The Night Seasons

What could it have been in those three dark hours upon the cross? From the sixth to the ninth hour there was darkness over all the earth (Luke 2:44). We cannot comprehend; we cannot understand. It was the cup that His Father had given Him to drink (John 18:11) and would not pass until He partook (Matthew 26:42). It was for me. [Glorious! I so unworthy!]

Psalm 22 gives a prophetic glimpse into the dark hours upon the cross from Christ's view. He was forsaken by His God; left to bear sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was made more than a sin offering... "He who knew no sin was made sin for us." Thus the necessity for Him to be forsaken. "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night seasons, and am not silent."

Psalm 16 gives the preservation of Christ, even through the dark hours and death itself. The conclusion of v7 is surrounded by the guidance of Jehovah, but the conclusion of v7 does not hint at Jehovah's lead: "my reigns also instruct me in the night seasons." The "reigns" compares to the current idea of the heart, where emotion and affection finds its bodily origin. He was left to His reigns in the night seasons.

How truthful does God say of the heart of man, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) The whole of eternity hinged upon each moment of the cross and rested upon the heart of a man who was alone. He was unlike any other, He is I AM (John 18:6). He was left to His own, and unlike any other man before, continued in the will of God and His Father to become the propitiation for the whole world (1 John 2:2). He continued through the storm alone; no other man to aid, no creation to help, no angel to minister and no God to answer. He immerged victorious, giving up His life in confidence (Psalm 16:9). Though He was made sin, He was never defiled and His soul could not be claimed by Hades and abandoned there. He was the Holy One, He would not see corruption but the path of lives and the presence of Jehovah (Psalm 16:10-11).

Abandoned to the night seasons, but not to Hades. Crying unto God without an answer. Left to His own to suffer as if a sinner. He endured left to His own, praise God for His innocent Lamb who endured alone the night seasons and still continued in the will of God.

The Grace of God to Man

Jude 6 - And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

I really enjoyed a thought just now, but in order to share it I suppose I need to declare my position on this verse in relation to who are these angels? This will also show where I stand in relation to Genesis 6's reference to the "sons of God."

The angels who kept not their first estate, or principality, are angels who fell at the time of the rebellion of Lucifer. They are presently reserved, or kept because they are guarded, in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. This does not mean that these demons who fell with Satan are currently making their abode in hell, but rather they are "chained" under darkness, that is under the authority of the one whom they chose to follow, Satan. The demons of Satan were rejected from marvelous light unto darkness.

So what makes angels of heaven so interested in the gospel, enough even to stoop down to look into (1 Peter 1:12)? Why are angels the special mention concerning rejoicing in heaven over once sinner who repents (Luke 15:10)? It is because they would have only been able to do the opposite, which they saw happen as their fallen former comrades experienced it.

The believer is "called out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). He was under the authority of darkness, which the demons are part of, and is now translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). The grace of our God must be astounding to the angels, how it should be more astounding to us! Not only so but we are "preserved in Jesus Christ" (Jude 1) and "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:4). The demons are kept too, but they are reserved in everlasting chains of darkness. Let us marvel at the grace of God towards us.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

- Julia H. Johnston

Temple Police

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:36-37

The temple police (officers) has tried to arrest Jesus before (John 7:32), yet some went again as they followed Judas to the garden with a centurion and some of the band from the Tower of Antonia, who were in charge of protecting Herod's Temple. They bore lanterns, torches and weapons, lest Jesus the Nazerene would try to hide in the shadows of the garden beyond Kidron's waters. A man approached them, He declared Himself the one they were looking for, "I AM," they went backward and fell on their face to the ground. They fell in worship as a glimpse of the future when every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:10). As they were binding Him Simon Peter, bearing one of the two swords the disciples had (Luke 22:38), swung at the head of Malchus and cut off his right ear. Simon was told to put up his sword, he did, and we can suppose that he fled with the others at this time (Matthew 26:56). The temple police were part of the binding, they were at the fire with SImon Peter (John 18:18) and they were even instrumental with the decision of Pilate to crucify Jesus, even after a brutal scourging (John 19:6). These temple police flexed their might that day, yet if it was God's will, they would have been crushed by another temple police.

