Week 2. The Person and Work of Jesus -- the Cross
Chapter 2: Journey 1 Ramses to Sukkoth
Sukkoth – God’s Initial Guidance.
1- Sukkoth סכּות H5523 = “booths” – this means temporary dwelling – we are sojourners here and the first stop of coming out of sun-worship is to enter into the dwelling of the Most High Elohim. Sukkoth is the Festival of Booths that we keep each year as we remember these Wilderness journeys and that we too are sojourners here as we await the return of Messiah when He will come and make His Booth here among us and we shall dwell with Him forever! This city/stop was still in the land of Mitsrayim and reminds us clearly that although we are still in the world we are not of the world! It was at Sukkoth that Israellearnt to ‘camp out’ as this too was a territory pretty much occupied by Bedouins or tent dwellers.
Parallel: The Call to Follow (Matthew 4:19)
Scripture: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
Introduction: The Significance of Succoth
After leaving Rameses, the Israelites made their first encampment at a place called Succoth. Here, God began to lead His people directly, guiding them on a path toward freedom and the fulfilment of His promises. Succoth represents a transitional moment—a place where the Israelites started to experience initial guidance and protection on their journey to freedom.
Similarly, when we respond to God's call in our lives, we enter a new phase of our spiritual journey. Just as the disciples were called to leave their nets and follow Jesus, we too are invited to follow Him, trusting that He will guide us. This chapter explores how God provides His initial guidance in our lives, the profound role of the Holy Spirit in empowering disciples, and what it means to follow Him in faith.
Succoth: A Place of Beginning
Succoth is the first stop on the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt, marking the moment they stepped away from bondage and began to follow God’s lead. Although the Israelites did not yet know the full details of their journey, they trusted that God was with them. In Exodus 13:21, we read, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." God visibly led His people, demonstrating His presence and protection.
Person and work of Jesus
The story of the Children of Israel’s Exodus and the teaching of the Person and work of Jesus, especially through the Cross, are deeply connected in illustrating God's plan of salvation, love, and redemption. During the Exodus, Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery, under God's guidance, towards freedom. This act of deliverance prefigures the ultimate act of salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. Just as God used Moses to save His people from physical bondage, through Jesus, God provides spiritual liberation from sin and death.
The Cross symbolizes the ultimate act of love and sacrifice, where Jesus willingly laid down His life for humanity. His death was not just an act of suffering, but a divine act of redemption—making possible eternal life for all who believe in Him. The journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom reflects our spiritual journey through Christ’s sacrifice, which frees us from the slavery of sin and offers new life.
Through His person, Jesus exemplifies divine compassion, obedience, and sacrificial love. His work on the Cross demonstrates that salvation is a gift from God—a loving act that restores the broken relationship between humanity and God. As the Passover lamb was sacrificed to save the Israelites in Egypt, Jesus is the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His death is the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation and the means by which believers are reconciled with God.
The Cross reveals that true leadership and love involve sacrifice. Jesus’ work on the Cross teaches believers that genuine love requires giving oneself for others, following His example. The Exodus and the Cross both remind Christians that deliverance and salvation come through God's love—realized in Jesus’ sacrificial death—leading believers into new life and freedom in Him.
Come follow me
The teaching of Matthew 4:19 are connected through the themes of call, discipleship, and the work of Jesus, especiallyHis sacrificial act on the Cross. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus calls His first disciples, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This call reflects a transition from old ways of living into a new journey of faith, trust, and obedience to divine purpose. Just as the Israelites faced their journey of liberation through God's guidance, Jesus’ invitation to His disciples signifies a spiritual journey rooted in trusting God's plan, ultimately fulfilled through His death on the Cross.
The Exodus story prefigures the work of Christ by symbolizing salvation and liberation. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery, pointing forward to Jesus’ mission — to free humanity from the slavery of sin and death. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate expression of God's love and sacrifice on the Cross, which makes salvation possible. His work on the Cross is the foundation for true freedom—freedom from sin, guilt, and spiritual death — just as the Exodus was a divine act of liberation for the Israelites.
Furthermore, the call to follow Jesus in Matthew 4:19 encapsulates the Christian understanding that discipleship involves sacrificing oneself and embracing the work of Christ on the Cross. Following Jesus means trusting in His sacrificial love and participating in His mission of redemption. The Cross, as the culmination of Jesus’ life and work, symbolizes love’s greatest sacrifice, providing the means for reconciliation with God.
