Wednesday 25 October 2017
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
“Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach … And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (vv. 1, 10)
Psalm: Psalm 107:33-43
Background
The Catholic priest Jean Vanier was recently been interviewedabout his life's work. In the immediate aftermath of Grenfell Towerand Manchester Arena bombing, Vanier speaks about living betweentwo cultures - a culture of fear and a culture of community. It isa persuasive argument, not least of all in light of Vanier's desireto forge communities with some of the most disadvantaged people inthe world.
The passage from Hebrews 10 is part of the crescendo to theauthor's argument - there are two cultures at work. This is aculture of fear - a culture which is marked by ritual and religiouspractices. But, with Jesus, a new culture has dawned - a culture ofthe community of Christ, a community marked by the forgiveness ofsins once and for all.
The quoted poem in this passage is taken from
The law does not have the last word. Fear is not the end of thestory. Rather, in Jesus, there is a once and for all crown andcompletion of God's purposes. Jesus' sacrifice is a voluntary,obedient one. The readers would be under no doubt that thetemptation to look back at the old systems was futile in light ofthe now realised new future in Christ.
To Ponder
- The Irish Band U2 recorded a
- Where do you prefer to look back to old systems, rather thanlook forward? Why is it so attractive?