Redeemer Reformed Church of Oklahoma City

Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! –Genesis 28:10-12

Jacob was on the run. He had nothing, not even a knapsack to put under his head for a pillow! Perhaps he was ashamed, but he was at least scared and it is seriously doubtful that he was basking the promises, power, and protection of God.

Yet that’s exactly what came to him in his dream. He sees a staircase, the way one would ascend and descend those ancient Near Eastern ziggurats (stepped-pyramid temples). He sees angels, messengers of God going up and down between heaven and earth.

A lot could be said about what this means, but it’s really spelled out for us in John 1:43-51,

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Among many other things, what we see here is that Jacob was viewing Jesus Christ in some form in this dream. Jacob had much to fear, and most of all, God’s righteous judgment. None of us should have any greater trepidation than that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Heb. 9:27) But God came to him in all his fear of not measuring up to God’s holy requirements (and indeed he didn’t and never did his whole life long!), and showed him the true way or “gate of heaven.”

In natural religion, you know, that religion that grows naturally in our hearts and gives rise to all the major religions in the world apart from Christianity, the gate to heaven is a staircase too. This staircase goes from earth to heaven and sounds awfully like the five pillars of Islam, the eightfold path in Buddhism, or even the Ten Commandments. None of the steps of this staircase will get you there even if you had the ability to climb them!

There’s just one step, and it’s not from earth to heaven, but from heaven to earth. It isn’t something you do nor is it a philosophy. It’s the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s who saved Jacob from his sins and depravity, and that’s who saves us from our sin and depravity. Surely Jesus Christ is the gate of heaven.

And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.

The related hymns we’ll sing are:
How Firm a Foundation
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is continues. Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15. 

Visitors are always welcome!