The Color of Sacrifice
Pastor Darryl Bentley
Midland SDA Church
February 12, 2011
Homiletical Idea: When the Lord instituted the Old Testament sanctuary system it was designed to bring mankind into fellowship with our God and to us point forward to the time when our Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come to fulfill all that was necessary to redeem us from sin. That sanctuary was mobile and when they packed it up to move it certain colors were used to cover each piece of furniture. Those colors also pointed forward to the Messiah. Those colors were the color of sacrifice.
Understanding the Sanctuary
We as Seventh-day Adventist Christians are blessed to understand the Old Testament sanctuary and its services. If we were to take our minds back to why the sanctuary was built in the first place we would need to consider the text in Exodus 25:8 where the Lord told Moses “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” You see friends God did not create us just to have us disappear into a corner of the universe. No, He created us that we might have fellowship with Him. We were made to worship Him.
Of course sin was the wedge that separated us from the Lord because Psalm 32 teaches us that God cannot be in the presence of sin lest it and those clinging to it be consumed by His glory. But the sanctuary method created a scenario through which it was possible for mankind to re-connect with our Creator God.
Re-visiting the Sanctuary
Let’s take just a moment to re-visit the method and layout of the sanctuary. Exodus also tells us that each piece of furniture and each step of the sanctuary service were chosen by God and it was the duty of the priesthood to ensure that the steps were meticulously followed. It was not left to the imagination or devising of men. It was God’s plan and it was the priesthood’s job to make sure it was carried out according to God’s plan.
The sinner would come to the sanctuary’s our court along with an animal fit for sacrifice; one without spot or blemish. After confessing his sin upon the head of that animal he would take the knife and slide it across the throat of the innocent animal. Some of the blood would be caught in a small dish, but the majority of the sacrifice was then placed upon the altar of burnt offering. This altar was the first piece of furniture that a sinner would come to and it is significant to note that the sinner did not move past that altar of burnt offering. Only the priests and temple attendants went deeper into the sanctuary.
Beyond the altar of burnt offering was a bronze laver or wash basin. Here the priest administering that day would wash before entering into the first room of the sanctuary called the holy place. After he entered into the holy place from the eastern side he would make his way toward the altar of incense located directly in front of the veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place. As the priest approached the altar of incense he would pass the table of show bread on his right and the seven-branched lampstand on his right. Once at the altar of incense he would sprinkle the guilty blood on the horns of the altar thus offering that sinful blood to God asking Him to grant forgiveness to the sinner.
Behind the veil separating the two rooms was the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets upon which was written the Ten Commandments. On the top of the Ark was a seat covered on two sides by golden cherubim. Their wings arched over the top of the Ark forming an arc over the mercy seat. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the high priest would go behind the veil into the most holy place and sprinkle blood containing no sin on the mercy seat of the Ark. This clean or guiltless blood was offered to cleanse or take away the guilt that had built up over the year from the sacrifices containing sin and guilt. That Day of Atonement was the day that all of Israel had a fresh start. It was a day that as a nation they moved forward in faith knowing that their God had cleansed them of sin and He would be their god and they would be His people to do as He commanded.
So what does all of this mean and what does it have to with communion? I am glad you asked.
Unlocking the Symbols for Today
Let us slow down and consider a few things. Each of the objects in the sanctuary has significance for us today because even though we do not offer sacrifices ourselves, we look back to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus that was paid to redeem us from our sins. In fact, we know that each sacrifice prior to Calvary pointed forward to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us, Amen?
Inside the holy place on the left the table of show bread was continually on display. Why? What did that bread point forward to? On the right there was a seven-branched lampstand was always there burning. Why? What did that light point forward to? In the center was the altar of incense where incense was burned twice daily; incense that was lit by holy fire. Why was incense burned twice daily? What did it point forward to? In the courtyard there was the altar of burnt offering where the bodies of the animals were laid to burn and create a sweet aroma before the Lord. What did this represent?
I would submit to you this morning friends that each of these symbols pointed the children of Israel forward to the Messiah and today they point us back to our High Priest and Messiah, Jesus Christ. But how so?
To see these things we must recall some references to Jesus in the New Testament. First, let’s look at the bread. You may recall in John 6 that Jesus was discussing with the multitude about the bread that comes down from heaven. In verses 35 and 48 of John 6 He says “I am the bread of life.” Jesus told them that those who eat only earthly bread will perish, but those who eat the bread that comes down out of heaven will live forever. We are all familiar with this concept. We all accept that Jesus is the bread of life and we eat that bread through taking in the Word of God daily and living our lives to honor Christ in all we do.
