The Way IS Open, The Sacrifice Has Been Made!

This morning I felt led to read from Leviticus, an unusual place for me to read, to say the least.  I have read all of the Bible, and once in a while read from the major prophets or Psalms, but rarely the pentateuch.  Anyway, I was reading and the following verses caught my eye - Leviticus 9:22-24 NIV:

[22]"Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

[23] Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. [24] Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."

This chapter records the first time the Aaron and his sons offer the sacrifices as described by Moses, who received them from the Lord.  The significance for us  of all of those sacrifices was that they were a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on our behalf.  The letter to the Hebrews goes through all of that in much greater detail (Chapters 7-10).  The following verses from Chapter 10 summarize this  well - Hebrews 10:1-7 NIV:

[1] "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming---not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. [2] Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. [3] But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. [4] It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

[5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, 'Here I am---it is written about me in the scroll---I have come to do your will, my God.' ”

- and -

Hebrews 10:11-18 NIV:

[11] "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. [14] For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

[15] "The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: [16] “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

[17] "Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

[18] "And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."

The point of this all is that the sacrifice HAS been made for us, by Jesus.  Our sins are forgiven, and any sacrifice for sin is NO LONGER necessary.  In other words, to quote Jesus, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).  This never needs to be revisited, redone or added to, it is complete.

The real point I felt the Lord make this morning is what happens immediately following the first sacrifice, "the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people" (Lev. 9:23).  If the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people after that first sacrifice, how much more after Jesus' perfect sacrifice.  We see that first expression in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Interestingly the Holy Spirit appeared as flames of fire, much the same as the Presence of God in the first sacrifice.

It seems to me there is some significance in that.  The fire consumed the sacrifice in the first ritual, but at Pentecost, the perfect sacrifice had already been made, and the fire just rested on and empowered the people.  The people were filled with the Holy Spirit, and although it does not say it specifically, I am sure they were over-joyed.  In fact in Acts 2:13 some people accused them of being drunk - sounds like they were filled with joy to me.

Anyway, back to the main point, after the sacrifice, God visited His people!  God wants to visit His people, and show Himself real!  Imagine the relief when the fire came from the presence of God and consumed that first sacrifice!  Imagine the relief and joy of the people gathered in that upper room, when God visited them with power!  God wants to show Himself real, and He wants to empower us, and He wants to be present to us.  With the sacrifice of Jesus, the way is open, never to be shut again!  Our sins have all been paid for, His sacrifice completed the work, and the way is open.

God desires to visit us, to show Himself real, to invite us into His joy and life.  He made Jesus the perfect sacrifice so that everyone of us would have every opportunity to experience His presence, and be in relationship with Him. His desire to show Himself real is every bit as strong today as on the day of the first sacrifice, or the day of Pentecost!

As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes - Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV:

[19] "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Amen!