Flood - The Path From Ruin to Renewal Pt. 2

Thursday, November 5th

On Tuesday I shared the quote from Tim Mackie. “Noah is one example in the larger pattern leading to the ultimate anointed one who will suffer on behalf of the wicked – a righteous one will die for the wicked and make atonement to open the way back to Eden.” God is making a way back to his created order and presence.

We saw this all the way through the OT and it continues, notice the language in the NT.

John 1:1-5- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Notice the capital “W” should give us a clue for a proper name. This is in relation to Jesus, but what else do you notice? Notice the creation language? The first three words is exactly the same words as the intro to Genesis 1:1, In the beginning. Which would give the audience a clue that God is calling us back to the creation story. What else do you see? Life, light, darkness; all clues to God’s work at creation, paralleling Jesus at creation and his recreative work that his about to start.

Then a few verses down, John 1:14- The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We see that Jesus became flesh and blood and dwelt among us. You know that word dwelt or dwelling among us, the Greek word is skenoo (skayno-o), which means tabernacle. It could be stated, Jesus became flesh and blood and tabernacled among us. Tabernacle would instantly draw people’s attention to God’s presence.

That’s why when Jesus says he’s going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days (John 2). He was saying that he was going to destroy the idea/construct of what the temple meant and “rebuild it” or resurrect it in three days, because he was the dwelling place of God’s presence.

Which leads us to our last element, we’ve talked about presence from the garden to Noah, to the tent of meeting to the tabernacle, to now Jesus. What about the sacrifice?

1 John 4:9-10- 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Seeking God’s attention, gaining his approval, influencing his ways was never about what we could do. It is what God has done. This passage says it all. In God’s love toward us, he put an end to all sacrifices, destroying the sacrificial system with the final sacrifice.

We see the first sacrifice, Noah, point the way to the final sacrifice, the atoning sacrifice. Christ’s righteousness to cover our unrighteousness, at the cross ultimate justice and mercy, and the resurrection is taking the ruin of death and bring new life.

Romans 3:23-26 (MSG)- Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.

God satisfied justice and mercy at the cross through Jesus, the atoning sacrifice for all of our evil. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is what clears the world of sin. But you need to trust in who did that work.

The flood narrative was handing us over to the ruin we created, not living according to God’s creative order. The flood didn’t take care of the evil within the human heart. God, worked through the sacrificial system pointing to Christ, where all of God’s justice and mercy were satisfied and he put an end to all sacrifices.

What does that mean for you? How does that change your perspective or view on Christ’s sacrifice? Even the flood? Take a moment with this song as well, as the Love of God leads us to where we need to go.