Christ's Devotion to the Father
March 17, 2015
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143,
fbns@wayoflife.org
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The following is excerpted from A PORTRAIT OF CHRIST: THE TABERNACLE, THE PRIESTHOOD, AND THE OFFERINGS. ISBN 978-1-58318-178-2. This book is an extensive study on the Old Testament tabernacle and its priestly system, which has been called “God’s masterpiece of typology.” Whereas the record of the creation of the universe takes up two chapters of the Bible and the fall of man takes up one chapter, the tabernacle, with its priesthood and offerings, takes up 50 chapters. It is obvious that God has many important lessons for us in this portion of His Word. Speaking personally, nothing has helped me better understand the Triune God and the salvation that He has purchased for man, and I believe that I can guarantee that the reader will be taken to new heights in his understanding of these things. Everything about the tabernacle points to Jesus Christ: the design, the materials, the colors, the court walls and pillars, the door into the court, the sacrificial altar, the laver, the tabernacle tent itself with its boards and curtains and silver sockets, the tabernacle gate, and veil before the holy of holies, the candlestick, the table of shewbread, the incense altar, the ark of the covenant, the high priest, and the offerings. All is Christ. The tabernacle system offers brilliant, unforgettable lessons on Christ’s person, offices and work: His eternal Sonship, His sinless manhood, His anointing, His atonement, His resurrection glory, His work as the life and sustainer and light of creation, His eternal high priesthood and intercession, and His kingdom. In addition to the studies on every aspect of the tabernacle, A Portrait of Christ features studies on the high priest, the Levitical priests, the five offerings of Leviticus, the day of atonement, the ransom money, the red heifer, the cherubims, strange fire, the golden calf, leprosy, the Nazarite vow, the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, and the transportation of the tabernacle through the wilderness. The tabernacle is very practical in its teaching, as it also depicts believer priests carrying Christ through this world (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). Like the Israelites in the wilderness, believers today are on a pilgrimage through a foreign land on the way to our eternal home (1 Pet. 2:11). Dr. Don Jasmin, editor of the Fundamentalist Digest says, “This new book on the Tabernacle constitutes the 21st-century classic treatise of this rich theme.” 420 pages. Available in print and eBook editions from www.wayoflife.org.
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The Tabernacle and its priesthood and offerings depict Christ in manifold ways.

The burnt offerings, for example, picture Christ’s complete devotion to the Father and God’s complete acceptance of Him, delight in Him, and exaltation of Him.

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christ is the Second Man who fulfills the plan that God had for man from the beginning but which Adam could not fulfill.

1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man
is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Christ is the Man who fulfills God’s plan that man be put in authority over the entire creation.

Hebrews 2:5-9 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing
that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Christ is the Head of the new creation, the firstborn from the dead.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence.

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Christ is the one man in heaven and in earth who is worthy to open the book of God’s eternal kingdom and to bring it to pass.

Revelation 5:1-5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The book in God’s hand is the book of Revelation chapters 6-22. It is the record of how God will judge this world, bring in Christ’s kingdom, and create the new heaven and the new earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Christ, the God-Man, is God’s Man (1 Cor. 3:23). This is the mystery of the Trinity.

The Father has delighted in the Son from all eternity. Jesus is in the bosom of the Father, referring to His position as the eternal Son, one with God and dwelling in the most intimate affections of God (John 1:18). In John 17:5, Jesus spoke of the glory that He had with the Father before the world was.

In Proverbs 8, the Son of God is depicted poetically as wisdom. He was with Jehovah from eternity (Prov. 8:22-23). He was the Father’s delight (Prov. 8:30).

The Father delighted in the Son when He was on earth. Twice He said from heaven, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mat. 3:17; 12:18).

And the Father will delight in the Son forever. Consider Psalm 45.

Psalms 45:1-6 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue
is the pen of a ready writer. 2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Here God the Father is writing about God the Son. This is stated plainly in Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son
he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

In this amazing Psalm, the Father expresses delight in the Son (Psa. 45:2) and promises Him an eternal kingdom (verse 6). Christ’s millennial kingdom is then described:

Psalms 45:7-17 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments
smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. 10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; 11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. 13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. 14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. 15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace. 16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. 17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Christ will be anointed with the oil of gladness (v. 17). Joy will flow from Him throughout the kingdom. He will wear garments that smell of rare perfumes and will dwell in beautiful palaces (vv. 8-9). The church, His wife, will be clothed in the finest gold (v. 9). For this reason, she is instructed to forget her own people and her father’s house (v. 10), which is what the believer does when he turns his back on this world and receives Christ and becomes a pilgrim on the way to his heavenly country. The church’s husband is also her God (v. 11). The kings of the earth will bring gifts to Christ and seek His blessing (v. 12). Christ will appoint His people as governors throughout the earth (v. 16). He will be praised forever (v. 17).

This reminds us that the millennial kingdom is only the beginning of Christ’s eternal reign. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22).

Through all of this the Father delights in the Son. The Son is indeed the Father’s burnt offering!



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