But when I look at Christ...

Old and New

(Mark 13:1-2, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 26, 2020)

[1] And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” [2] And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

We live in 2020. 2020 years after what? Are we living in such a new world since the coming of Jesus that we needed to start counting again? Something old went away in the first century and something new came into being. What was it all about, and what did it have to do with the destruction of the Old Testament temple in the year 70?

The story of the Old Testament temple

What happened in the Garden?

The tabernacle

The temple in Jerusalem

The exile and the rebuilding of the temple

The triumphal entry

The end of the Old Testament temple by the Romans under Titus in AD 70, Mark 15:38?

The new temple of the Lord in the present age

Old Testament passages preparing us for a very different temple

The cornerstone

The foundation

The living stones

The extent of the new temple

The new birth

The new heavens and earth

The present heavens

The return of the Lord in glory

The new Jerusalem

The fitting end to an epic drama

THE POINT: Jesus and his church are the new temple of God forever.

Applying these verses:

1. Are we too easily captivated by the sensational and the temporary? Bldgs don't save.

2. There are clues all around us of a more amazing temple. 1 penny, ACEs and 2 friends

3. What Martin Luther knew... What are you looking at? “When I look at myself, I don't see how I can be saved. But when I look at Christ, I don't see how I can be lost.”

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 124 – We have escaped! From what?

New Testament Reading—Romans 15:14-33 – The costly project of building up a new temple of the Lord

Additional Passages:

The story of the Old Testament temple

Genesis 3:24 He drove out the man.

Exodus 40:34 The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle

1 Kings 8:10–11 [10] And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, [11] so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house.

Ezekiel 43:1–5 [1] Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. [2] And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. [3] And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. [4] As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, [5] the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

The new temple of the Lord in the present age

Ezekiel 37:24–28 [24] “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. [25] They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. [26] I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. [27] My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”

Isaiah 60:1 [1] Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.

John 2:18–22 [18] So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” [19] Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” [21] But he was speaking about the temple of his body. [22] When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Ephesians 2:17–22 [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (See also Ps. 118:22, Is. 28:16, Jesus: Luke 20:17, Peter: Acts 4:11)

John 8:12, Matt. 5:14, 1 Cor 3:16 [I am/You are] the light of the world. God's temple

The new heavens and earth

2 Cor. 5:8 We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Matt. 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory...

Revelation 21:1,3, 22 [1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, ... [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man...” [22] And I saw no temple ..., for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

One penny... All that she had

The Scribes and the Christ

(Mark 12:35-44, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 19, 2020)

[35] And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

[37] David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

[38] And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces [39] and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

[41] And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The Bible tells us about false teachers. The Old Testament provides us with many examples, and the New Testament warns us that the problem has not yet gone away. Church history and current events confirm the fact that we need to be discerning in following those who claim to follow Yahweh. How can we find the true Messiah?

What the scribes say and what the Spirit inspired – Experts can be wrong...

The scribes say that the Christ is the son of David (2 Sam. 7). What does Psalm 110 say?

Beware of the scribes – They were very wrong: 1. Law, 2. Legalism

What they like, what they do, and how they confuse others and themselves in pretense...

They will receive the greater condemnation.

A poor widow – If you are looking for an example: 1. A poor widow, 2. Jesus

Many rich people and one poor widow who gave everything out of her poverty

THE POINT: Jesus was not just another confused and confusing religious teacher.

Applying these verses: Do we know the Master well enough to see the difference between him and others that would guide our souls in wrong pathways?

1. Religious teachers can be missing some pretty important doctrines of the faith.

2. Religious teachers can have some pretty big holes in their holiness.

3. Be impressed by that which is impressive to God. Be enthralled with the real Master and be the kind of servants who quietly give out of their poverty. Jesus & you – Poor?

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 123 – The Eyes of Servants Looking for Mercy

New Testament Reading—Romans 15:1-13 – Servants of Hope on Mission

Passages to consider:

2 Samuel 7:12–16, 29

“[12] When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [14] I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, [15] but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. [16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.... [29] Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Psalm 110

A Psalm of David.

[1] The LORD says to my Lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

[2] The LORD sends forth from Zion

your mighty scepter.

Rule in the midst of your enemies!

[3] Your people will offer themselves freely

on the day of your power,

in holy garments;

from the womb of the morning,

the dew of your youth will be yours.

[4] The LORD has sworn

and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest forever

after the order of Melchizedek.”

[5] The Lord is at your right hand;

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

[6] He will execute judgment among the nations,

filling them with corpses;

he will shatter chiefs

over the wide earth.

