Jesus Is The Way

This morning I have been thinking about and reading from Hebrews 9:2-3, 5-7, 11-12, 15, 22, 24-25, 28 NIV:

[2] "A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. [3] Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

[5] Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. [6] When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. [7] But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

[22] In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

[11] But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is 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, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

[24] For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. [25] Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. [28] so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

[15] For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance---now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

I rearranged the order a bit to bring a bit more focus to certain things. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews does a great job of explaining the significance of the temple and the sacrifices offered there which served as a pattern that was fulfilled by Christ Jesus. The author also does a great job of explaining why it is only through Christ that salvation and eternal unity with the Father in Heaven is available. He calls Jesus the mediator of the covenant, and the word used there is the Greek word Mesites whose definition is "one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant."

The within the temple and tabernacle is the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place, which is where the presence of God dwelt, and spoke. This represents Heaven. In the same way that man cannot enter Heaven bearing sin, the High Priest could not enter the Holy of Holies unless the were sprinkled with blood, which clean seed them of sin, providing forgiveness, so they could appear before God's presence without sin, and thus live.

Jesus, through His perfect sacrifice, entered Heaven for He was without sin, yet His blood was shed. His blood was not shed for himself, but rather for us all purchasing forgiveness for all who believe. It is His blood that covers us, that cleanses us and allows us to enter into the real Holy of Holies, that is Heaven itself. There is no other way, no other person, no many ways, there is only Jesus. You can't get into Heaven by being a nice person, by thinking good thoughts, the only way is through Jesus.

He is called the mediator because He offered Himself, and His blood as the means to restore relationship between us and the Father, the two parties mentioned in the definition. He took our place, took our sin upon himself, paid the price, poured out His blood for the forgiveness of all sin (Isa 53:4-12), and even now interceeds for us at the Father's right hand (Rom 8:34)!

Amen! Thank You Jesus!