When the Lord Jesus is before Pilate, He lets Him in on a secret that the temple police, centurion, and band would have been unaware of... He had His own servants ready at His command. These "servants" are not just the disciples wielding their two swords among eleven plus the Christ, but the word "servants" is the same as "officers," or temple police. There is a tabernacle for the worship of God in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2). At that tabernacle is the true holy of holies (Hebrews 9:9, 10:19). Ezekiel saw a glimpse of the heavenly mercy seat (Ezekiel 10) as the glory of God was between the cherubim which protect and keep out that which is sinful and defiling from the dwelling place of God (note Genesis 3:24 as an example). Yet His kingdom was not of this world, it is of the world to come.

Those from among His servants, temple police, will be with Him in the day when His kingdom will be in the world. They will be no doubt part of the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:14). They may be those more than twelve legions of angels ready at His command (Matthew 26:54).

It would have been no contest that night if His temple police would have fought for Him. Not just mere inexperienced swordsmen, but angels of the highest position, intelligence and might. We can be thankful that our Lord was willing to be made subject to the temple police of that day, allowing to be bound and condemned to death on a cross that He would suffer for sins at the hand of God, and thus be risen from the dead on the third day and ascend to His Father in heaven alive forevermore; soon to return with His temple police.

Christ Our High Priest: The Priestly Character and Work of Christ in Hebrews 1 of 2

This is 1/3 of a series on Christ as Our High Priest. I'll post the rest later.

Christ Our High Priest: The Priestly Character and Work of Christ in Hebrews

1. Merciful and Faithful High Priest

Hebrews 2:17: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2 is a great section of scripture devoted to the Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter 1 opens with His Person as Deity, chapter 2 His Humanity. He though is far above angels, and far above any who was born into the world before Him, He is the Son of God. In order to become a Priest, He must become man. Thus He took on flesh and blood that He might be to other humans their merciful and faithful high priest – their way of approach to a most holy God.

2. Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Hebrews 4 closes with an introduction to the next 5 chapters by introducing Christ as the Great High Priest. His office in heaven is currently occupied, and as we learn in Hebrews 8, He was not an earthly High Priest because He was not from the line of Levi. He is now passed into the Heavens, occupies the office of Great High Priest and works for those who are under the blood of the sacrifice He made.

3. Sympathizing High Priest

Hebrews 4:15: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Since Christ is human as well as Deity, and since He walked upon this earth like you and I, He passed through many things that makes Him sympathetic toward us. His moments of anguish, such as the wilderness testing’s, the loss of Lazarus, never a place to lay His head, betrayal by a friend, denial by a friend, and only being liked by many for what He could do for them, help Him to ever hear our prayers and present them to God.

4. Ordained High Priest

Hebrews 5:5: So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

In order to become a High Priest, it was not a matter of declaring you yourself to be one. When Aaron was made High Priest it was Moses who performed the ceremony and God who set the oldest Son of Amram as the first of this office. Concerning Christ, it was God himself in Psalm 110 declaring His Son to be High Priest.

5. Eternal High Priest

Hebrews 5:6: As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

Not only was He High Priest, but also uniquely He is called a priest forever. As the Aaronic Priesthood past through time, Priests were anointed and died, came from different families within Levi, and eventually were discontinued due to the failure of the people in the Covenant of the Law. But Christ, of a better Covenant and Priestly line, is a priest forever after the Order of Melchisedec.

6. Complete High Priest

Hebrews 5:9-10: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

There were many things that were necessary for the Son of God to pass through. Each of these things occurred in the His life led by the Spirit for various reasons. His sufferings at the hands of man are one thing that fulfilled His ability to have actually passed through what was necessary to make Him completely righteous by proof. God always knew that His Son was Righteous, as He declared His pleasure in His Son at the Jordan River, but it wasn’t enough for some men to just take the word of God. He will one day have sinners stand before Him completely without excuse for rejecting the Redeeming Saviour. God provided infallible proof by putting His Son always on display, like a Passover Lamb before slaughter, to show the perfect nature of His Son even unto death.

