22 VAYAK'HEL (Gathered); Ex 35:1-38:20, Mark 15

[Bruce Bertram]

Exodus 35:1-38:20; 1 Kings 7:40-50; 7:13-26; Mark 15

At the start of this section the weekly Sabbath is emphasized again. Obviously this is very important to God and something He wants His people to pay attention to. We should note that the flip side of resting one day is that the other six are for work. Each time resting is mentioned there is a little bit different focus. Here there is an instruction to avoid kindling a fire. There is a lot of debate in some circles on just what this means, since some climates need heat in the winter, and the only way to generate heat is through fire. Either a fire has to be made in the dwelling or a fire has to be made at the power plant. However we interpret this, it’s a safe bet that it is not to be interpreted all by itself but in conjunction with all other Scripture, such as instructions for saving a life.

An offering is taken for the Tabernacle, which eventually results in too much stuff being given so Moses has to stop it. Perhaps there is some leftover guilt from the golden calf incident driving the giving here too. The measurements are not precisely known, but something on the order of a ton of gold, three or more tons of silver, and several tons of bronze are donated. This means that the Tabernacle is very, very heavy, and it’s a good thing there is a whole tribe (somewhere around 22,000 men) to carry it. Everyone pitches in, from skilled craftsmen working in gold and silver and bronze to skilled women weaving the fabrics.

Bezalel is set up as the foreman, with Oholiab as his assistant. According to the Word, these and other men and women were filled with the Spirit of God. Not only are they filled with the Spirit, but they are inclined to teach also.

31“And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship;…34“He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. (Exodus 35:31 & 34 NASB95)

The Tabernacle is completed exactly as Moses specified from the plans he was shown, and the writer begins a summary of the construction, furnishings, and clothing again.

Mark 15 takes up the story of the process of Jesus’ crucifixion in a little more abbreviated fashion than the other gospels. When we left Jesus in the last section He was in the hands of the kangaroo court of the Jews. They want to kill Him but they can’t because they don’t have the power to measure out capital punishment for crimes, so they take Him to Pilate for dispatching. Pilate tries to figure out what’s wrong with Jesus and can’t see anything there. But the religious leaders of the Jews are insistent that He is deserving of death, so Pilate begins the process. One last time he tries to derail the coming death of Jesus by asking who the Jews wanted released to them as was Pilat’s custom. The Jewish leaders ask for an insurrectionist by the name of Bar-Abbas, showing that insurrection wasn’t really all that important to them after all (Jesus was accused of claiming ‘kingship’ which would have put Him in opposition to the Roman authorities of the time). So Jesus is led away, and the Roman soldiers beat Him and mock Him on top of all the beating and scourging and mocking He endured from the Jews. After this, Jesus is led out to be crucified, while a man named Simon was pressed into service to help carry the cross.

The soldiers try to get Jesus to drink wine mixed with myrrh, which is probably a pain killer, but He refuses to drink. They nailed Jesus up on the execution stake (the literal meaning of the Greek word) and cast lots to divide up His garments between them. The inscription on top of the stake which lists the crimes committed by the person being crucified says ‘King of the Jews.’ He is crucified at about the third hour (from sunrise – probably about 9:00 am) between two robbers, who are also said to add their abuse to what Jesus was already suffering. The Jews passed by and continued to mock Him until about the sixth hour (perhaps 12:00 noon) when darkness fell. At about the ninth hour (maybe 3:00 pm) Jesus cries out with a loud voice ‘My God My God, Why have you forsaken me?’ This might just be calling attention to Psalm 22 which has a pretty detailed description of what Jesus just went through. While someone was running to get some wine for Him, others thought He was calling out for Elijah, but Jesus breathes His last. There is a severe earthquake, and the Temple veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was ripped in two from top to bottom.

Before evening Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body of Jesus, and Pilate is surprised that He is already dead. But he grants permission so Joseph takes the body and wraps it in a linen sheet and places it in a new tomb until he can finish the job of burying Him after the Sabbath.

Shalom

[Cindy in Wisconsin]

Am sharing a Torah commentary I receive from Mike Clayton at JoinedToHashem.org. I thought he made a very good point here, and as it coincides with other things the Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart, I wanted to pass it along. Take care and may the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you!
Shabbat Shalom!
Love in our Messiah,
Cindy in Wisconsin

[quote]Vayak’hel/Pekudei “And assembledâ€

[Bruce Bertram]

Exodus 35:1-38:20; 1 Kings 7:40-50; 7:13-26; Mark 15

Our passages this week cover the completion of the tabernacle and the rending of the curtain separating the holy place from the holy of holies in the second Temple, after the crucifixion of the One who is the embodiment of the tabernacle. In Exodus we read another extensive account of exactly how the tabernacle was built, coming right on the heels of the detailed description given already on how to build it. So why is this?

In modern times, an ‘as built’ is a drawing made as a building project is being completed. After the building is finished the ‘as built’ is given to the owners so they can figure out where everything is in the event of emergency or further construction or repair. Even though a blueprint is made at the beginning of a modern project, an ‘as built’ also has to be made, because the building does not always get constructed according to plan. As a matter of fact, in this day and age a building rarely goes up exactly according to the blueprint. There are all manner of changes that are made, for various reasons, including mistakes made in the planning or design as well as changes that the owners want after the plan is made.

