

and put in our hands

but look what happens in the new testament

Luke 24 (NRSV)

Verse 49: And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Stay here, and see if I don’t just show up

my glory will be you clothed in power

and the father promised it

Let’s see what happens

The limits come off

Acts 2 (NRSV)

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear.

36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

The limits come off for us

When we obey and when we confess with our mouth that Jesus is the Son of God and we get baptized in the name of Jesus, each and every one of us will personally receive the gift and glory of God, the Holy Spirit

And this is for all

WHY?

Luke 24 (NRSV)

God showed up

just as he promised

so that’s it

we just go back to work

Your salvation is unconditional, but not unconditioned

God brought the garden back into our hearts

He showed up for us

Jesus showed up to be arrested, knowing what would happen

WHY?

So we could show up for others

Let’s look at the transformation of Peter

Let’s see him show up

Very next chapter after Pentecost

you think Luke did that by accident

Acts 3:1–10 (NRSV)

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

V 1-5

Peter and John are still hanging around together

A man lame from birth

unclean

but begging every day

most people would avert their eyes

maybe throw some coins in from a distance

couldn’t risk being even unintentionally unclean we saw that a few weeks ago

but he couldn’t go into the temple

‘so they lay him outside

that’s the best they can do

but he never goes in

he can only go so far

he is forever separated from God

by something not even his fault

This is what Jesus came to repair

this is disability theology

The disciples are now apostles

When we show up, God shows up

Jesus showed up, now it is our turn

Let’s see what happens

Peter has nothing of the world that can help

but what he does have will help

but first Peter and John notice him, they talk to him

and when Peter declares the man healed in the name of Jesus, he touches him

Note that Luke uses the medical term for ankle, the Greek reads like a ball and hammer

he was very specific in the manner of healing

Luke is recording an event when God showed up

through a normal, mortal, flawed human like Peter

The wer e told what to do - wait

they did

they were empowered in the glory of the holy spirit

and having been commissioned to proclaim the suffering Messiah and forgiveness of sins

they obeyed

and they showed up

and when they showed up - God showed up

to the ends of the earth?

a mat right outside the temple was the ends of the earth for this disabled man

he suffered for years right in plain view

the hope and glory of god was just behind a closed door he wasn’t allowed into

and so many others are out there tonight suffering in plain view

and we are appointed, called, commissioned to bear this fruit

when he is healed, he finally enters the temple

in full joy mode

the bond between him and God has been healed

the healing did not just heal the ball and socket joint of his ankle

it repaired his relation with God and creation

he was reconciled with God

and being part of the temple community reconciled him with his friends and family and he entered fully into his jewish community

And the community reacts

in this age of secularity

when an active, living, loving God shows up in our timeline

and reveals his Glory to us - SOME - not all - will believe

That is what God does when he shows up

Jesus says believe my words OR my acts - but believe

in this age - he cuts through the noise of non-belief by showing his glory

he did in me

he did in you

And now it is your turn

Question #1

Are YOU putting any artificial limits on your ministry?

(Jesus has removed them)

Question #2

Where is the Holy Spirit directing you to show up?

(It might make you uncomfortable)

Question #3

Will you obey?

(God shows up in/through/with you when you do)

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