Both the Exodus and Matthew 4:19 teach that true liberation and new life come through trusting God's plan—realized through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the Cross—calling believers to walk in faith, obedience, and love.
Reflection: Trusting God’s Guidance
Just as God provided the pillar of cloud and fire to guide the Israelites, He offers us divine guidance as we embark on our spiritual journey. We may not always see the entire path ahead, but we are called to trust Him, knowing that He will lead us one step at a time. Following Jesus requires faith—a belief that God knows the way, even when we do not.
Reflection: The Call to Follow: The Disciples’ Response
In Matthew 4:19, we witness Jesus calling His first disciples: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." This call is direct, personal, and transformative. Simon Peter and Andrew, two ordinary fishermen, immediately left their nets and followed Him. Their response was total—they left their old lives behind and trusted Jesus to lead them into something greater.
Reflection: The Nature of the Call
When Jesus calls us to follow Him, it is not just a call to remain where we are or to continue living as we always have. It is a call to leave behind the familiar, the comfortable, and sometimes even the secure. Like the Israelites leaving Egypt and like the disciples leaving their fishing boats, following Jesus often requires a step of faith into the unknown.
Reflection: What Are We Called to Leave Behind?
The disciples left their nets—their livelihood, identity, and sense of security. For the Israelites, leaving Egypt meant stepping away from the only life they had known, even if it was one of slavery. In our own lives, Jesus’ call may require us to abandon certain habits, relationships, or mindsets that inhibit our full discipleship. Succoth, as a place of initial guidance, symbolizes the decision to trust God with the first steps of faith, even when the future seems uncertain.
Reflection: Following Jesus: A New Purpose
When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He doesn’t lead us aimlessly. Instead, He imparts a new purpose and identity. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus promises His disciples, "I will make you fishers of men." This statement speaks to the transformation that occurs when we follow Christ. We are no longer defined by our old lives or past failures but by the mission and purpose that Jesus gives us.
Reflection: Transformation in the Call
Just as Simon Peter and Andrew transitioned from fishermen to influential leaders in spreading the Gospel, we too experience transformation when we choose to follow Jesus. We may not fully understand what God is calling us to initially, but as we walk with Him, our unique purposes become clearer. Succoth represents that initial stage of walking in God’s guidance, trusting that He will mold and refine us along the way.
Reflection: Trusting in the Process
As followers of Christ, we are not expected to have everything figured out at the beginning of our journey. Just as the Israelites did not know how long their wilderness wanderings would last, and just as the disciples did not fully grasp the extent of Jesus’ mission, we too are called to trust God's process. The key is to follow step by step as He leads us.
God’s Guidance in Our Journey
Reflection: The Role of the Holy Spirit
God's guidance continues today through the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, as expressed in John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth." The Holy Spirit empowers disciples by teaching, reminding, and guiding us in our daily lives. Just as God led the Israelites with a visible sign of His presence, He leads us today through His Word, His Spirit, and His community of believers.
In Psalm 119:105, we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God's guidance may not always be as dramatic as a pillar of cloud or fire, but it is just as real. He provides direction through Scripture, prayer, and the wise counsel of fellow believers. The Holy Spirit assures us that we are not alone in our journey; He actively works within us to direct our hearts toward God’s purposes.
Reflection: Responding to the Call
Jesus’ call to "Come, follow me" is not merely a one-time decision; rather, it is a daily choice to seek His guidance and follow His lead. In Luke 9:23, Jesus instructs His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Following Jesus requires a continuous surrender of our wills to His, trusting that He will lead us in the right direction, even through challenges.
Reflection: Seeking God’s Guidance Today
How can we seek God’s guidance in our own lives? By engaging in prayer, reading Scripture, and maintaining a connection to a community of faith, we can attune our hearts to hear His voice. Sometimes, God’s guidance may come as a quiet nudge or a conviction in our hearts, and at other times, it may be a clear command that requires immediate attention. In all circumstances, God asks us to trust and follow Him, knowing that He desires what is best for us.
Application: Following God’s Guidance at Succoth
- Answering the Call: When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He invites us to leave behind our old ways of living and embrace a new identity. Reflect on what Jesus may be calling you to leave behind. Is it fear, insecurity, or reliance on worldly things? Succoth symbolises the moment we take our first step of obedience in following Christ.
- Trusting God's Leadership: Like the Israelites who followed the pillar of cloud and fire, we are called to follow God even when the path ahead seems unclear. Trust that He will guide you one step at a time as you seek His will for your life.