7. Securing High Priest

Hebrews 6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The fact that our High Priest has gone before us, is in the presence of God, and is continually working as an Advocate on our behalf is one of the securities that the believer can rely on. Since Christ has already entered into the Holy Place, it must mean that His blood is accepted by God, which ensures the believer eternal security. The glorious fact that, unlike other covenants, salvation and the New Birth is entirely based upon God (Romans 3:10-20, John 3:8, Ephesians 2:1-10). Though man must respond to the Spirit of God (Acts 16:31) and His work (John 16:7-11), the power of the new birth is in what God has done for us. Acceptation or faith in the cross work of Christ for the sins of self is enough, as God was satisfied and raised His Son three days later, allows God to save (John 3:16, Titus 3:5, Romans 10:9, Romans 6:23). We can be triple secure in God: the merits of Christ’s propitiation (1 John 2:2), the grasp of Father’s Hand (John 10:29), and the Spirit of God which has sealed all true believers until the Day of Redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Whole Burnt/Ascending Offering

Leviticus 1 – The Whole Burnt Offering

Bullock	Sheep/Goats	Fowls - Two Turtledoves or Young Pigeons	Type of Christ
v3 - Let him offer a male without blemish	v10 - he shall bring it a male without blemish.	v14 - he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.	Christ is what was demanded of the Lord for sacrifice.
v3 - at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.			Christ as the burnt offering was always before the Lord.
v4 - he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering			The one in need of sacrifice must identify himself with Christ who was the sacrifice.
v4 - it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.			It is the sacrifice accepted, and the offerer is accepted based upon the grounds of the sacrifice, as Christ was accepted and we are accepted in Him.
		v15 - And the priest shall bring it unto the altar	It is the work of a priest to come to the altar.
v5 - he shall kill the bullock before the LORD	v11 - he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD	v15 - and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar	Bullock/Sheep/Goat – The one bringing the offering kills the offering, Christ died for sins of all who put Him to death. Fowls – Christ must die, and as the priest killed the birds even so Christ gave up His own life.
v5 - the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.	v11 - the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar	v15 - the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:	The blood must be shed, as Christ’s blood was poured out after the spear pierced His side.
v6 - he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.	v12a - he shall cut it into his pieces,	v17 - And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder:	The offering must be proven spotless also below the skin (flay) and all internally (cut in pieces and cleave with the wings). The fowl was not to be divided as Christ. was never divided in devotion to God His Father. This all was so to prove the type fits Christ.
v7 - the priest shall put fire upon the altar,			The fire was never to go out. God as a consuming holy fire was never vindicated, until the perfect propitiation was offered in Christ. Thus the fire is today put out.
v7 - and lay the wood in order upon the fire:			Wood is sin that must continually be set on the altar as fuel for the type of the judgment of God.
v8 - the priests, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order	v12b - with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order		It was the whole offering given to God, even as Christ in every part was given to the will of His Father.
v8 - upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar	v12c - on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:	v17b - upon the wood that is upon the fire:	The sacrifice was upon the wood, as Christ was offered to cover sin. The fire was under the wood and consumed both, as the sacrifice who was made sin for us had the judgment of God roll over His soul like a wave.
v9 - But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water	v13 - But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water:	v16a - And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers,	To fit the picture of Christ, the offering must be clean within and without as was Christ.
		v16b- and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:	That which did not fit the type of Christ was to be placed with that which would be taken out of the camp.
v9 - and the priest shall burn all on the altar	v13 - and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar:	v17a - and the priest shall burn it upon the altar	As Christ through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without sport to God.
v9 - a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.	v13 - it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.	v17c - it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.	It burned until it was consumed, and was as incense smelling sweet to God. As Christ’s sacrifice included the judgment of God for three dark hours, as the wrath of God fell upon Him, He was found accepted, and what was wholly given to God was a sweet smell unto the Lord.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Leviticus 23:6-8, Numbers 28:16-25, Deuteronomy 16:1-8, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is one that is closely connected with the preceding Feast, Passover, and had another Feast, Firstfruits, occur on its second day. The primary features of this feast is that it lasted for seven days, that their houses were to be without leaven, the sacrifices of the feast were to occur consistently each day, and that no work was to be done on the first and least day of this feast seeing it was a Sabbath.

