(Memorial Day Weekend)
SERIES: “DISCOVER THE LESSONS OF THE TABERNACLE”
TEXT: VARIOUS (Start with Exodus 27:1-8)
TITLE: “THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST”
OPEN: A. An older couple have been invited over to another older couple’s home for dinner. When they
arrive, dinner is not quite ready. The wife of the visiting couple goes to the kitchen to help the
hostess. The men go to the den to wait being called to the table.
The hostess sticks her head in and says, “Tell him about the classes you’ve been taking to
improve your memory.” The host, named Herb, says, “Yeah. I’ve been taking these classes to help
with my memory. It uses that system where you associate one thing with another. Let’s say I want
to remember the baseball team in Detroit. I just picture a tiger in my mind and then I know
they’re the Detroit Tigers.”
The guest, named Don, says, “That sounds like a good system. By the way, my wife and I went
out to a restaurant last night called The Moonglow and the food was terrible and way overpriced. I
certainly remember that name and remember to stay away.”
Herb says, “My wife and I went out to a new restaurant last night, too. The food was really
good and the prices were good, too.”
Don asks, “What was the name of the restaurant?” Herb says, “I can’t remember the name but if
you’ll help me, I can remember it..”
Herb sits and thinks a minute and then asks Don, “What’s the name of that very pretty flower
that smells so nice and grows on a thorny bush?” Don says, “A rose?”
Herb says, “That’s it! A rose! Hey, Rose, what was the name of the restaurant we ate at last
night?”
B. Memorial Day – Tomorrow is the official national celebration. Some folks see it merely as a
day off from work or as one of the highly celebrated three-day weekends. Most people will be
putting hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. They’ll gather with their family and friends and have
a great time. But for those who have lost someone in a war or other military action, it certainly
means much more than that.
All Americans should take time ought of their day to step away from the revelry and recognize
his patriotic duty to honor those who have spilled their blood to make a country worth fighting for –
a nation that is free and strong.
Why do we have a right to assemble together to worship and to preach God’s word? Why is it
that we live in relative peace and have the right to pursue prosperity and happiness? It’s because
men and women have died for this country. We should be thankful for their sacrifice
We celebrate Memorial Day once a year to remember those who died for political freedom. We
gather every week to celebrate the memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Every Sunday is Memorial Day.
C. Last week, we began our study of the tabernacle
1. Remember that the tabernacle was a large portable tent structure that served as the center of
worship for the Israelites as they traveled along their journey to the Promised Land
2. It served as the reminder of God’s presence among His people
3. It was comprised of three areas:
a. The Outer Court
1). It was the general meeting area for the tabernacle
a). All Jewish people who had business at the tabernacle were welcome
b). It held the Altar of Sacrifice and the Bronze Washbasin we studied last week
b. The Holy Place
a). This is the area where the priests performed a good number of their daily duties
b). It held the Menorah (candlesticks), The Table of Presence (Shewbread), and the Altar of
Incense
c. The Holy of Holies
a). This is the area where only the high priest could enter and do so only once a year to spread
the blood on the mercy seat of God on the Day of Atonement
b). Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant
D. We’re going to use the same method of study throughout this series that we used last week
--typology
1. Simply where one thing stands as a representation or type of something else
--In this case, it’s Old Testament things foreshadowing New Testament and heavenly things
2. Today we’re going to compare the altar of sacrifice with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross
I. THE ALTAR AND THE SACRIFICE
A. I must apologize this morning
1. I started last week ahead of myself
2. You see, normally I should have started with this message instead of last week’s
3. However, I wanted this message to coincide with Memorial Day weekend because it’s day of
remembrance parallels the remembrance we should share concerning the sacrifice Jesus made on the
cross
B. We find the description of this altar in Exodus
1. Ex. 27:1-8 – “Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and
five cubits wide. Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one
piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes,
and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and
make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that
it is halfway up the altar. Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The
poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried. Make
the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.”
