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Daily Devotion: Hebrews 8:1-2

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Hebrews 8:1-2    "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;  (2)  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man."

As we read the first verse of chapter 8, we might think the writer is winding down with his discourse on Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.  Maybe this is where we preachers get our first, second, and third conclusions to our messages.  The writer of Hebrews is nowhere close to being finished talking about Jesus.  Pardon me for that little bit of levity. I thought it might bring a smile. Most of us have heard preachers making their third and final conclusion.

Let's see if we can sum up what the writer has said so far. This is the sum: We have a high priest who sits on the right hand of the throne of God.  The Hebrews, to whom he is writing, have been accustomed to being able to visually watch the high priest at the beginning and conclusion of his ritual of taking the offering into the holiest of holies. Only the high priest could enter, but they would watch him as he disappeared into the sanctuary of the tabernacle. He would be taking the blood of the sacrifice into the holiest place where he would sprinkle the blood seven times upon the mercy seat. At the conclusion of the offering, he would reappear and at that point the people would know their sins had been rolled away for another year.

When the book of Hebrews was written, the veil of the temple had already been rent in twain. Remember when Jesus gave up the ghost on the cross? "And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  (38)  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." (Mark 15:37-38) There was no place for the high priest to enter with the blood of an animal. No doubt the people had to have felt as though they had been left with no avenue to God for forgiveness.  Ahh, but "this is the sum: We have such a high priest" who does not minister in a tabernacle made with men's hands; rather, He "is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."  You have not been left alone, you have the Great High Priest. His name is Jesus.

"This is the sum: We have... a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man." We might think of this as being heaven, but I rather think it is speaking of the very close and personal relationship that every child of God has with the Lord Jesus. Where is this sanctuary and true tabernacle?  I think of the song, "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you."  We have a minister of the sanctuary.  "For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Corinthians 6:16)  

This is the sum: Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest ministers in a very personal way to our hearts and our minds. He speaks the words we need to hear. His commandments are written in our hearts.  "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." (Hebrews 8:10)   He ministers to our hearts in such a way as to convey the power of His blood that was shed on Calvary's Hill. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)

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