Lectionary Thoughts: February 29

JOHN 20: In Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15, Paul presents Jesus as the "last Adam"; the covenant head of a race who would be as faithful and obedient as the first Adam was unfaithful and disobedient.

John's account of Jesus' resurrection bears a striking resemblance to the Garden scene in Genesis 2-3, with one striking dissimilarity. In John 20 we have a garden setting, a man who (albeit mistakenly) is referred to as a "gardener." And we have a woman (Mary Magdalene.) A garden, a man and a woman. Sound familiar?

But here is the striking difference. Mary is no un-fallen Eve. Mary at best was simply a former demoniac. And at worst, she was a grossly immoral woman as well. So Jesus, the last and faithful Adam begins where the first and unfaithful Adam left off by a faithful "do-over" of the man/woman/garden scenario. And note that Mary's checkered past is a glorious indication that Christ's bride (the Church) is not lovely to begin with. But rather, a bride to be made lovely by the selfless love of her husband (Ephesians 5:22-32). No wonder they call it "The Good News."

Lectionary Thoughts: February 24

EXODUS 38: Our eyes tend to glaze over when we read the incredibly minute details of the Tabernacle's blueprint. But if Jesus is right (and he most assuredly is!) then every chapter of the Old Testament says something about him (Luke 24:27).

Here's a question: What did the Garden of Eden and the Tabernacle share in common? The Garden was, well, a garden. And the Tabernacle was "garden-esque." Trees and wood paneling. Rivers and the bronze basin. Flowers/blossoms and flower/blossom shaped ornaments (e.g. Exo. 37:17-24). Both were respectively the meeting place of God and man (Gen. 3:8 and Exo. 25:22).

Now, if you were standing in the courtyard outside of the Holy Place watching the priest offer up your sacrifice on the altar, as you looked around you would have been struck by an odd pairing of materials. You would have noticed that the bases of pillars holding up the curtain/walls surrounding the courtyard were made of brass (a relatively common metal) and the "hooks and fillets" holding up the curtains at the top were made of silver (an extremely precious metal.) In other words the materials of the Tabernacle would have reminded you that you were standing at the earthly intersection of the common (man) and the uncommon (God); the only place in the universe where heaven and earth "overlapped" as it were.

Fast forward 2000 years to Jesus who, according to John, "tabernacled among us" (the literal translation of John 1:14); Jesus in whom the fullness of deity dwells (Col. 1:19, 2:9); Jesus the intersection of divine and human natures; Jesus the only place in the universe where God and man can meet together in mutual love and sweet communion.

Lectionary Thoughts: February 23

EXODUS 37: In this chapter we read about the specific instructions given to Moses for the construction of the "mercy seat"; the covering for the ark of the covenant. It was to be made of acacia wood covered with gold, with a cherub (angel) at each end. And according to Exodus 25:22 this was the place from which God would speak to His people and "commune" with them.

Fast forward 2000 years to John's description of Jesus' empty tomb (20:12) in which he provides some seemingly insignificant details. John records that there were two angels, "one at the head and one at the feet" sitting where Jesus had lain. The significance of this arrangement would not have been lost on John, and it ought not to be lost on us. Jesus is indeed "Emmanuel" (God with us); the one who speaks to us as God; and the one in whom we commune with God. Hallelujah, what a Savior.

Lectionary Thoughts: February 22

EXODUS 36: At the very heart of the "Good News" is the fact that God gives to us freely, as a gift, everything that He requires of us. God required Israel to build Him a dwelling place with a beauty and glory that approached His own. A tall order indeed. But He also gave the likes of Bezaleel and Aholiab the supernatural craftsmanship necessary to construct the Tabernacle and its furniture according to the divine specifications. God required, and God gave that which was necessary to obey what He required.

Fast forward a couple of millennia and hear Jesus' first command: "Repent and believe." Again, a very tall order indeed for self-centered and self-righteous creatures like us. But again, God gives freely that which He requires as both repentance (Acts 11:18) and faith (Philippians 1:29) are described by Paul as divine gifts, not as things that we have to generate by our own effort or striving.

Too glad to be true, but true nonetheless.