Like Sands Through An Hourglass--Jesus

 

Matthew 1:17

Isaiah 42:1-9

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Matthew 12:18-21

Acts 3:13

Hebrews 7:22

Hebrews 8:6

Matthew 26:27-29

Luke 22:20

The first verse we are reading today tells us exactly WHO these covenants have been leading to--JESUS!!! He is a descendant of Abraham's nation and David's house.  Although the gospels outline Jesus's life on earth, He's been there all along.  He is the crusher of the serpent's head promised in the garden of Eden.  Noah's ark is a picture of the salvation offered to sinners facing God's wrath, wrath they've stored up for themselves by their disobedience.  (Matthew 24:37-39; Romans 2:5) Abraham met with a Christ-type in the King's Valley near Sodom--Melchizedek, King of Peace and Righteousness who brings bread and wine to the meeting.  Abram gives him a tithe, an element of worship. (Genesis 14:17-20)    King David, Jesus's grandfather 28 generations over, spoke of Him in Psalm 110:1 "This is the declaration of the LORD to my Lord 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." 

The prophets, carried along by the Holy Spirit, also foreshadowed the coming of Messiah.  Isaiah prophecies of a coming Servant and His mission.  God speaks covenant language of the Son He will give for our sins--"I am the Lord, I have called You, I will hold You by Your hand, I will watch over You, I will appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations."  That Great News overcomes Isaiah and he sings a song of praise, a new song to the LORD! Jeremiah, the prophet known for his weeping and mourning, has his own great news--a new everlasting covenant to come, not written on tablets of stone but now on our hearts.   Jesus knew who He was--He KNEW He was the servant prophesied in Isaiah and He acted accordingly to fulfill it.  Jesus was on earth with a purpose--to proclaim justice in victory, not to argue and shout.  His purpose was not to create chaos but to bring order to the nations through hope in His Name.  Peter, after the death of Jesus, addressed a crowd shocked by the healings they could perform.  He said "Why does this shock you?  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has glorified Jesus and all of this is done through His power!"  (My paraphrase.) They knew Abraham, they knew David, but who was Jesus? They couldn't see that all hope and power was in HIs Name.  He offered the power of His Name because there is nothing higher to swear by.  

Hebrews 7 opens by comparing Jesus to Melchizedek, the priest who met Abram.  Jesus is Better than him, superior to him.  He is a better hope, one that draws us near to God.  Jesus is the Better covenant, the One to whom all other covenants point.  He is superior to all other covenant partners because He draws up the covenant AND fulfills its requirements.  Adam and Eve couldn't, Noah couldn't, Abraham couldn't, David couldn't....Jesus could and did.  He.  Is.  Better.  

  The sabbath--day of rest--is the sign of the covenant with Adam.  The bow in the sky--a rainbow but also a weapon at rest, Warrior God promising never to flood the earth again--the sign of the covenant to Noah but also to the whole world.  The sign of the covenant with Abraham, which included land, blessings, and offspring, was circumcision which seemed to put all the promises to Abraham in jeopardy.  The covenant with David is a throne forever.  So what is the sign of the new covenant? Jesus’s blood, shed for us.   The Lord's supper, instituted in the upper room and shared among Jesus's inner circle of close followers, is where Jesus introduces it.  Jesus takes the bread, blesses and breaks it, and says "Take and eat it; this is my body."  Then he does the same with a cup and says "Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of Me."  His blood had not been shed yet, but it would be and it would be a sign that ours sins can be washed white as snow.  Forever.  

Every time we take the Lord's supper, we are to remember.  Just like the sabbath, just like the rainbow, just like the King's throne in the center of the palace. We write His name and the corresponding verses in red, His blood poured out for US.  A reminder of God--Yahweh--Promise-Maker, and Promise-Always-Keeper through the person of Jesus Christ.  Just as we saw in Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek—when the King of peace and righteousness brings the elements of a covenant meal, we partake and respond in worship.    Sing a New Song to the Lord; sing His praise from the ends of the earth!!