This feast pictures the complete life of the believer who has been redeemed. The Passover feast’s purpose was to look back to their Redemption out of Egypt, and to look forward to a future complete Redemption that would be found in the Lamb of God (Exodus 12:27, John 1:36). With the price of redemption paid in the past the feast commences.

Seven days was to be the length of the feast. As meanings are often linked with numbers, seven is often called the perfect number, the number of God, or the number of completion. It is scriptural numerology that finds this to be a period that is complete.

How is it that the complete life of the believer opens? It is through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Entering into life as a believer begins with no work. Ephesians 2:9 clearly states that salvation is, “not of works.” As on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread no servile work was to be done, even so the beginning of the complete life of the believer commences with no servile work.

How is it that the life of the believer on earth ends? It is through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As sovereign grace has brought a sinner into salvation, even so sovereign grace will bring a believer into glorification. Though man has become a “new creation” upon salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17), there is still a need for man to become exactly like the Lord Jesus Christ in practical standing before God as we are not good enough still. Thus when we see Christ, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). We are sure of salvation and sure of glorification based on sovereign grace, the work of Christ, and not any work on our part. Romans 8:30 expresses this clearly, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Thus the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread fell on a Sabbath, and the Israelites were commanded to do no servile work on that day like the believer at the completion of life will be glorified based on no work of their own.

Through the middle days of the Feast there was to be work done. Work was not to stop on days 2-6 even though they were enjoying a feast of the Lord and were Jehovah’s honored guests to share in His joy. The believer like the Israelite needs to continue to work. Work must be done for the Master during the time that we have been allotted to live upon earth. Ephesians 2:10 states that, “We are His workmanship, created unto good works.” Matthew 5:16 the Lord Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Work must be done during the life of the believer, but it must be done in a sinful world without sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread featured the characteristic of no leaven. Leaven always speaks in scripture, without exception, of sin. No leaven was to be found and ate, or found in the house or borders of their land that they owned (Exodus 13:7). The believer’s life must have this attribute in it, as Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, thus we must keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread and purge out the old leaven while working for the Redeemer (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

The last, and likely the most important feature, of this feast were its sacrifices. Numbers 28:16-25 goes into detail concerning the sacrifices that were to be made on this day, each one being a beautiful picture of the continual efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ. There were to be 10 burnt offerings unto the Lord each day with their accompanying meal offering, plus one sin offering per day unto the Lord. The fact that there were 10 burnt and meal offerings, appeals again to the numerology of scripture. F.W. Grant in his opening to the Numerical Bible with Numerical Structure, explains the number ten as this:

“It is 5 X 2, as I have already said. The ten fingers and toes are plainly so, and they give us respectively man’s capacity for action and competence for an upright walk. But the measure of capacity is that of responsibility, and the measure of responsibility is that of judgment or of reward. Thus ten plagues fall upon Egypt… ten commandments are given on two tablets… man’s responsibility.”

It is the responsibility of man to apply the death of Christ, which was perfect in character and wholly for God, to them. During this present dispensation of grace, after which the Lamb of God has been slain, the responsibility concerning this sacrifice is placed upon man. Those who take this responsibility are observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread: leaven is to be purged and no work for salvation has been grasped. The fact that this sacrifice was consistent each day speaks to the unchanging efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ. It is still as powerful and accepted of God on the behalf of unbelievers today as it was 2 000 years ago.

The one sin offering was also to be sacrificed each day. The picture carries over concerning the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice for sin. However, since there is only one sacrifice for sin it loudly shouts to the complete work of Christ as being once for all (Hebrews 10:10). Those who know the scriptures, and hear the words “one sacrifice for sins,” must surely be reminded of Hebrews 10:12 perhaps referring to this sacrifice each day of the Feast of Unleavened bread. “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

How glorious the features of this second Feast of Jehovah, as they speak of the believer but magnify Christ. Justification and glorification are both entered into by the believer through no work, but based on sovereign grace and a redemptive Lamb having been slain. The believer must work to bringing glory of the Lord, and helping them share in the joy of Jehovah. The sacrifice of Christ is ever unchanging and efficacious, whether in relation to His burnt offering or sin offering. To the Israelite this feast connected with the Passover must have seemed very much like a mere ritual, but to us presently it is evident the joy it must have brought to Jehovah when considering the perfections of His Son soon to be revealed.