The description of the ‘as built’ of the tabernacle in Exodus 35-38 is there, I think, to show that the project was built exactly according to God’s plan and specifications. Everything was perfect and nothing had to be changed. This shows how God is perfect and that if things go according to His plans He is pleased to accept the result of man’s work. What would happen today if God asked a group of people to construct a tabernacle for Him to inhabit?

The synagogue would probably spend a lot of time arguing over the correct shade of blue, and in the end probably build a white tabernacle. That is, if they ever got around to building it in the first place, because by golly we need plenty of argument to make sure we know what God really meant when He said what He said. A Catholic group might add a bunch of idols and clutter up the clean lines with gargoyles and fancy carvings in the wood planks. Then they would reject the tribe of Levi as priests and come up with their own version of priestly garments and holy days, just so long as they weren’t ‘Jewish.’ Different Protestant groups would pick up on these types of ideas but wouldn’t want to look either ‘Catholic’ or Jewish either, and just meet at the local school or vacant grocery store because who really needs all that pretentious tabernacle stuff anyway. They would want to add a rough wood crucifix or insist that the wash basin be big enough to immerse a person completely. They might object to using oil to anoint everything because they don’t believe in the sign gifts or something, and of course killing animals for sacrifices would garner a violent protest or spray painting of graffiti on the courtyard screen. These things are assuming, of course, that Protestants or Catholics would build a simple tabernacle in the first place, because both would argue that the instructions were ‘old’ and hence outdated, and come up with a ‘mega-tabernacle’ that was ‘new’ and ‘improved.’

It is humorous to consider the mess that would be made if modern groups were instructed to build a tabernacle, but it is also a sad testament of our refusal to take God at His Word and just do what He says. This refusal explains the rejection of the Christ, who is the personification of not only God’s Instructions but the Tabernacle as well, and the ‘makeover’ that God receives at the hands of people who supposedly follow Him (the Jew first but also the Gentile).

Israel’s ‘as built’ was exactly the same as the blueprint. No additions, no modifications, exactly what was ordered. Today’s ‘as built,’ which is the building project that most groups have erected in our present day (our synagogues and churches), besides being an indictment of refusal to obey in themselves, stand as a glaring monument to hard-hearts and deliberate misunderstanding of what God requires. The evidence is in the lack of God’s glory that dwells inside and out.

May we all come to understand God and give Him exactly what He asks - all of our heart, mind and soul.

Shalom

[Bruce Bertram]

Vayak’hel: Exodus 35:1 - 38:20; 1 Kings 7:40-50; 7:13-26; Mark 15; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, 9:1-15; Hebrews 9:1-14; Rev. 11:1-13

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15:1–5, ESV)

It’s always hard for me to read about the crucifixion. The more times I read the Bible all the way through, the more sensitive I become to the reality of the words. They convey more meaning; I understand more of what is going on in the background. I can place myself in the situation and almost feel the pain of blows or hear the malice in the people around. I can smell the dust and see the blood dripping. My Savior, my Messiah, God in human form, is getting pounded and nailed and tortured to death.

What’s more, it’s at a least a little bit for my sake. I’m partly responsible for the torturous death of Jesus. And we know from all the gospel accounts that He didn’t say a word in His defense, though He was blameless. If justice was being served, He might’ve had a chance. But men do not govern in a just fashion, and when they are reminded of the sovereignty of someone Else, they kill the messenger. When their authority is threatened, even in the most gentle and non-threatening of ways, they react with bloodshed and pain and murder.

Jesus didn’t say anything in His defense, but it wasn’t because He was a pacifist as so many teach. He didn’t only believe in non-violent methods; He had violent methods at His disposal if He chose to use them. Matthew tells us that He had at His beck and call more than twelve legions of angels.

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:53–54, ESV)

Jesus had the violent methods available, but if He used them then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled? His goal was submission to God, and this was the only way of accomplishing God’s goals. Submission to God is not pacifism. It is waiting on Him, doing things His way. It is obedience, because the Father knows the best ways to do things and is accomplishing His purposes. He’s got a plan, and the evil we suffer is a part of it. Later on Jesus will come back with armies and swords and flames of fire, and will definitely speak words in abundance.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11–16, ESV)

So there is much sadness in the crucifixion, but also much good that will come of it. We have a high priest now that has entered the heavenly holy of holies by His own blood, and presents a sacrifice on our behalf. How blessed we are that by His pain and suffering believers are healed! How terrible it will be for those who do not believe, when justice is returned for the torture inflicted on the Son of God! For those who do not accept this most painful of offerings echoing through eternity past and future, what judgment will fall! The stripes Jesus was given in injustice will be returned, and they will have no recourse. It will be too late for repentance, too late for any restitution, too late to repair the damage they wrought.

But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:23–25, ESV)

Now is the time to be moved by the death of Jesus, godly sorrow leading to a new heart and renewed relationship with He who loved us so much that He went to slaughter like a lamb. Praise God the Father and His Son the Christ for making available a never-ending love through the blood of the Lamb.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5–11, ESV)

Shalom
Bruce