11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,a he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,b so that we may serve the living God!
In this passage I see more on the topic of Christ's role as my High Priest which God has been keeping in front of me throughout this week. I find it wholly wonderful how God presents his son to me, through the word and by the Spirit, that I may know him better. The more I know Him, the more I love Him and the more perfectly I may follow Him.
With regards to this passage, I sense the purpose with which Christ entered the world and in the opening fragment of this verse (v11) "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here..." there are three thoughts that immediately captivate me. First is the certainty that Christ did come as expressed "when Christ came." As a believer, I operate with that certainty at the very core of my being. Here it is presented as a presumptive fact and I find that confidence comforting. Second is that he 'came as high priest.' He did not come as a mere man to experience life as a man but to fulfill a particular role. He did not grow into this role or 'happen' into this role as many of us do with respect to our various parts played in life. Rather, this was a central purpose and a core motivation. Third, is the description of mankind being 'the good things that are already here.' This harkens back to Genesis where God saw all that he had created and declared that 'it was very good.' In this we can derive that Jesus came as the high priest of all creation, he is in front of everything even as the high priest is in front of the 'congregation' before God.
The second half of this verse "he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation" speaks if how Christ functions at a supernatural level far beyond what a human priest is capable of. According to my understanding, the high priests of old, having cleansed themself (ceremonially) and having offered atonement for the sins of the people would then enter into the Holy of Holies; that portion of the man-made tabernacle in which God dwelt. They would come into the very presence of God albeit imperfectly and yet separated by the construction of the tabernacle. Not so with Christ. Christ did not come before God by way of the man-made tabernacle but by the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle.' My understanding on this matter is imperfect and as yet unclear. At once I see both the concept of the man-made tabernacle being inextricably linked to the Old Covenant and the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made' representing the New Covenant as well as the concept of the man-made tabernacle (physical) and the 'more perfect' tabernacle as being spiritual or super-natural. With either understanding I realize that the distinction is that what came before Christ was insufficient and that Christ is sufficient.
Moving on to v12 we see clear reference to the cost of admission (sacrifice) to God's presence and the explicit understanding that Christ did not enter by the normal (imperfect and temporary) means of animal sacrifice. "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves." His entrance into the Holy Place was by means of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice (perfect and eternal); his own blood. "but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." The permanence of the sufficiency of the sacrifice secures eternal presence with God and He need never leave it again. With this picture in mind it is easy to overlook the fact that he 'obtained eternal redemption' and it is upon this point that our hope and joy is hung. We rightfully celebrate our redemption and I believe we should equally rejoice in Christ's entrance as our High Priest into the presence of God (the ascension). For in a picture of things yet to come, Christ is bodily in the presence of God as we too shall be.
V13 "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death," is a mouthful. Whereas animal sacrifice was sufficient to temporarily cleanse the outside for the purposes of ceremony, the inside is far more important (and difficult to cleanse). The fact that Christ's blood is sufficient for the uttermost cleansing of the innermost being speaks of the power or efficacy of the blood. "How much more" will the blood cleanse indeed!
I close with the last fragment which speaks of the purpose for which all this occurred. "so that we may serve the living God!" We have been reconciled to God through Christ our Lord not for our own benefit, though we receive benefit, but that we may serve God! I believe that anyone who truly understands the depravity of their own sinfulness and comprehends the depth of Christ's love as evidenced by his sacrifice on our behalf, will not long sit in the pew. Instead, they will rise up with hearts of joy and enter into service to God by meeting the needs of his people.
How wonderful is our God! How wonderful is His Son! How wonderful is The Spirit that has been given us by God to lead, teach and convict us! Let us stream into the streets and paths, let us beat the bushes and look behind every hedgerow and bring others to the feast of reconciliation to God.
Shalom,
Carl
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