What about the lampstand? Once again we can look at the gospel of John; this time in chapter 8. After the accusers of the adulterous woman flee the scene Jesus tells those gathered in verse 12 that “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.” Again, we know that Jesus is the One who give His light to us. Much like the moon reflects the light of the sun to give light by night, you and I are to reflect the great light of Jesus and thereby bring light to a world darkened by sin and rebellion. That lampstand in the sanctuary of old pointed forward to our Jesus; the Light of the world.
The altar of incense must be considered next. What does the incense represent? Let’s look to the Bible once again for our answer. This time let’s go to Revelation 8. Verses 3 and 4 unlock this mystery for us. We see that incense represents the prayers that are offered up to God. In the OT sanctuary services the incense was lit during the morning and evening prayers (Exodus 30:7, 8). The incense was there to represent those prayers going up before God.
The Color of Sacrifice
We may know what those pieces of furniture and the items represented and pointed forward to, but you may be wondering why the communion table is covered in these colors today. Why is the table itself covered in a royal blue? Why do I have the bread of this table covered in scarlet today? Why is the unfermented wine covered in purple?
Again, it goes back to the symbolism of the Old Testament sanctuary. You recall how the sanctuary was portable right? It was portable because God’s people were making their way to the Promised Land. Turn with me to Numbers 4. It is there that we discover the color of sacrifice and it is there that we unlock the symbolism of this table today.
**Read Numbers 4:5-14**
As we read through this we see that blue cloth was spread over certain items. You see the blue of royalty was spread over those items that represented divinity. The Ark of the Covenant was the only piece that was openly carried with the blue cloth exposed because it represented the throne of God with the Ten Commandments forming the foundation of that throne. Blue cloth was placed over the lampstand. Blue cloth was placed over the golden altar of incense.
A blue cloth was also placed over the table of show bread; bread that represented Jesus’ body that would be broken for us. But notice that the text says the bread and table were covered in scarlet too. Why? Because scarlet is the color of blood. When the body of Jesus was pierced friends His blood flowed down. It flowed from His back after He was scourged. It flowed from His brow as the thorns pierced His flesh. It flowed from His hands and feet as they nailed Him to that old rugged cross. Scarlet was used because it pointed forward to the shed blood that flowed from the broken body of Jesus. Jesus knew this was his fate. While He was gathered with His disciples on His last night as a free man He lifted up some bread before them and He blessed it (pray and pass out the bread). He said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
When we come to the altar of burnt offering we notice that a new color is brought into focus. It is not the blue of royalty this time. It is not the scarlet of spilled blood. It is a combination of the two. Most all of us know that when we mix red and blue we get purple. When we look to the NT friends where do we find the mixing of blood over divinity? Yes, the cross of Calvary. When we look at the record of Scripture do we discover purple associated with the cross? Yes we do. If you recall our Scripture reading for today we read a little about Jesus being handed over to the Roman authorities to be crucified. After He was scourged before His crucifixion He was given a robe to wear. Let’s look back at that just briefly together.
Turn to John 19. We’ll look at a handful of verses together beginning in verse 1.
**Read John 19:1-5**
You see friends God knew the price that had to be paid. While Jesus was on this earth He too knew what was going to happen. He was to become the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). While He was gathered with His disciples not only did He know that His body was to be pierced, but He also lifted up a cup and blessed the contents of the cup; pure, unfermented wine of the vine because He knew that His blood would be spilled out (pray and pass out the wine). He then said to them, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant that is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin.”
Today, friends it is my prayer that you will not look at communion the same from this day forward. It is my prayer that you will always remember the color of sacrifice that prepares the way for you and I to see Jesus; the color of sacrifice that takes away not only the sin of the world but my sins and your sins personally. But what will you do with this knowledge. Will you simply pack it away into the deep recesses of your mind or will you take to heart the message of sacrifice that keeps you and me sinless as we submit to the Lord Jesus? The choice is yours today, but I beg of you to never let the message of sacrifice leave your mind. I beg of you to let the color of sacrifice cover your life daily. Let the blood of Jesus cover you from head to toe that you may see glory, yeah that we may see Jesus. How many of you desire to have the color of sacrifice tint all that you do in life today?
After the disciples and Jesus had concluded their supper they sang a hymn and went up to the Mount of Olives together. If it is your desire to wear the color of sacrifice over your life from now on then please join me in doing as the disciples did by closing our service today with a hymn. Amen.