I've been doing an in-depth study of Hebrews for a few months now, and it's been quite a journey.
My latest discovery has to do with Jesus as my High Priest.
In the O.T. a high priest was called by God - not the people. His task was to offer sacrifices as an atonement for the people's sins. He stood in the gap, where the people were separated from God because of their sin, and he dealt gently with them when they were ignorant and going astray.
In the N.T. Jesus was called by God to be our High Priest. His task was to offer a sacrifice for the people's sins. He was to stand in the gap, where the people were separated from God because of their sin, and he dealt gently with them when they were ignorant and going astray.
BUT...
Our High Priest did not just offer 'a' sacrifice for our sins. He offered Himself. Willingly. The High Priest Himself became the sacrifice. He stood in the gap, in a very literal sense. It was his body hanging on the cross, hanging between heaven and earth. And in every story of His contact with those who were ignorant and going astray, He was so very gentle and loving.
The sacrifice of the High Priest Himself was the ultimate sacrifice. The complete sacrifice. This sacrifice did not just roll the sins of the people ahead. This sacrifice did not just stay the hand of God in judgment. This sacrifice was sinless. This sacrifice was perfect. This sacrifice was the payment in full, the fulfillment for all our debt.
No longer do we have to work to pay off our debt. A debt so horrific that our lifetime of work would never even scratch the surface of paying it off.
The debt has been payed.
Because He thought we were worth it.
Because He thought you were worth it.
Because He thought I was worth it.
And how, HOW, can I ever thank Him for a gift so magnificent, so amazing, so awesome, so outrageously beyond my comprehension?
I'm speechless at the view I've had.
My latest discovery has to do with Jesus as my High Priest.
In the O.T. a high priest was called by God - not the people. His task was to offer sacrifices as an atonement for the people's sins. He stood in the gap, where the people were separated from God because of their sin, and he dealt gently with them when they were ignorant and going astray.
In the N.T. Jesus was called by God to be our High Priest. His task was to offer a sacrifice for the people's sins. He was to stand in the gap, where the people were separated from God because of their sin, and he dealt gently with them when they were ignorant and going astray.
BUT...
Our High Priest did not just offer 'a' sacrifice for our sins. He offered Himself. Willingly. The High Priest Himself became the sacrifice. He stood in the gap, in a very literal sense. It was his body hanging on the cross, hanging between heaven and earth. And in every story of His contact with those who were ignorant and going astray, He was so very gentle and loving.
The sacrifice of the High Priest Himself was the ultimate sacrifice. The complete sacrifice. This sacrifice did not just roll the sins of the people ahead. This sacrifice did not just stay the hand of God in judgment. This sacrifice was sinless. This sacrifice was perfect. This sacrifice was the payment in full, the fulfillment for all our debt.
No longer do we have to work to pay off our debt. A debt so horrific that our lifetime of work would never even scratch the surface of paying it off.
The debt has been payed.
Because He thought we were worth it.
Because He thought you were worth it.
Because He thought I was worth it.
And how, HOW, can I ever thank Him for a gift so magnificent, so amazing, so awesome, so outrageously beyond my comprehension?
I'm speechless at the view I've had.
No comments:
Post a Comment