Jesus the Great Teacher -
East of Eden
Read this if you want to understand how God uses VISUAL AIDS to teach us the Gospel message
Nicodemus called Jesus a Teacher:
John 3:2 ~ Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God
… and teachers use visual aids - for example:
Models - to explain atoms & molecules.
Drawings - on a whiteboard.
3-D models - of hills & valleys.
Jesus the Great Teacher also uses visual aids:
A. Communion:
Bread - reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus’ body on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins.
Wine - reminds us of the blood of Jesus, which pays the penalty for our sins & and washes them away from the sight of God.
B. Water Baptism:
Going down into the water - illustrates the death of Jesus, and that one day our bodies will also die.
Coming up out of the water - illustrates the resurrection of Jesus, and that as believers, we’ll also be resurrected.
Further reading
Psalm 125:2
Let’s see how God uses other visual aids - to hammer home the Gospel message.
It’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with SIX PIECES:
When we put a piece in the correct place - it helps with the next piece.
Once all six pieces are in place - we’ll see the whole Gospel message, beautifully illustrated.
1. East
A. The FIRST MENTION of East helps us to understand its meaning
Genesis 3:23-24
23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till (= to work) the ground from whence he was taken.
24So He drove out the man; and He placed at the East of the garden of Eden Cherubims,
and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of (= to guard the way to) the tree of life.
--> Adam sinned - then God cast him out to the East.
B. What happened after Cain murdered his brother Abel?
Genesis 4:16 ~ And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the East of Eden.
--> Cain sinned and left God’s presence.
(That’s what sin does to us.)
--> Cain went to the East.
C. What about Lot?
Genesis 13:11-13
11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed East: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
--> Lot went East - to a place of great sin (Sodom).
So God uses EAST to illustrate:
Sin.
Separation from God.
D. In the time of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 11:1a & 2
1Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the East gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh Eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; …
2Then said He unto me, ‘Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city.'
E. After Judah SINNED in the time of King Zedekiah (2 Chronicles 36:11-20)
God sent the Jews away from His earthly presence (in the Temple at Jerusalem) --> to Babylon.
Babylon is due East of Israel.
First piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
EAST = Sin & separation from God.
Further reading
Genesis 12:8 (Bethel = 'House of God' in Hebrew)
Leviticus 16:14
1 Kings 11:7
(in GNB, NASB, NIV etc.)
Isaiah 2:6-8
Jeremiah 19:2-5
Ezekiel 8:15-16
Hosea 12:1
Hebrews 12:16 / Romans 9:13 / Genesis 36:6-8
(Edom / Mount Seir being to the East of the Promised Land)
2. West
After 70 years in exile, Joshua & Zerubbabel led the Jews West - back to God’s earthly presence: in the Temple at Jerusalem.
Second piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
WEST = Coming back into the presence of God.
Joshua & Zerubbabel are pictures / fore-shadows of Jesus Christ:
A. JOSHUA (Hebrew) is the same name as JESUS (Greek).
So translators can use either name - as they do with Joshua of the Old Testament:
Hebrews 4:8
New International Version
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
King James / Authorised Version
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day.
Acts 7:45
New American Standard Version
And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David.
King James / Authorised Version
Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David.
B. ZERUBBABEL (also translated as Zorobabel) was an ancestor of Jesus Christ:
Luke 3:23 & 27
23And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
…
27Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
Further reading
Matthew 1:1 then verses 12-13
Joshua & Zerubbabel are pictures / fore-shadows of Jesus Christ.
They show that only JESUS can: 'Lead us back to the West’ = Back into the presence of God.
Further reading about Joshua & Zerubbabel
Haggai chapters 1-2
Ezra chapters 2-5
Zechariah 4:6-10, 6:11-13
TABERNACLE & TEMPLE
Here are horizontal & vertical diagrams to help with viewing on: phones, tablets, laptops & desktop PC's.
For optimum viewing on a phone / tablet - you may want to change the 'Auto-rotate' button on your device's 'Settings'.