- Embracing a New Purpose: When we choose to follow Jesus, He provides us with a new purpose—just as the disciples were called to become "fishers of men." Consider how God might be transforming your purpose as you follow Him and remain open to the new direction He is leading you.
- Daily Following: The call to follow Jesus is a lifelong journey, not a one-time decision. Each day, commit to seeking His guidance and trusting Him as He leads you through both the wilderness and the blessings of life.
Conclusion: The Journey Begins at Succoth
Succoth marks the first encampment after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, a place where they began to experience God’s direct guidance. Our spiritual journey begins similarly when we respond to the call to follow Jesus. This is a moment of transition, where we leave the old behind and step into the new, trusting that God will guide us through every stage of the journey.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 4:19—"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"—invite us into a life of purpose, mission, and transformation. Just as the disciples immediately responded to His call, we too are called to follow with faith, trusting that He will lead us into the fullness of His plan for our lives.
Prayer:
"Lord, thank You for calling me to follow You. Help me to trust in Your guidance as I take the first steps in faith, leaving behind the things that hold me back. Lead me, shape me, and use me for Your purpose. Teach me to follow You daily, trusting that You know the way, even when I do not. Amen."
This chapter reflects on the importance of taking the first steps of faith, responding to God's call, and trusting in His guidance as we begin our journey. Just as the Israelites set out from Succoth, relying on God to lead them, we are also called to follow Jesus with faith and obedience, confident that He will guide us through every season of life.
Chapter 2: God’s Initial Guidance at Succoth
Bob the Bricky hoisted his bag over his shoulder, a mixture of relief and apprehension coursing through him as they departed Rameses. The great exodus had begun—a multitude of Israelites moving as one, driven by the promise of freedom. Their first stop was Succoth, a place of beginnings and transitions. Here, under the open sky, surrounded by fellow sojourners, Bob and his family pitched their modest tent, marking their initial steps towards the unknown.
Succoth symbolized a profound shift. Despite its unfamiliarity, it was a place for learning to ‘camp out’—to dwell temporarily, much like the festival of Sukkoth their descendants would celebrate in remembrance. As they settled, God’s presence manifested as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, guiding His people visibly and directly. The sight was both awe-inspiring and comforting, a divine assurance to the Israelites that they were not alone in this daunting journey.
Bob reflected on the parallels to the teachings of a future Messiah who, in millennia to come, would also call people to follow Him. This journey was more than a physical relocation; it was a spiritual path, echoing the way Jesus would later invite His disciples to leave behind their nets and past lives, to embrace a new calling. The words of Matthew 4:19 resonated, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” as if foreshadowing this moment of stepping into faith.
In the quiet of the night at Succoth, Bob shared stories with Caleb, Joshua, and Sharon about Moses and the miracles they had witnessed. His tales intertwined with powerful lessons about faith and obedience. Succoth, a place of temporary dwelling, reminded them that they were sojourners, not just in the physical world, but in a spiritual sense too—a foreshadowing of the dwelling God promises with His return, where He will tabernacle among them eternally.
The journey of the Israelites echoed the divine narrative of salvation—tying into the ultimate expression of love and sacrifice seen in Jesus’ work on the Cross. Just as the Exodus represented liberation from physical bondage, the Cross symbolized spiritual redemption. The connection was clear: God’s plan for deliverance was both physical and spiritual.
The teachings of the Person and work of Jesus highlighted the unity of this divine mission of redemption. His sacrifice on the Cross was akin to the Passover lamb’s blood, sparing humanity from spiritual death, just as the Israelites were spared in Egypt. Through His love, Jesus embodied the ultimate Passover Lamb, bringing salvation to all who would believe.
As Bob and his family embraced their identity as sojourners at Succoth, they were reminded of the profound truth of redemption. Succoth was not just a stop on their journey; it was a promise of God’s constant guidance, a precursor to the complete salvation offered through Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
With dawn breaking over the horizon, Bob felt a renewed sense of purpose. They continued their journey, empowered by the knowledge that they walked the path set by God’s infinite love. This moment, this place of transition—much like the Cross—was a beacon on their quest for freedom and fulfillment of divine promises. Each step forward mirrored the call to follow, to trust, and to live in faith and love. The journey from Rameses to Succoth was just the beginning, a step into the sacred promise of deliverance and salvation that awaited them—and all believers—in the arms of the Most High.