Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 37-38
NT: Matthew 28
Ps: Psalm 34:11-22
Pr: Proverbs 9:9-10
Gospel Thread – OT:
They made the lampstand of pure gold and hammered it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms were of one piece with it.
Exodus 37:17 (NIV)
This comparison might be a stretch, but perhaps the lampstand is symbolic of Christ. The lampstand provided light, and consisted of seven lamps – seven being the number for perfection, holiness, and completion: in other words, the number seven represents God. Note that, in heaven, the Lamb is called the lamp for the City of God (Revelation 21:23), and it is the glory God Himself who provides light in the City (Revelation 22:5).
Gospel Thread – NT:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
The Great Commission: the charge Christ has given to every believer, to spread throughout all the world and among all peoples the truth about man’s need for a savior and the good news of God’s grace in providing Christ to fill that need. It is at this point in history that a great turn begins – a turn that we will see completed as we move later into the book of Acts. The first part of God’s great Plan for salvation is complete, and Jesus has just given His followers the responsibility to preach the gospel – in order that God might usher in the completion of His great Plan: Christ’s triumphant return!
Gospel Thread – Psalms/Proverbs:
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Psalm 34:20 (NIV)
This verse is perhaps a messianic prophecy fulfilled by Christ on the Cross: none of his bones were broken during His crucifixion.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.