The Fragrance God appreciates.

To accept the fact of the Passover sacrifice pointing to Jesus in His redemptive role, there must be some significance in the other sacrifices. The morning and the evening sacrifices are a case in point (Exodus 29:38-41). This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight….a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire.’ 

These sacrifices began and ended the day. They were to be a perpetual sacrifice. Each lamb was totally consumed by fire as it was exclusively offer to God. Other sacrifices were for the benefit of priest and people in the Lord’s presence. C.H. Mackintosh in ‘Notes on the Pentateuch, p.578 said, ‘(the morning and evening sacrifices pointed to) God’s delight in Christ. Morning by morning, evening by evening, day by day, week by week, from one new moon to another, from the opening to the close of the year, it is Christ in His fragrance and preciousness to God ward…the heart of God is refreshed and delighted by Christ.’ This was testified to at His baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The crucifixion was no chance affair. Political intrigue and personal animosity may appear to have driven the nails and the spear. It was however all in the perfect timing of God’s purposes. We rejoice in the Passover. What is not so apparent is its link with the morning and evening sacrifices. Each morning sacrifice was prepared from 7:30am and sacrificed at 9am. The evening sacrifice was slain at 2:30pm and became a burnt offering at 3:30pm.  We can so easily overlook the significance of what Mark records in chapter 15:25 ‘It was the third hour when they crucified him.’ That was 9am. Luke 23:44-46 (NIV) ‘It was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour…Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.’  That’s around 3pm. The Passover completed that day’s sacrificial services, which on every other day would have concluded with the evening sacrifice. 

Therefore, what was for us, salvation was combined with the sacrifices which delighted the Father! Ephesians 5:2 ‘Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering to God.’ Because He was accepted our commitment to Him has also made us share in the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15. NRSV)

Of all the sacrifices spoken of in the Old Testament none surpass the morning and evening ones. ‘It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. (Psalm 92:1-2 NIV). Yes, they have been fulfilled! However, when we uphold the Name of the Lord Jesus before the Father’s throne we maintain the principle of the morning and evening sacrifices.

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Ray is the author of a 31 Day devotional series on Biblical themes. You can see his books on http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au  they are available at some Christian bookshops and as ebooks. He can be contacted at ray.haw3819@bigpond.com

Good Friday's Fellowship of Fools

The day Jesus was crucified gave birth to a unique Fellowship. Open to all, yet not all will join for various reasons. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 explains the entrance criteria and the title of the leader (from the World’s view). Marshall’s translation of the Nestle’s Greek text, ‘for the Logos of the cross is to the ones perishing is folly, to those being saved it is the power of God.’

There is a double meaning in using ‘Logos’ for it means ‘word.’ As such it can refer to the message, the preaching and teaching of the cross. However, it also refers to Jesus. In John 1:1 -14 is the declaration that He is the Word, Emmanuel, come in the flesh (Philippians 2:5-8) to fulfil the Father’s promise summed up in Isaiah 53.

The reaction of the people over Jesus’ crucifixion from the resurrection day onwards is expressed in the Corinthian verse. The word for ‘foolishness’ comes from the Greek ‘moron.’ It is the view of the sophisticated, worldly wise, outwardly upright people that Jesus was and is a moron for being crucified. This leads them into the rejection of His resurrection and the refusal of His saving grace. Fundamentally, this is due to their conceit that they are good enough, wise enough and helpful enough to meet Heaven’s entrance requirements. Or they believe the lie of evolution that death is the final state.

The remarkable thing that confounds such a mindset is the power of the message, the attractiveness of the Christ. When you and I responded to its message our faith allowed the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to unleash the Triune God’s transforming power. Our lifestyle validates the promise of the Cross from Genesis to Malachi. Our worship honours the person of the cross and bears testimony to Him. But there is a cost. Jesus said it in Matthew 10:25, “If they call the Master of the house, Beelzebub [and moron], how much more the members of His household?’ That is part and parcel of our believing the promise about the Person, agreeing with the testimony of His death, entombment and resurrection and responding in obedient faith to His call. It is defined in the taking up your cross and following.

To be called a moron for believing in Christ puts us in good company. It is the Fellowship of Good Friday’s Fools (called the Church), whose President in Jesus. We should wear the insult with pride, express it with gratitude and share it with grace. We are humbled by the Person who by His foolishness prevailed over the cross, over us, over death, over sin, of the prince of darkness and will one day return to reign! He is Jesus, the Christ, Son of God, Saviour and Lord!

“Foolishness” they cry.

“Beyond comprehension.

Defies all convention

Expecting us to believe

Anyone would conceive

Such a ridiculous plan

About a cross

And mutilated man

To deal with Sin,

Cleanse sinners within

Through trusting in Him.

