When trying to enter a different culture to the one you grew up in, you need someone to help you learn the language, understand the ways and thought patterns, as well as the legal and social structures of that people group. Usually you don't really know them, until you can understand their humor. When Jesus came from heaven to earth, it was very difficult for people to understand him, so they needed a "cultural translator" - and that is the work of the Holy Spirit to introduce Jesus to us.
Introducing Jesus
Exodus 3:13-15
Long Creek Baptist Church
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Introduction
The need for a cultural translator- Hajo helped by explaining the cultural realities of living in Germany.
We face something similar when it comes to understanding life in the Kingdom of God. That is the job of the Holy Spirit.
Read Text
The need to know more about who God is. I AM speaks to his eternal being, but that says little about his attributes, his character, his objectives and goals, his ideals, desires, his nature, his personality – the definition that explores and describes who you are. The journey into Exodus does a lot to explain who Jesus is, not only what he did on the cross. The introduction to the power, reliability and work of Jesus is core, critical and explains many the other aspects of who Jesus is that are found in the Exodus.
Here are some of the things we find concerning Jesus and the nature of the Kingdom of God:
Living Water - Exodus 15:22-26 Exodus 17:2, 5-6 John 4:10, 13-14
Bread of Life - Exodus 16:1-2, 4John 6:48-51
Lawgiver - Exodus 20:1 Matthew 5:38-39
Covenant Maker - Exodus 24:5-8Luke 22:20
Life Changer - Exodus 19:3-6 Revelation 1:5-6
Mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5
Friend - Exodus 33:11 John 15:15
The introduction to Jesus is what gives us both our security in his promises as well as the joy of growing in our relationship to him.
Living Water
“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter; for that reason it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.””
Exodus 15:22-26
“So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”
Exodus 17:2, 5-6
“Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.””
John 4:10, 13-14
Bread of Life
“Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. But the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”
Exodus 16:1-2, 4
“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.””
John 6:48-51
Lawgiver
“Then God spoke all these words, saying,”
Exodus 20:1
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.” Matthew 5:38-39
Covenant Maker
“And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it as the people listened; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.””
Exodus 24:5-8
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:20
Life Changer! From slaves to a Kingdom and Priests
“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.””
Exodus 19:3-6
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:5-6
Mediator
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5
God speaks to pharaoh and the people through Moses
The people speak to God through Moses. What they miss is the direct communication.
Friend
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15
“So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”
Exodus 33:11