Wednesday 28 January 2009
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
"And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." (v.11-12)
Background
We live in an age where many people work in a manner that doesnot demand a great deal of physical exertion. Rather, many areencouraged to relax by taking exercise. When the letter to theHebrews was written this was not the case: working would generallybe done from a standing position with much movement as peoplelaboured in the fields or were involved in construction. It wasonly when their work was complete that they would adopt a seatedposition. How times have changed! Now many of us find ourselvesworking most of the time in a seated position, often linked to acomputer!
Compare the way that the verses speak of Jesus and the Templepriest. The priest is at work, standing in the Temple, offeringsacrifices regularly for the forgiveness of sins. This was hardwork for the priests. One historian, Josephus, records that therewere 255,600 Passover victims (animal sacrifices) in the JerusalemTemple! Contrast this with the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.There is no longer any need to stand up, since it is finished.Jesus can now take his rightful place sitting at his Father's righthand.
The writer to the Hebrews was offering much consolation in thesewords. The forgiveness of sins and the return of God to the heartsand lives of people would be evident through faith in Jesus. WhenJesus Christ was recognised, and followed as being Lord, then thepeople would know in their hearts and lives that God had returned.The relationship between God and the people had been restored in anew and more powerful covenant than that which God had made withthe Israelites in the Old Testament. It was more powerful becausethis time the law would not be written on tablets of stone (
To Ponder
What does Jesus being the 'final sacrifice' meanto you?
On the first Good Friday, when Jesus wascrucified and died, humankind's sins were forgiven and we couldtruly return to God. In what ways can we, as human beings, givethanks for this amazing gift?