God told Moses to set up the TABERNACLE in an EAST / WEST direction.
(Exodus 26:18-22)
The TEMPLE was also built in an EAST / WEST direction.
(Ezekiel 47:1, 2 Chronicles 4:10)
Exodus chapters 25-27, 30 & 40 describe the Tabernacle and its contents.
Exodus 25:21-22
21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune (= speak) with thee from above the mercy seat …
--> The Tabernacle = A visual aid of how man met God in Old Testament times.
Further reading
Leviticus 1:1, Numbers 7:89
--> Men MET GOD by travelling from East to WEST - from the Outer Court into the Holy of Holies.
(See diagrams above.)
Let's now follow that same journey - to learn how we meet God today.
OUTER COURT
= A visual aid of God saving us - so that when our physical bodies die: we have eternal life in heaven, not in hell.
a. Brazen Altar
Where animals were sacrificed - to pay the penalty for the sins of the people.
This reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross - to pay the penalty for our sins.
Further reading
Exodus 40:29
Hebrews 9:13-14 & 28
1 Peter 2:24
b. Laver / Bath / Sea
Where the priests were washed clean.
This reminds us of how the blood of Jesus washes away our sins.
Further reading
Exodus 40:30-31
1 John 1:7
Revelation 1:5, 7:14
Once we’re saved - we then move into the HOLY PLACE.
= A visual aid of the three ways God & believers communicate with each other:
a. Table of SHOWBREAD = a visual aid for the BIBLE.
John 14:8-9
8Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us (= then we'll be satisfied).
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?
He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
--> Jesus came to show us what God the Father is like.
John 6:35 ~ And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
--> Jesus is the bread.
Q - So what is the SHOWBREAD in the Tabernacle & Temple?
A - A visual aid of Jesus.
Jesus also has another name - the Word of God:
Revelation 19:13 ~ And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God.
Showbread = Jesus = the Word of God.
Today we can’t see Jesus - so God talks to us via the other visual Word of God = the Bible.
Because as we read the BIBLE - It SHOWS us what God is like.
Further reading
John 1:1
1 John 1:1
b. Altar of INCENSE = a visual aid for PRAYER.
Psalm 141:2 ~ Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.
Luke 1:10 ~ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without (= outside) at the time of incense.
Revelation 8:3-4
3And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer (= container for burning the sweet-smelling incense gum & spices);
and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
--> We communicate with God via prayer.
Further reading
Revelation 5:8 (Modern versions of the Bible translate 'odours' as 'incense'.)
c. LAMPSTAND = a visual aid for the HOLY SPIRIT.
Exodus 25:37 ~ And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof (= of the lampstand): and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it (= in front of it).
--> The lampstand had seven lamps.
--> Scripture interprets Scripture:
Revelation 4:5 ~ And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:
and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
--> The LAMPSTAND = a visual aid for the HOLY SPIRIT = the third way God communicates with us today.
Further reading about the Lampstand / Holy Spirit
Zechariah 4:1-6
Acts 2:1-4
So the HOLY PLACE is a visual aid - explaining the two-way communication methods between God & us:
The Word of God (Showbread).
Prayer (Incense).
The Holy Spirit living within us (burning flames in the Lampstand).
Q - What happens when we ‘Build the Tabernacle’ the way God tells us to?
Exodus 40:33-34
33And he reared up (= Moses raised up) the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
A - We’ll be overcome by the glory & presence of God = Just what we need today!
Once we have the first two pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in place:
East = Sin & separation from God.
West = How we come back into the presence of God.
Further reading
Section 4 of ‘Faith’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com about Genesis chapter 24:
Father Abraham ( = a picture of God the Father)
sends his servant ( = a picture of the Holy Spirit)
to identify and then bring a bride ( = a picture of the Bride of Christ / the Church)
Westwards from Mesopotamia into the promised land
to marry his son Isaac ( = a picture of the 'marriage supper of the Lamb' with God the Son / Jesus in Revelation 19:7-9 ).
