Too Noble for a Priesthood?

 Have you ever thought about what it would be like

 to sit down in Heaven on the side of God?  

What kind of seat would that be?  Would it be plush, comfortable, and overcoated with gold?  How big would it be?  Would there be large rests for the weary arms?  What color would that seat be?   Hebrews 10:13 says that Jesus Christ is sitting there in a chair right now, waiting until the time when our enemies are made his footstool.  

Would we feel comfortable standing before this chair?  Would we even stand, or would we kneel?   I love reading the book of Hebrews.  Studying the text makes me wonder, why is it important that we know that Jesus sits there in that most Holy of places?  

The answer lies in the L2L theme for 2021, "Better Than."  

Source:  The Children's Bible Illustrate

The Hebrew scriptures encourage me to keep on trying, no matter how badly I fail.  It also, and more importantly,  proves to me that Jesus was too noble for the priesthood of Israel. He was BETTER THAN any of the most noble, honest, good, and/or sincere priests that ever walked this earth.

Source:  Ryrie Illustrated Bible

 I love being a leader in the youth group of our church.  But there are so many guys that are better equipped, better in motive, better in leadership, etc., etc., etc. than I am.  And I am so flawed...    

One thing I do know, though, is that there was not, is not, and never will be anyone BETTER THAN the Lord and Savior, Jesus.  He was the perfect lamb.  He was the only Way.  The Bible says in Hebrews that the Israelite priests stood day by day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, and yet these same sacrifices could never take away the sins of man. NEVER!!! 

Source:  Illustrated Theological Writings, Zondervan

I heard a speaker tell the audience that there were NO CHAIRS in the Holiest of Holy area in the Tabernacle.  Think of that; no chairs. 

The High Priests had to go in there, do their work, but they could not sit down.  Why?  Keith English (my youth director) said it was because "their work was never done."  

I think God was kind of sending us an encrypted message when he put that in the Bible.  The preparation for the annual sacrifice was unbelievably time consuming.  And once they entered the sacred place of the Tabernacle, there was no resting.  No breaks.  It must have been tough!  And when it was over, they had to start getting ready for the next time.

In contrast, Jesus now sits beside his Father, God - the creator of this Universe.  That is such a great contrast!  Christ FINISHED his work on the Cross.  That is why he is the perfect answer to our problem... Sin.  He completed the destruction of sin by suffering on the cross, dying, and then rising up on the third day.  And now the Son of God sits... SITS in the holy area of heaven with his Father, the Almighty God.  

The bible teaches that God wanted everyone of us to be in his presence. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" -- II Peter 3:9.  

My Grandma reads the Word to my cousin

 Almighty God is so pure that he cannot be in the presence of imperfection.  Habakkuk 1;13 indicates that he is of "purer eyes than to see evil, and cannot look at wrong." 

 

But we cannot be perfect.  I wish we could.  In order for us to be in God's presence, an intercessor had to be available on the people's behalf not only to take our place, but to stand up for us against the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10 - 13).  

In summary, the solution for transgression in the Old Testament times was a temporary, imperfect sacrifice of a lamb, prepared and given by the Hebrew priests.  It did not last, though.  It only was good for a certain amount of time, and then the grace expired.  But after the crucifixion of Christ and his resurrection, we no longer have to offer sacrifices over and over and over (Hebrews 9:12).  Jesus made the perfect sacrifice, once and for all.  

Isn't that BETTER?  I sure think so.  

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