2. Ex. 38:1-7 – tells us that it was made according to God’s plan
--not going to read it but the passage is important to show obedience on the part of God’s people
C. Let’s look at the altar’s component parts and the purpose for which they were used
1. The bronze altar was a hollow box, 7 ½ feet wide and 4 ½ feet high
--It was made of acacia wood and bronze
2. 2 ½ feet from the top, inside the box, was a bronze grating on which the priests kept a fire burning
and through which the ashes of the wood and the sacrifices fell
--There was also bronze grating to allow circulation up through the altar
3. The altar had a “ledge” projecting out from its sides (presumably to lay equipment or sacrifices upon)
4. It had horns at each of the four corners
--Horns in the Bible are very often a symbol of strength and power. They also pointed to judgment.
5. Utensils
--Ex. 27:3 – “Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling
bowls, meat forks and firepans.”
a. Pots – disposal of ashes from the fire
b. Sprinkling bowls – used to catch the blood and then casting it on the altar
c. Meat forks – used to move the flesh of the sacrifice on the altar
d. Firepans – used to carry burning embers from the altar of sacrifice to the altar of incense
D. The location of the altar of sacrifice
1. Tabernacle proper (Holy Place and Holy of Holies) stood at west end of the courtyard
2. The was only one entrance to the Outer Courtyard
--about 30 ft. wide
3. It was at this entrance where the priests would meet the people who came to offer sacrifices
--They would also examine each animal carefully to ensure its acceptability
4. The worshiper would put his hand on the animal’s head to identify with the offering
5. The priest would then slay the animal and offer the sacrifice according to the regulations given in Lev.
Chapts. 1-7
E. The sacrifice
1. The sacrificial animal had to be perfect – no flaws or blemishes
--except for the offering of the very poor – doves or pidgeons
2. A lamb was sacrificed every morning and evening
--Ex. 29:38-41 – “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old.
Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah [about
2 quarts] of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin [about 1 quart] of oil from pressed olives, and a
quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain
offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by
fire.”
3. Many other offerings were made on the Sabbath days and on feast days.
--any burnt offering was made on the altar of sacrifice
II. THE REASON FOR THE SACRIFICE
A. Why did there have to be sacrifices?
--1. Sin
--Cathedrals: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; slowly but wholly taking control.
Sin will leave you longer than you wan to stay. Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay.”
2. The reason for sacrifice is because we are without relationship to God without blood sacrifice
a. The wages of sin is death
--Rom 6:23 tell us that “the wages of sin is death”
b. Heb. 9:22 – ““In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
B. It all starts at the beginning as recorded in the book of Genesis
1. How God not only created and sustained mankind, but how He walked among then, spoke to them,
and even befriended them.
2. I’m sure you also know the story of how all of these good things came to an end.
--The Bible says very plainly that Satan also came among ankind and that he tempted them with
empty promises.
3. Both Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptations and sin entered the world.
--Rom. 5:12-13a – “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin,
and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was
in the world.”
C. Sin is when we rebel against what God asks or commands that we do
1. We go the way we want to go instead of the way God wants us to go
--Prov. 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
2. A man injured on the job filed an insurance claim. The insurance company requested more information,
so the man wrote the insurance company the following letter of explanation:
Dear Sirs:
I am writing in response to your request concerning clarification of the information I supplied in block #11
on the insurance form, which asked for the cause of the injury. I answered, “Trying to do
the job alone.” I trust that the following explanation will be sufficient. I’m a bricklayer by trade. On the
date of the injury, I was working alone, laying brick around the top of a three-story building. When I
finished the job, I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by
hand, I decided to put the into a barrel and lower them by a pulley that was fastened to the top of the
building. I secured the end of the rope at ground level, went backup to the top of the building, loaded
bricks into the barrel, and pushed it over the side. I then went back down to the ground and untied the
rope, holding it securely to insure the slow descent of the barrel.
