Where Are the Sheep? Part 2

Speaker: Pastor Brandon Pardekooper

Originally Recorded: Feb 25, 2018

Matthew 27:45-51

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Old Testament Altar

Served as a connection between the spiritual world and physical world

The Connection is Broken

Nadab and Abihu's disobedience caused God to establish the Day of Atonement separating God from man

Israel's Relationship with God

Saw him as any other ancient God: distant and vengeful, which caused them to abandon him which led them into exile

Connection is Restablished

Jesus came to earth to restore mankind's relationship with God

Hebrews 7:23-26

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Jesus becomes the answer

1. Jesus become the High Priest for all time

2. Jesus serves as the altar to atone for our sins

Big Idea

A fear of the altar reveals a fear of God, the only way to overcome it is to come to the altar and reengage in your relationship with him.