--> We can now understand the THIRD piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
3. Ezekiel 47
Ezekiel 47:1 ~ Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the House (= the Temple);
and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the House eastward: for the forefront of the House stood toward the east,
and the waters came down from under from the right side of the House, at the south side of the altar.
--> Ezekiel saw a river flowing from the south side - where the lampstand was.
(See diagram in previous section.)
--> We learnt earlier that the lampstand = a visual aid for the Holy Spirit.
Also - Jesus said that the HOLY SPIRIT is like a RIVER:
John 7:38-39
38He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should (= were later to) receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.
What does the Holy Spirit / this river DO?
Ezekiel 47:8-9
8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea:
which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever (= wherever) the rivers shall come, shall live:
and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither:
for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither (= where) the river cometh.
--> The Holy Spirit brings life & healing.
--> To the ‘Desert in the East’ =
Life to sinners who are spiritually dead.
Healing the sick.
Jesus said in Matthew 4:19 b ~ ... Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
It may seem like there are ‘no fish to catch’ (= no potential new believers) where we live.
The Dead Sea also has no fish to catch - it’s far too salty.
But God showed Ezekiel how the waters of the Holy Spirit can instantly change things - even in the ‘Dead Sea’ (where En Gedi & En Eglaim are - En in Hebrew = fountain / spring):
Ezekiel 47:10 ~ And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it (= upon the shores of the Dead Sea) from En Gedi even unto En Eglaim;
they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea (= the Mediterranean Sea), exceeding many.
So let’s not give up:
God can INSTANTLY bring new life.
Let's pray that God would send the Holy Spirit / ‘Rivers of living water’ - to where we: live / work / minister.
Then there will be plenty of ‘Fish to catch’!
This is exactly what happens when God brings REVIVAL to a particular place, at a particular time.
It's like a 'flash flood' of the Holy Spirit!
Ezekiel 47:11 ~ But the miry places (= the swamps) thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
--> The water in swamps & marshes is stagnant:
Ezekiel saw these places turn to salt.
Salt preserves food - it stays the same.
God’s warning us - if we HINDER the Holy Spirit:
We’ll be stuck in the past.
Our individual Christian & Church life will turn into a 'dead fossil'.
Third piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
The HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS LIFE - where currently there's no life.
Before reading the next section - study the map below:
4. Dead Sea
The DEAD SEA is a visual aid for HELL
... in four ways:
A. Involves a DOWNWARD journey
Hell is down – never up:
Isaiah 5:14 ~ Therefore hell hath enlarged herself … and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
2 Peter 2:4 ~ … but cast them down to hell …
Further reading
Deuteronomy 32:22
Psalms 55:15 & 23, 63:9, 86:13
Isaiah 14:9 & 15
Ezekiel 31:16-17, 32:21
Revelation 9:1
The Dead Sea is also down:
1,414 feet / 431 metres - below sea level.
The lowest point on the earth’s land surface!
B. Involves a ONE-WAY journey
Water flows into - but not out from - the Dead Sea.
Because water can’t flow uphill from the lowest point on earth!
In the same way - anyone going to hell also makes a ONE-WAY journey downwards:
Luke 16:26 ~ And beside all this, between us (= Abraham & Lazarus in heaven) and you (= the rich man in hell) there is a great gulf fixed:
so that they which would pass from hence (= from here) to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (= from there / from hell).
--> There’s NO ESCAPE from hell:
During our life on earth - we decide where we'll spend eternity.
After we die - it’s too late to change our destination!
C. There’s NO LIFE there
Nothing lives in the Dead Sea - it’s far too salty.
And in hell - there’s no life worth living:
Luke 16:23-24
23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Further reading
Matthew 5:22 & 29-30, 10:28, 18:9, 25:41
Mark 9:43-48
Luke 12:4-5
D. They both have Sulphur / Brimstone
The Dead Sea contains sulphur (which makes it smell like bad eggs).
Sulphur is the old-fashioned name for Brimstone:
Revelation 21:8 ~ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable (= vile), and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Further reading
Isaiah 30:33
Revelation 20:14
Fourth piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
The DEAD SEA = a visual aid for HELL.
