24 For the Messiah has entered a Holiest Place which is not man-made and merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, in order to appear now on our behalf in the very presence of God.
25 Further, he did not enter heaven to offer himself over and over again, like the cohen hagadol who enters the Holiest Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26 for then he would have had to suffer death many times — from the founding of the universe on. But as it is, he has appeared once at the end of the ages in order to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as human beings have to die once, but after this comes judgment, 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,[Hebrews 9:28 Isaiah 53:12] will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to deliver those who are eagerly waiting for him.[Complete Jewish Bible]
---------------------"For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again" (From ELW, Setting One). Like the words of today's reading, these words of the liturgy proclaim the heart of the mystery of faith in the power of Christ's resurrection. This mystery of faith we profess is one that changes us. What we anticipate shapes our hope in the midst of joys and trials. What we are privileged to proclaim as sisters and brothers in Jesus is our hope in the promised deliverance through Christ. For as it once was, it is no more. Christ has ushered in a new reality.
Christ our High Priest, teach us celebrate the holy that you have ushered into our midst. Amen.
Russell Britton
Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village, Colo.
Master of Divinity , 2014
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
25 Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own;
26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment,
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.[New Revised Standard Version]
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