Foundational Things

There is something pretty cool in Ezra that we are about to see.

Way cool.

You know the whole Jesus-is-the-Sacrifice-before-the-Glory-could-fall-on-and-in-us thing? If you don't, go back to this post.

If you do remember that before the Glory of God could dwell withIN man Jesus had to die, then you're going to love this...

The people are back from exile and they want to do what is right. They assembled, although there was opposition to the rebuild (we'll come back to that), and they sacrificed to the Lord.

Ezra 3:6

On the first day of the month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord,
though the foundation of the Lord's temple had not yet been laid.

Ironically, the people of God in the time of Jesus laid an offering, thinking they were doing the right thing in killing Jesus, and so His sacrifice came before He laid the foundation of Himself in us.

Follow?

He sacrificed Himself to become the foundation and before the foundation of the church, the apostles and prophets. It all comes back over and over to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Not only does He become the foundation, but the Bible calls Him the chief cornerstone! Without Him the whole darn thing falls apart.

In Him the whole building (the church) is joined together and rises to become a
holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a
dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:21, 22

There are not exclamation points in the scripture, but let's just add them, shall we?

And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God
lives by his Spirit!!!!!!!!!!!

Is that not THE verse for our entire study? I'm serious, this is fun stuff!

Read what Isaiah prophesied about Jesus. If not for anything else, this is just good learnin'!

See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure
foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. Isaiah 28:16

Don't you love the way God ties all this together? Let us not forget that all things for us are in Jesus, through Jesus, and, now we add, ON Jesus.

Seriously, we make following Him too hard. That's why He tells us to rest in Him.

I'm gonna go now. I need to go rest for a little bit on a big piece of a firm foundation.