What connections exist between Exodus 24:1 and New Testament teachings on worship? The Scene in Exodus 24:1 “Then He said to Moses, “Go up to the LORD—you, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel—and worship from afar.” Invitation to Approach God • God initiates worship: “Go up.” • New Testament echo: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). • Jesus’ invitation—“Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28)—extends the same divine initiative to all believers. Mediator and Representation • Moses leads; Aaron, his sons, and the seventy elders represent the people. • Christ fulfills and surpasses this: “There is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). • Because of His priesthood, every believer is now “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Holy Distance vs. Confident Access • They must “worship from afar,” underscoring God’s holiness. • In Christ, the veil is torn (Matthew 27:51). Believers “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Yet reverence remains: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Ascending the Mountain, Entering the Heavenlies • Physical ascent in Exodus foreshadows spiritual ascent. • “You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22). • Worship now joins earth to heaven through the risen Christ (Ephesians 2:6). Corporate Leadership in Worship • Seventy elders model organized, representative worship. • NT assemblies appoint elders (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5) who shepherd worship gatherings. • Heavenly pattern: twenty-four elders “fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship” (Revelation 4:10). Blood Covenant and Worship • The chapter soon records blood being sprinkled on the altar and people (Exodus 24:6-8). • Jesus declares, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (1 Corinthians 11:25). • True worship now rests on His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12-14). Spirit and Truth • Though Israel’s leaders worship from a fixed place, Jesus proclaims, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). • Access no longer depends on geography but on the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:15). Living Connections Today • God still calls His people upward—into deeper communion by grace. • We approach confidently yet humbly, mindful of His holiness. • Corporate worship remains ordered under godly leadership, anchored in Christ’s mediation. • Every gathering mirrors the heavenly assembly, declaring His worth until faith becomes sight. |
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