Preparing Your Heart for Easter

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In Exodus 25:8 the Lord said to Moses, And let them make for me a sanctuary so I may dwell in their midst. God instructed His people in the Old Testament to construct a portable sanctuary or tabernacle for His presence to dwell. God desired then, and still desires today, to dwell with His people. He wanted a place for them to be able to worship – bring offerings, praise, and meet with Him.

I have always been intrigued by the Old Testament Tabernacle. As I have studied the articles of the Tabernacle, I have come to understand that each is a visual reminder of Jesus and the provision He made for us through His sacrifice. Will you walk with me for the next three weeks leading up to Easter and together explore the elements of the Tabernacle?

My prayer is that we will be drawn to worship as we behold the glory of our Savior Jesus in new ways during this Easter season. Pray to this end as you prepare your heart for resurrection Sunday.

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Explore …

Read Exodus 27:1-8.

 

  • The Brazen Altar (Bronze Altar or Altar of Sacrifice) was in the outer court of the Tabernacle and was the initial element in the Tabernacle court. Since the Bronze Altar stood before the door of the Tabernacle, the worshiper was reminded continually that God must be approached through a blood sacrifice. A person cannot come to God in his own righteousness. There must be a substituted life to approach a holy and perfect God.

According to Mosaic Law, this was the only place sacrifices could be made. There was no other way to make atonement for sins.

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

God is holy and must be approached as such. His Son, Jesus, was the perfect and complete sacrifice and is the only way to find forgiveness for sins. There is no other way other than the blood of Jesus.

The altar was made of acacia wood and sheets of bronze. The fire on the Brazen Altar was to be lit at all times. It was the priests’ responsibility to keep the fire on the altar burning constantly. This was the place where live animals were presented as sacrifices for sins. A person would come and present an animal without defect for the sacrifice of sins. The one presenting the sacrifice would lay his hand on the animal’s head as it was being killed as a symbolic act of transferring the sin from himself to the animal. The shedding of the blood from the animal made atonement for the sins of the people. (See Leviticus 2:1-9.)

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

– Hebrews 10:11-14

Atonement means “covering.” Just as the blood of the animal “covered” the sins of the people, so Jesus’ blood covered the sins of the whole world once and for all. Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all!

It is interesting to note that there were horns on the corners of the altar. Horns were symbolic of power and strength in the Bible. The blood from the animals was spread on the four horns of the altar. The horns were also used to secure the live sacrifices that were slaughtered.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

– Psalm 18:2

The horns on the altar point to Jesus as the horn of our salvation.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. – John 10:27-28

They also remind us that our salvation is secure because Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is secure. When we accept Jesus as the One who paid the price for our sins, we are always His.

Experience …

Jesus’ presence as you pray and thank Him for the gift of His sacrifice. Thank Him for the security you have in what He and He alone accomplished on the cross as payment for your sins. Praise Him as the all-sufficient, perfect, and holy Lamb of God – the One who is without fault, blemish, or defect.

Exclaim …

with great joy, the power and sufficiency of the blood of Jesus. Magnify Him as you sing out these words of praise from the great old hymns, There’s Power in the Blood by Lewis E. Jones and Nothing But the Blood by Robert Lowery.

There’s Power in the Blood

Would you be free from the burden of sin?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Would you o’er evil a victory win?

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Refrain:

There is power, power, wonder-working power

In the blood of the Lamb

There is power, power, wonder-working power

In the precious blood of the Lamb

Would you be free from your passion and pride?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?

There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;

Would you live daily His praises to sing?

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

Nothing But the Blood

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Blessings,

Jacqueline Heider

Director of Women’s Ministry, Prayer, and Resource Specialist

This devotion was written in 2014 by Jacqueline Heider and was first published on her blog at jacquelineheider.com

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