Thoughts for the Day

For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies......

Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people....

But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

Thoughts

Continuing to look at Jesus as our High Priest the writer of Hebrews reminds the Christians he is writing to, that under the old covenant the people had made with God, He had ordained they should build a tabernacle - a tent, divided in two, the second smaller, to be the Holiest of Holies. It was in the former that the priests carried out their duties and where incense was offered to God, but the Holy of Holies was only entered once, each year, on the Day of Atonement by the high priest who came to offer a blood sacrifice for his sins and the sins of the people. Here rested the ark of the covenant holding the stone tablets given to Moses.

Now the letter to the Hebrews moves to look at the superiority of the new covenant, for Jesus as our High Priest, ministers on our behalf at the throne of God. Through the sacrifice of his own blood at his crucifixion he made a permanent and eternal offering for our sin. The theologian Spurgeon says: “The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to earth to make a reconciliation by the holiness of his life, or by the earnestness of his teaching, but by his death.”

Because of Jesus' action we have the opportunity now to become reconciled to God, through our repentance. When we say our confession and receive absolution in worship, perhaps we can remember what was achieved through Jesus' offering of His life.

Lord Jesus Christ,
the sacrifice You made of Your life,
when You lived among us as a man,
has given us reconciliation with God.
May we never forget to appreciate
what You achieved for us.
Help us to be honest with You and ourself
in acknowledging our sin,
asking for forgiveness.,
and being determined to make a fresh start.
Amen.