Pre- Work 

Know: Read John 1:18

Note: Mark keywords, including pronouns and phrases. (God, Son, bosom, declared). Ask questions: (Use tools such as interlinear guides to search the original meaning of words- free tool here) For example:

• Who has Jesus declared?

• What is John revealing to us?

• When did Jesus come from the Father?

• Where is the Father’s bosom?

• Why is this important?

• How does this reveal the Triune God?

Observation: Read Genesis 1, 2

What: What does today’s study reveal to me about the nature of God? What truth do I need to apply to my life today?

The Altar of Incense

“He ever lives to make intercession for us.” Hebrews 7:25

The Alter was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord. Incense speaks of prayer and intercession, a “sweet smelling fragrance unto the Lord.” (Revelation 5:6-12). Jesus is our Great High Priest, interceding for us, pleading our case against the accusations of the Accuser, Satan. His blood speaks a better Word, and that Word is what keeps us, sustains us, and gives us victory. 

God considers our prayers a fragrant aroma because it is how intimacy with Him is sustained. Our very life is a prayer because Christ dwells in us. Partnering with God through prayer is faith at work in order for the promises of God to be made manifest. 

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” John 1:18

In the Bible, the ideas of Heaven and Earth are ways of talking about God’s space and our space. In Genesis, these two dimensions overlap and become a literal place where heaven and earth are one. Genesis 1,2 and 3 describe this union as Eden. This “Eden ideal” is referenced through geographic locations when God met with man, such as where Noah was kept safe in an Ark. Similarly, the Ark was constructed like the pattern in which Eden is described. When God created a covenant with Noah, it was on a mountaintop (Noah became drunk on wine from a vineyard he planted, suggesting a garden on that mountaintop). There are many parallels, such as Abraham and Mt. Moriah, Jacobs ladder (Genesis 28), etc.

More significantly, the union between Heaven and Earth (Eden) can be found in the Temple/ Tabernacle. When Moses met with God (Eden) on Mt. Sainai, God gave him specific instructions on constructing the Temple. When the Temple was entered, it was meant to realize they were inhabiting two places at once, both heaven and earth; a mini-Eden. The High Priests reflected God’s design for man; to rule and maintain order as they obey and listen to his voice. The structures of the Tabernacle were constructed in patterns of seven. Two Cherubim guarded the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God dwelt on the East, reflective of the two Cherubim placed to protect the entrance to the Garden. The Lampstand and its branches were a reflection of the Tree of Life, and the light shone perpetually on the Showbread. The Showbread had a continual supply of bread to signify Eden’s endless food supply. The Altar of incense represented the relationship Elohim, and mankind enjoyed in the garden. The Ark also represented Eden, formed of wood (Tree of Life), overlaid with gold (purity, light), Cherubim to guard the entrance, etc.

God’s presence in the Temple was only a shadow of the true Eden, but it was a reflection of God’s intent from the beginning; for mankind to live in right relationship with Him and to co-partner with the Maker of Earth.

A thought demands some attention in this Eden-ideal picture; the Temple challenges the idea that God’s holiness prevents Him from being near human sin. As seen throughout the scripture narrative, God desired to live among His people. The Bible tells the story of God drawing nearer and nearer to sinful mankind, drawing so close that He traded places with them and took on their sinful flesh to give them His Spirit.

Jesus became the Tabernacle in human flesh, and when He traded places with man, His Spirit, which lives within every believer, “tabernacles” within us. We are now the carriers of “Eden.” We have become the temples in which God dwells.

God placed within every human a desire to know Him. Every heart has a longing to return to Eden and enjoy Eternal life.

Eternal life is to know God. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Jesus’ life was one of total surrender to the love of the Father.

The Bible teaches us in Ephesians 4:13 that we become mature through the knowledge of Christ, and it also says in 1 John 4:17, “As He is, so are we in this world” in context to relating to God with boldness and nearness. As New Covenant believers, we are no longer separated from God. The Son came out from the bosom of the Father to reveal to us what God had declared.

Furthermore, Matthew 17 reveals to us what God had to say about His Son:

“Now, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves, and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”  When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”

Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus is what God had to say.

Moses represented the Law.

For thousands of years prior, God had been veiled to mankind because of the law given by Moses, but the law. “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39) 

The law of Moses could only serve as a teacher to show us how badly we failed to be made righteous by our own effort.

Elijah represented the Prophets of Old:

“The prophets who told us this was coming asked many questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!” 1 Peter 1:10-12 MSG

The Prophets only understood God in part. For example, when Jesus began His ministry, he read from the scroll of Isaiah.

This is what Jesus read:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (Luke 4:18)

This is what Isaiah wrote:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God. (Isaiah 61)

Did you notice the difference? While I will not expound on the first difference in this post (recovery of sight/ open prison doors), I want to point out that Jesus left out the vengeance from Isaiah’s partial understanding of God. Isaiah got only a picture of what Christ would do. The Old Covenant Prophets longed to know God fully but could not.

Peter, at this moment on Mt. Tabor, said they should build three tabernacles for these three men putting them on the same level. God’s voice declared from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” In other words, don’t listen to the Law or the Prophets because they could only partially understand God. Only Jesus can declare God as Father. Make Jesus your only lens in understanding and knowing God.