“Foolishness” they cry.

Unsound reasoning
From the God on high
That His Son would die
Sin’s curse to defy,
The Father’s wrath satisfy
Upon a cross.
We are sophisticated
Well educated
Beyond believing
We stand in need of saving.

“Foolishness” they cry,

So unbelievable.
Yet, is it possible
That God’s foolishness
Is stronger, wiser
Than what we could devise?
The symbol of glory won
At Calvary by God’s Son.
In gratitude let’s confess,
We believe God’s foolishness!

                                                            ©Ray Hawkins April 14th, 2017.

DEVOTION: Just because you feel it, doesn’t mean you have to do it ~ by Ufuoma Daniella Ojo

Read Galatians 5:16 - 25

Jesus gave His life for us. Think about that. He didn’t just die or was killed. He actually gave up His life, knowing that He was going to die a criminal’s death. In the garden of Gethsemane, the rubber hit the road when He cried out to the Father to take the cup away from Him. In the end, as we all know, He crucified His flesh (figuratively, mentally, spiritually, the works) to do will of the Father.

I cannot imagine how He must have felt knowing (being God) exactly what He would have to face. The betrayal, the ridicule, the shame, the agony, the separation from the Father. But love; love for the Father; love for mankind compelled Him to push past His own self-preservation to obey God.

I wasn’t thinking about Jesus when I reacted to someone who I felt had treated me badly. I was justified in being angry, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. But then the Word of God has a way of getting to you. I tend to fall asleep listening to the Word and one night in the middle of the night Galatians 5:24, which reads, And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, reached into my subconscious and woke me up.

If I say I belong to Christ I have to crucify my flesh with its loud ‘feed me, feed me now!’ voice, wanting its own way. This scripture is sobering but also empowering. When you feel that you have to do something; that you are powerless to stop yourself, remembering that you belong to Christ let’s you know that you don’t have to act on your feelings.

We can do all things through Christ, which strengthens us.

DEVOTION: The Unfinished Story ~ by Shirley Corder

"You have to come and speak to Bridget! Your lesson last week in Sunday School so upset her."

The words of the frustrated mother on the other end of the phone took me by surprise. What could be wrong with her cute little daughter who sparkled with the joy of living? She had seemed happy enough in class last week.

Over the past four weeks, I had been telling my Sunday School class of eight and nine-year-olds the story of Jesus' last week on earth. As a story-teller I had put myself into the scenes, bringing out the drama and tension as far as I thought was wise for such young children. The previous Sunday I had taught them about the crucifixion, ending at the point where Jesus had died. I was careful to tell the story as simply as possible, not wanting to scare the children with the gory details, but at the same time I wanted them to understand that from a human point of view, Jesus was dead. After all, how would they appreciate the incredible miracle of the resurrection if they didn't accept He had first really died. I ended on a positive note—I thought. "That's not the end of the story!" I assured them. "Come back next week and hear what happens next!" 

They had all left laughing and shoving each other, racing to be the first out the door. I tried to remember if Bridget had been among the happy gang of hooligans. I couldn't remember.

When I arrived at her home, her mother came out to greet me. She told me how her daughter had returned from Sunday School distraught. When it came to saying her prayers that night, she didn't want to say them. "Jesus is dead!" she sobbed. Nothing her mother could say would reassure her. Aunty Shirley had said Jesus was dead, so He was dead. What was the point of praying? Why say grace at mealtimes? Jesus wasn't there any more. After several days of trying to reason with the child, her mother decided to get me over to sort out the mess I'd created. 

I sat outside in the garden nursing a glass of cold lemonade as I told the little girl the next part of the Easter story. I watched as she narrowed her blue eyes for a moment. Suddenly I saw a spark flash in her eyes as they widened in amazement. 

"You mean, he's alive?"

"Yes, He's alive," I assured her. "And He's watching over you right now. He loves you so much."

As I took my leave of the precious little girl and her relieved mother, I marvelled at the reality of that child's faith. When had I last been broken-hearted over the torture and death of my Lord? Had I become so used to the Easter story that I'd got used to glossing over the details? How I rejoiced that I'd been able to assure Bridget that Jesus was very much alive. I resolved there and then never to leave Jesus hanging on a cross "until next week's thrilling instalment." Never again would I leave the story of Jesus unfinished!

Yes, Jesus died. He died on that cruel cross for me. But the story didn't end there. He's alive! 

SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast in South Africa with her husband, Rob. Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on her time in the cancer valley.

Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she encourages writers, or at RiseAndSoar.com, where she encourages those in the cancer valley. You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook.

She still loves telling the stories of Jesus, but she never leaves them unfinished!