Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth. 2 A tent was set up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place; in it were the menorah, the table and the Bread of the Presence. 3 Behind the second parokhet was a tent called the Holiest Place, 4 which had the golden altar for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the man, Aharon’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; 5 and above it were the k’ruvim representing the Sh’khinah, casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark — but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.
6 With things so arranged, the cohanim go into the outer tent all the time to discharge their duties; 7 but only the cohen hagadol enters the inner one; and he goes in only once a year, and he must always bring blood, which he offers both for himself and for the sins committed in ignorance by the people. 8 By this arrangement, the Ruach HaKodesh showed that so long as the first Tent had standing, the way into the Holiest Place was still closed. 9 This symbolizes the present age and indicates that the conscience of the person performing the service cannot be brought to the goal by the gifts and sacrifices he offers. 10 For they involve only food and drink and various ceremonial washings — regulations concerning the outward life, imposed until the time for God to reshape the whole structure.
11 But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), 12 he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.
And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. 13 For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; 14 then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!
15 It is because of this death that he is mediator of a new covenant [or will].[Hebrews 9:15 Jeremiah 31:30(31)] Because a death has occurred which sets people free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.(Complete Jewish Bible(.
***Most often mediators stand in the middle of conflict. This is not in order to keep the conflicting sides apart, but to reconcile and bring them together. Mediators are skilled at finding solutions that remove the animosity that separates the two sides.
No greater separation exists in this world than between the holy Creator and His fallen creation. While the sacrificial system established by God for Israel was able to keep the Creator and His creation in covenant relationship, the work of the high priest could do nothing to permanently remove the animosity that separated Creator and creation. The work of the High Priest, year after year, kept God and humanity at the negotiating table. But the high priest was helpless to find a solution that would ultimately reconcile and bring the two sides together.
“But when Christ came as a high priest,” everything changed. Christ did not just come with a solution to the conflict that existed between God and humanity. Christ was the solution, standing between God and humanity, removing the animosity that separated us, in order to reconcile and bring Creator and creation together, once and for all time.
Hymn for Today: "Praise Him! Praise Him! by Fanny J. Crosby.
1. O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word,
ye angels of light;
ye heavens, adore him
by whom ye were made,
and worship before him,
in brightness arrayed.
2. O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him upon earth,
in tuneful accord,
ye sons of new birth;
praise him who hath brought you
his grace from above,
praise him who hath taught you
to sing of his love.
3. O praise ye the Lord!
All things that give sound;
each jubilant chord
reecho around;
loud organs, his glory
forth tell in deep tone,
and sweet harp, the story
of what he hath done.
4. O praise ye the Lord!
Thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured
all ages along!
For love in creation,
for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation,
O praise ye the Lord!
Thought for Today: Trust in Adonai, and do good;
settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3).
Please pray: for those in Asia-Pacifc showint the JESUS film and for those doing follow-up work.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
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Please pray: for those in Asia-Pacifc showint the JESUS film and for those doing follow-up work.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
***
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