1. Gilligan's Isolation
There were very few of these episodes that you could consider emotionally touching. But I do remember one. Gilligan had gotten his feelings hurt and decided to move away to the other side of the Island to live alone in a cave. Immediately, this became a miserable existence for Gilligan--he was all alone. But also miserable for everyone else on the island--one of their own was no longer among them...and there was a terrible void. They missed him at the dinner table. They missed his jokes, his laughter, and his gentleness. They even missed his clumsy screw-ups. At one point in the episode the six were sitting around the dinner table taking turns talking about the specific things they missed about him. So what did they do? Skipper decided to leave the rest and go live with Gilligan so he wouldn't be alone. Then another person did the same, then another. Until finally, all seven people were together again on the other side of the island in Gilligan's cave. In true spiritual community, we either make it together, or we don't make it...at least not in a healthy way.
Here's a fun exercise for you to do when you have time. Use your concordance and find all of the scriptures from Acts to Revelation in which you find the word "together" or "one another" and see what early Christians did "together." Here's a sampling:
* Meeting together.
* Praying together.
* Sharing material things with one another.
* Eating together.
* Consulting with and advising one another.
* Planning together.
* Working together.
* Standing together.
Jesus Christ never intended for any of his followers to follow him in isolation from other believers.
2. The same concept holds true with our understanding of scripture. [Snoopy's Book Title
* We do not isolate verses and build a theology on them -- Saved by "grace" or "faith"?
* We do look at context and history to see how it all fits together to understand the text
* Too often our practices can be determined by an isolated verse + a preference
3. For years I thought that God made up things like baptism and the Lord's Supper as "new" things in the New Testament. The truth is these and others are part of a greater story.
4. The Lord's Supper has its roots in the Passover meal of the Hebrews' exodus from Egypt.
* The Exodus is one of the most important events in the scriptures -- it lays the foundation for many key teachings, including the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
* The Exodus is even part of a bigger story
5. 1 Corinthians 11.17-26
a. Jewish people retell the events of the exodus, especially of the death of the lamb each Passover
b. Christians retell the story of our deliverance with the death of the "Lamb of God"
c. BTW, there is a word play in verse 23 -- "Betrayed" = "Passed on"; at Passover, Jesus was Passed On to the authorities by Judas, the betrayer
I. Abram Foreshadowed the Exodus
A. Abraham is Repeatedly Remembered in Scripture
OF ROYAL LINEAGE
People will pay big bucks to be considered royalty. In 2005, a scrap book that once belonged to Britain's Queen Victoria was up for auction, and the high bid was £53,400 (101,117.42 dollars). One of the bidders hoped to prove royal heritage through a hair that belonged to Victoria contained in the memorabilia.
But, to be of true royal birth, one doesn't need to be descended from the great kings and queens of history. One only needs to believe in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26-29 says "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
1. The Call of Abram and Promise -- bless all nations -- Genesis 12.1-3
2. He became a spiritual Giant of Faith
B. His Egyptian Adventure Showed What was to Come
1. He went down to Egypt for food -- 12.10-13.2
a. Plague on Egypt because of his lie about Sarai
b. Released with wealth
2. Israel -- his descendants -- would later go because of famine -- 15.13-14
a. 70 would go into Egypt following the Joseph story
b. Thousands will come out after 400 years of slavery
II. Moses Led the Exodus of Israel from Egypt
Some Irony with Moses:
A. He was Rescued by Women from Pharaoh's Decree -- Exodus 1.16
16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live."
1. Pharaoh was threatened by the births of baby boys
2. The midwives (Shiphrah and Puah; unknownPharaoh) saved him
3. Moses Mother would set him adrift in the Nile and later become his nurse
4. Miriam, his sister, would keep watch over him
5. Pharaoh's daughter rescued and cared for him
6. Who was it that stood by Jesus at the cross? Women and one disciple
B. He Grew Up in Pharaoh's Court Yet Knew His Hebrew Mission -- Acts 7.22-25
1. A matter of timing -- right man, wrong time
At the beginning of the twentieth century, women began wearing wristwatches, but not men. World War I changed that, for it's hard to use a pocket watch in a battle zone. Now a hundred years later, our timepieces have become small computers giving us total access to all our electronic needs. Yet, God does not need our timepieces for his timing. His timing is impeccable. He speaks of sending his Son in the "fullness of time" (Galatians 4.4).
Sometimes we try to get ahead of God. Moses tried and it cost him 40 years in the Midian desert until he heard the call of God at the burning bush.
Perhaps you're looking at your wristwatch wondering why God (or the sermon) isn't moving more quickly. But He knows what He's doing. Stop looking at your wrist and trust Him for His perfect sense of timing.
When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. Charles Stanley
2. A smart move to Midian -- still a protector with Jethro's 7 daughters
C. God Called Him as a Shepherd to Challenge a King
1. The Burning Bush -- a test
2. 10 Plagues -- defeat of the gods of Egypt -- Exodus 12.12
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.
3. 10th Plague and blood of the lamb -- 12.13-14
13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.14 "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
4. Continual retelling of the story (as we retell the story of Jesus)
5. On through Red Sea to Mount Sinai
III. Jesus Fulfilled the Exodus
A. The Exodus Event is Pictured in the Life of Jesus -- Matthew 3.16-4.13
1. In Jesus' Baptism He passed through water as the Hebrews through the Red Sea
2. Declaration of Sonship as with Israel -- Exodus 4.23: "Let my son go that he may serve me."
3. 40 Days of Testing/40 Years of Testing
a. Jesus and Bread
b. Israel and Manna
4. Differences:
a. Israel failed -- complained; violated Sabbath; did not trust God; Disobeyed God
b. Jesus succeeded -- He did right to make us right/righteous
B. Jesus is the Ultimate Picture of Salvation
1. "Lamb of God" -- John 1.29
2. Jesus' Death; Burial; Resurrection was to fulfill -- Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread; Feast of First Fruits
1. Saving Others
When someone dies, we remember--we remember all the stories that filled their life. In 2002 Joseph Bau died. It's a name you probably don't know, but a story worth hearing.
Joseph Bau was born on June 18, 1920, in Krakow, Poland. He became a young adult just in time to experience the German invasion of Poland. He was one of three boys in a prosperous middle-class family that lived in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods. Joseph had always been good at art, and at the age of 18, he enrolled in the University of Plastic Arts at Krakow.
But the war interrupted his studies. His family was forced to move to the Jewish Ghetto, and then later to the Plaschow concentration camp. Because of Joseph's partial education in Art before the war, and because of his talent for Gothic lettering, the Nazis employed him in producing maps and signs for the camp.
Joseph's job also enabled him to save more than 400 Jews by forging false documents and identity papers that secured their release from the camp. When asked after the war, why he did not forge documents for himself, he replied, "Then who would have done it for the other Jews?"
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, we hear a similar question, "He saved others; He cannot save himself?" And Jesus answers, "What shall I say, 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour."
With the death of Joseph Bau, we remember a story that saved hundreds of Jews from death. With this bread and this cup, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus--a story that saves everyone who believes from spiritual death.
2. The Lord's Supper is not an isolated act. It is the result of a long story of God's salvation for man.