[7] He will drink from the brook by the way;

therefore he will lift up his head.

Isaiah 11:10 – In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. See Rom. 15:12

2 Corinthians 12:15 – I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

Where is Love?

The Law of Love and the King of Grace

(Mark 12:28-34, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 12, 2020)

[28] And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” [29] Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” [32] And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. [33] And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” [34] And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

What is love? Where is love? How is it associated with law? Did the scribes know love?

A World of Disputes

One of the scribes

Which commandment?

The Law of Love

First: Shamah Israel – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and context

Creator/creature distinction

One God

Love him

with all your everything

The second: Your neighbor – Leviticus 19:18 and context

No commandment greater than love – Love first for God and second for neighbor

The King of Grace

The Scribe: “You are right … He is one, and there is no other besides him.”

Love (and the obedience that flows from love) is more than ceremonial legal sacrifices.

Jesus: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

THE POINT: Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus and his love are at the center of the kingdom of God. Where Jesus is, there is love.

Applying these verses:

1. God is love.

2. Talking about love is not same thing as love itself.

3. How deep the Father's love for us!

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 122 – Peace, Love, and the House of God

New Testament Reading—Romans 14:13-23 – Walking in love in a world at enmity with God

Additional Passages:

What is love? Love is more than ceremonial legal sacrifices.

Many Old Testament passages – “steadfast love and covenant faithfulness” – Holy desire for communion with another and honorable action before God and neighbor.

Love for God: heartfelt trust, obedience, love for the least

Love for neighbor: forgive, cancel debts, pray for, be devoted to them for their good, serve, spend and be spent, give yourself for them.

1. God is love.

Exodus 34:6–7

[6] The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, [7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

1 John 4:7–8

[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

2. Talking about love is not same thing as love itself.

Proverbs 20:6

[6] Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,

but a faithful man who can find?

3. How deep the Father's love for us!

John 3:14–16

[14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 13:1

[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 15:13

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Why should Jews believe in a coming resurrection?

Is Resurrection Real?

(Mark 12:18-27, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, January 5, 2020)

[18] And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, [19] “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [20] There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. [21] And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. [22] And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. [23] In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

[24] Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? [25] For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. [26] And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? [27] He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

What happened to Jesus after the cross? We have the testimony of apostles and angels recorded for us in the Bible, but is there more than that? Where did the idea of resurrection come from? Is it rational to ignore questions such as these as irrelevant to our lives? Would we be better off with a Sadducee kind of faith—a religion without resurrection? What about other supernatural claims, like the fact that Jesus worked miracles? What about the appearance of angels throughout the Old and New Testaments? Is resurrection real? Do I need to answer the question?

More trouble for Jesus

Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. Written Torah...

In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Godly confidence and the Son of God

The Scriptures—Written Torah, Written Prophets, Written Writings (Luke 24:44)

The power of God, power and fear...

Like angels in heaven... need more info here, but then they were not interested

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (Exodus 3:6)

He is not God of the dead, but of the living. Consider this...

You are quite wrong. Resurrection in the Torah and the Psalms... And all the rest...

THE POINT: Jesus had a bold confidence about resurrection long before Easter.

Applying these verses:

1. Is resurrection irrational to people? God is smarter than people.

2. Is belief in resurrection something to be afraid of? God is stronger than people.

3. Put your trust in God. What is the testimony of God in Word and deed? Believe Him.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 121 – My Help Comes from the Lord

New Testament Reading—Romans 14:1-12 – Each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Exodus 3:6

[6] And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Genesis 2:17

[17] “... but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:22

[22] Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”

Genesis 5:24

[24] Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Genesis 15:15

[15] As for you (Abraham), you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

Genesis 28:12–13

[12] And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! [13] And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.

Genesis 49:26

[26] The blessings of your father

are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,

up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.

May they be on the head of Joseph,

and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

Genesis 49:33

[33] When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 50:25

[25] Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

Exodus 15:17–18

[17] You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,

the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode,

the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

[18] The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

Exodus 24:9–11

[9] Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, [10] and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. [11] And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

Exodus 25:40

[40] And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

Exodus 33:9

[9] When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.

Exodus 40:21

[21] And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Psalm 16:10–11

[10] For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

[11] You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 22:26

[26] The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

those who seek him shall praise the LORD!

May your hearts live forever!

Psalm 23:6

[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Psalm 28:8–9

[8] The LORD is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

[9] Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 121:8

[8] The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Job 19:25–27

[25] For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

[26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

[27] whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

My heart faints within me!

Romans 14:1 ... not to quarrel over opinions. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4... first importance … raised … according to the Scriptures,