As you will note in block #6 of the insurance form, I weigh 145 pounds. At the shock of being jerked off
the ground so swiftly by they 500 pounds of bricks in the barrel, lost my presence of mind and forgot to let
go of the rope. Between the second and third floors I met the barrel. This accounts for the bruises and
lacerations on my upper body. Fortunately, I retained enough presence of mind to maintain my tight hold
on the rope and proceeded rapidly up the side of the building, not stopping until my right hand was
jammed into the pulley. This accounts for my broken thumb (see block #4).
Despite the pain, I continued to hold tightly to the rope. Unfortunately, at approximately the
same time, the barrel hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of
the bricks, the barrel now weighed about fifty pounds. (I again refer you to block #6, where my
weight is listed). I began a rapid descent.
In the vicinity of the second floor, I met the barrel coming up. This explains the injury to my legs and
lower body. Slowed only slightly, I continued my descent, landing on the pile of bricks. Fortunately, my
back was only sprained. I’m sorry to report, however, that at this point, I again lost my presence of mind –
and let go of the rope. The barrel crashed down on my shoulder and head – breaking my shoulder and
giving me a concussion.
I trust that this answers your concern. Please note that I am finished trying to do the job alone.
III. THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND THE COMPLETE SACRIFICE
A. The animal sacrifices were just temporary
1. Heb. 10:3-4 – “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the
blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
2. But Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was complete
-- Heb.10:12 – “But when this priest [referring to Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of God.”
B. Remember earlier that Rom. 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death”?
--That’s only the first half of the verse. The second half says, “…but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1. We owed a sin debt we couldn’t pay and He paid a sin debt he didn’t owe
2. Remember how the command for animal sacrifice said that it had to be without fault or blemish?
a. That’s why only Jesus could pay for our sins
b. Heb. 9:12-14 tells us this about Jesus: “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and
calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal
redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are
ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse
our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
C. Jesus became our substitute
1. 2 Cor. 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.”
2. Have you ever seen the movie Trading Places? It stars Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie
Lee Curtis
Aykroyd places a wealthy commodities trader who is the general manager for two wealthy
brothers who own a commodities trading firm. The brothers have an ongoing argument about
whether environment or genetics determines someone’s character and behavior. So they play a trick
on Aykroyd and replace him with a criminal off the street played by Eddie Murphy
Murphy’s character takes on Aykroyd’s character’s life: beautiful townhouse, butler, limousine,
fancy clothes, and plenty of money. Aykroyd is arrested and is released but has to live like Murphy’s
character did before they traded places.
Both find out about the plot and turn it around on the brothers. When it’s all said and done, the
brothers are in deep trouble and Murphy and Aykroyd are living as the mega-rich brothers can afford
to live.
3. The Bible tells us that Jesus became sin and we became righteous.
--Because Jesus died on the cross, because he offered up a pure and righteous sacrifice, all those who
are saved get to trade places with the King of Kings. Not for a day, not for a year, but for all
eternity.
CLOSE: A. Have you heard about the new ship in our nation’s naval fleet christened just March 1, 2008?
It was named the USS New York. It is the fifth ship in a new class of warship designed for
missions that include special operations against terrorists. This new class of warship carries a
crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and
assault craft. The ship is 684 feet long.
What makes this ship so special? Is it because it’s dubbed the USS New York? No. What is
it then? It’s because part of the ship is made from steel from the World Trade Center that was
melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA for this very reason. Oh, the ship’s motto? Never
Forget.
B. What are you going to do about what Jesus did for you?
1. Will you ignore it or recognize it?
2. Will you just sit there or doing something about it?
C. As we look back on the altar of sacrifice, we see the barbaric cost of our sins.
1. For over a thousand years countless sacrifices were offered to bring man back to God.
--Some scholars call early Judaism a “bloody” religion. because of all the bloodshed that had to
occur in order for man to be redeemed and reconciled to God.
2. And still today – as we take part in worship in the year 2008, we still participate in a bloody
religion, because sin still requires payback in blood.
--It was the blood of Christ that made the payment: complete and full.