5. Sea of Galilee
The SEA OF GALILEE is a visual aid for HEAVEN
... in four ways:
A. It’s harp-shaped
Its Hebrew name is Yam Kinneret (‘Sea of Kinnereth’ on some Bible maps):
Kinnor is Hebrew for 'harp'.
The Sea (= 'Yam' in Hebrew) is shaped like a harp (= Kinneret).
And Heaven is full of harps!
Revelation 14:2 ~ And I heard a voice from Heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.
Further reading
Revelation 5:8, 15:1-2
B. It’s beautiful
The Sea of Galilee is a lovely place:
It’s surrounded by beautiful hills.
You can swim in the sea, go sailing etc.
… just like Heaven is a lovely place!
Further reading
1 Corinthians 2:9
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
Hebrews 10:34
1 Peter 1:3-4
C. There’s abundant life
(unlike the Dead Sea)
John 10:10 ~ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The Sea of Galilee is full of life - 24 types of fish live in the waters.
Peter, Andrew, James & John were fishermen there.
Further reading
Matthew 13:43, 25:21, 23 & 34
D. It’s where we meet Jesus
Matthew 28:10 ~ Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.
--> Jesus isn’t a: dead / historical / fictional character - He's alive today:
He went ahead of His disciples - then later they met Him at the Sea of Galilee.
He’s gone ahead of us - later we'll meet Him in Heaven!
Further reading
Matthew 26:32, 28:7 & 16-18
Mark 14:28, 16:5-7
John 21:1-14 (Sea of Tiberias = Sea of Galilee)
Fifth piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
The SEA OF GALILEE = a visual aid for HEAVEN.
6. River Jordan
The River Jordan flows for 70 miles in a North
--> South direction.
I've not found another major world river which flows North / South - in an almost straight line - for such a long distance.
So when Joshua (Hebrew name) led the people into the Promised Land near Jericho - he led them:
West <-- East
Just like Jesus (Greek name):
Saves us out of our sins (= 'East').
Leads us into the presence of God (= 'West').
We can learn THREE LESSONS from this giant visual aid of Joshua crossing the River Jordan
Joshua 3:14-16
14And it came to pass, when the people removed (= set out) from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water,
(for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan:
and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the Salt Sea (= Dead Sea), failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
LESSON 1
The water flowed down:
From Adam.
Into the Dead Sea.
... to teach us that ever since the time when Adam sinned (Genesis chapter 3) - unforgiven sin has taken people down to Hell when they die.
In modern Israel - the River Jordan is nicknamed ‘the descender’, because it’s name comes from the Hebrew word meaning, ‘to descend’.
But JOSHUA STOPPED this downward flow.
Just like JESUS SAVES US from going down to Hell.
LESSON 2
Q - How did Joshua stop the downward flow?
A - The priests held up the Ark of the Covenant.
= A visual aid of how the New Covenant (which Jesus made with us on the Cross):
Saves us from going down to Hell.
Allows us to cross into the Promised Land = Heaven.
LESSON 3
a. The River Jordan flows: North --> South
b. Joshua & the Israelites crossed: West <-- East
Seen from above - that draws a giant visual aid of the CROSS:
Sixth & final piece of the jigsaw puzzle:
The crossing of the River Jordan is a vivid picture of how JESUS (Hebrew name: Joshua) died on the CROSS to:
Save us from going down to Hell.
Take us to Heaven.
We now have ALL SIX visual aids / pieces of the jigsaw puzzle
#1 East = Sin & separation from God.
#2 West = Coming back into the presence of God.
#3 Ezekiel 47 = The Holy Spirit brings life - where currently there's no life.
#4 Dead Sea = Hell.
#5 Sea of Galilee = Heaven.
#6 Crossing the River Jordan = Jesus went to the Cross to save us from going down to Hell and to take us to Heaven.
‘A picture paints a thousand words.’
So God created these awesome VISUAL AIDS to HAMMER HOME the Gospel message!
Amen