Not Now
The opening five verses talk about the tabernacle that was created
according to the instructions given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. But the last half of verse 5 is terribly interesting. Literally the author says, “About which it is
not now to speak according to a part.”
In other words, as your modern English Bible probably says, “Of these
things we cannot now speak in detail.”
The word that is interesting is “cannot.” In some translations, this comes across as
the author saying “I don’t have the time or space to write about it.” But this is not at all what the author is
saying. Rather, the author is saying
that it is impossible to speak about those things. We literally cannot speak about those things.
Sure, we can speak about how they were shaped. We can go back to Exodus and read the literal
description about how the tabernacle and its implements were made. But remember what the author said in the last
chapter. The earthly tabernacle (or
temple or even modern churches) is just a shadow of the true reality in
heaven. It is just a representation of
what true reality is actually like. We
can talk about the worldly things crafted by human hands and put inside a human
tabernacle (or temple or church). But we
cannot hope to be able to meaningfully speak about the significance of those
things in the literal heavenly presence of God!
Let me get to the point, because I haven’t really done a great job
of that yet. What we have here on earth
is just a shadow of what true reality with God is like. You know how you can look at a person’s
shadow and get a general impression of what they look like, but you can’t tell
for certain exactly what they look like?
So it is with heaven. We can have
all kinds of deep spiritual moments – and praise be to God for them! But all of what we do here on earth is just a
shadow – a representation – of what true reality in the presence of God is
going to look like.
Think about the absolute pinnacle spiritual moment of your
life. Think about the time when you were
the closest to God that you have ever been.
Now think about what it is going to be like in the presence of God when
you add a whole different dimension to that experience. Imagine taking that moment of incredible
spirituality and thinking of it as only a foreshadowing of what existence with
God is going to be like.
Yeah, that’s what the author is getting at in these first 5
verses. We can talk about the things of
this world. But the reality is that we
can’t even imagine what true reality is going to be like once we are in the
genuine presence of God. I find that
pretty mind-blowing today.
By the Blood
I absolutely love the next ten verses. The author does an incredible job talking
about how there had to be the shedding of blood even before a priest under the
old covenant could enter into the first of the Holy Places. Even then, only the High Priest could enter
the Holy of Holies. Even then, only once
a year.
Yet Christ came and died.
The author doesn’t say it, but the temple curtain was torn. The Holy of Holies was no longer only for
just the High Priest once a year. Access
was granted to the presence of God for all people according to the blood of
Jesus Christ.
We have an eternal redemption, once for all. Christ has done it. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of the Lamb.
Better Sacrifice
In keeping with the theme of the last two chapters, we hear yet
again how Christ is superior. The
worldly representations of this world were purified with the blood of animal
sacrifices. That was okay, but it had to
be done over and over again.
The heavenly places, however, have the presence of the real and
true sacrifice. Christ has gone into the
true temple of God – the heavenly one. He
is the true and superior sacrifice for our sins.
Coming Again
Because He is the true sacrifice, He doesn’t need to keep coming
to earth and dying over and over and over.
On one level, that really makes sense.
But from the perspective of a Hebrew mindset, just think how strange
that must have sounded. They were doing
animal sacrifices monthly and yearly for over a millennium. All of a sudden this guy comes, calls Himself
the Son of God, and says that no more sacrifices are needed because He is the
ultimate sacrifice.
Wow. That must have been
unthinkable. I have so much respect for
those early Christians who had the courage to convert from Judaism to Christianity. Talk about completely changing your whole
theological worldview!
That being said, Christ will come again. He won’t come to die again. He won’t come to cover more sin. Instead, He will come to claim those who are
washed in His blood. He will come to
claim those in this world who are His.
He will come to deal with us who eagerly await His return. Amen.
Come Lord Jesus. (Ἀμήν, ἔρχου κύριε Ἰησοῦ.)
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