Justin Houtz

Exodus 29, John 11

DateVersionReading Plan
March 20, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 29

Observation

Exod. 29:19-20 – The LORD through Moses gave instruction that the other ram (the one not used for a food offering) was to be killed and its blood placed on the tips of the right ear of Aaron and his sons along with the thumbs of their right hands and great toes of the right feet. “No reason is given for placing blood on the right earlobes … thumbs, and toes, though it may have symbolized totality (see note at Lv 8:22–30). A person who came for ceremonial cleansing after recovering from a skin disease received the same treatment with both blood and oil (Lv 14:14–18). The outcome of the marking of both priests and garments was holiness; they would be clearly set apart for service to the Lord.” (CSB Notes)

Exod. 29:29-30 – The LORD through Moses said that the holy garments of Aaron were to be for his sons after him and that the son who succeeds him as priest, and who comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place, shall wear them seven days. The FSB clarifies that this would have been Aaron’s eldest son and “the firstborn son of each generation of Aaron’s line, since certainly not all of Aaron’s sons could inherit the office of high priest (or wear the same garment).”

Exod. 29:34 – If any flesh from the ordination or of the bread remained until morning, it was not to be eaten but burned because it is holy. “Leftovers of the Passover lamb likewise had to be burned the next morning and were not to be consumed by outsiders (see Exod 12:10). Incorporating this practice into the ordination ceremony speaks to the idea that the priests now act as representatives of all Israel, but also reminds the priests and the people of what God did for them when he brought them out of Egypt. This spirit of remembrance is also incorporated into the priestly garments themselves (28:12, 29).” (FSB)

Exod. 29:37 – The altar was to be most holy and everything that touched the altar was holy as well.

Exod. 29:42-46 – The burnt offering at the entrance of the tent of meeting was to be regular and would be where the LORD met with His people and it shall be sanctified by His glory. The LORD consecrated the tent of meeting along with Aaron and his sons to serve the LORD as priests. “The most important consecrations would be accomplished not by the Israelites but by the Lord. Their priests and ceremonies would have significance because of the Lord’s presence. The display of his glory would then extend from victory over Pharaoh (14:4, 17–18) to provision for the Israelites in the wilderness (16:7, 10), to making a covenant with them (24:16–17), and then to this tent they would build.” (CSB Notes)

The chapter concludes with a “climactic divine statement” of “God’s revelatory purpose” (CSB Notes) that the people would know that He is the LORD who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that He might dwell among them, and declaring that He is the LORD their God.

Application

The end of the chapter underscores God’s intention to be in relationship with His people, “making clear that his presence in their midst would show Israel that he rescues people not simply to deliver them, but to know them—and for them to know him (29:46). ‘For the Lord, redemption is always for the sake of relationship’” (TGCBC) The culmination of God’s intention came in the form of sending His Son to “dwell” among us (John 1:14), continuing this ministry today by His Spirit (2 Cor. 6:16) and will return in the final days to glorify Himself in the redemption of His people and dwell among them for all time. With what passion should the saints rejoice and worship the Lord of all creation who intended from the beginning to have such an intimate relationship with His children.

John 11

Observation

John 11:9 – Jesus contrasts a man walking in the day and not stumbling because to the light of the world with anyone who walks at night and stumbles because the light is not in him. “The spiritual meaning of the Lord’s words is as follows: The Lord Jesus was walking in perfect obedience to the will of God. There was thus no danger of His being killed before the appointed time. He would be preserved until His work was done. In a sense this is true of every believer. If we are walking in fellowship with the Lord and doing His will, there is no power on earth that can kill us before God’s appointed time.” (BBC)

John 11:36-37 – Some of the Jews acknowledged Jesus’ love for Lazarus but others asked why He who opened the eyes of the blind did not keep Lazarus from dying. “The Jews saw in the tears of the Son of Man an evidence of His love for Lazarus. Of course, they were correct in this. But He also loved them with a deep and undying love, and many of them failed to understand this.” (BBC)

John 11:49-52 – The high priest that year, Caiaphas, interjected and told the chief priests and Pharisees that they did not understand that it is better for them that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. The BBC provides more detail on this confrontation:

According to Caiaphas, the chief priests and Pharisees were wrong in thinking that the Jews would die on account of Jesus. Rather, he predicted that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation. He said that it was better that Jesus would die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should have trouble with the Romans. It almost sounds as if Caiaphas really understood the reason for Jesus’ coming into the world. We would almost think that Caiaphas had accepted Jesus as the Substitute for sinners—the central doctrine of Christianity. But unfortunately, that is not the case. What he said was true, but he himself did not believe on Jesus to the saving of his soul.

Application

The divisiveness among the Jews at the raising of Lazarus from the dead speaks volumes. Some of the Jews saw what Jesus did and believed in Him but some went to the Pharisees to tell them what He had done. The BBC is helpful for explanation: “If one’s heart is evil, rebellious, and unbelieving, he will not believe even though he were to see one raised from the dead. That was the case here. Some of the Jews who witnessed the miracle were unwilling to accept the Lord Jesus as their Messiah in spite of such undeniable proof.”

Some encounter Jesus, realize who He truly is and submit to Him fully as Lord and Savior while others will read the Bible only as a significant, historical text and nothing more. There is no middle ground, no place of spiritual neutrality, and the response one takes to the message of the gospel has eternal consequences. As C. S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are gracious and faithful beyond measure. Thank You that by the work of Your Son, we are justified, cleansed of sin’s condemnation and declared righteous in Your sight. Father, by Your Spirit, help me to keep your eternal plan of redemption ever afresh in my heart that it may manifest outwardly in seeking Your glory through every thought, word and deed.

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