Devotional 11-9-12

Please read Hebrews 9:23-28.
"Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary"
Christ's sacrifice takes away sin. He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are eaagerly waiting for him.

Sacrificial rites in the old covenant were effective in cleasing the tabernacle and the furniture of worship. If this is true of the copy it is true also of the heavenly pattern. But whereas the blood of calves and goats was sufficient to cleanse the early shine, the heavenly tabernacle requires better sacrifices. And this the significance of Christ's self-offering. He does not minister in the early shine, a copy of the true one, but has entered heaen itself and there appears in the presence of God on our behalf. Moreover he does not perform this sacrifice repeatedly, as the high priest did annually in Israel but has accomposihed it once for all at the end of the age to put away sin.

The contrast between the earthly and heavenly shines, between the temporary and eternal, is joined with the biblical sense of God's purpose moving toward a goal The goal, or end, appears in the middle of history in Jesus Christ. Thus the author can speak of Christ's coming at the end of the age. But Christ still has his people on earth and therefore there is still movement toward the goal in the life of the church. Thus the author can speak of Christ's appearing a seond time, this time not the deal with sin -- his sacriice -- but to accomplish salvation for those who are waiting for him.

When Christ appears at the judgement he does not join the long line awaiting assessment but is Lord of the judgment and savior and deliverer to those who are waiting for him. He voluntarily shared our human experience and the outcome of his life and death is the trasnformation of the human situation. Death once meant only judgment. Those who are Christ's now can look beyond death to the deliverer.

Prayer:
Help us, O Lord, to be alert to signs of your coming. Help us to have our lamps trimmed and filled with oil, ready to go out to meet you. Help us ever to watch for your return, that we may not be found without oil in our lamps. Help us to be prepared when the cry is heard, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Amen.

References:
The Wesley Study Bible (NRSV). Abingdon Press, 2009.
The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press, 1971.
Prayers. H.S. Wallace. F.H. Revell Co, 1964.

Frank Hanshaw