Hebrews 9
Ecclesiastes 4
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.
Hebrews 9:24
Jesus entered the Most Holy Place – for us. It is quite fascinating and immensely encouraging when we understand that the Old Testament tabernacle and temple was just a shadow and a practical illustration of what God was planning to do for all mankind in the true temple in heaven through Jesus Christ our great eternal high priest. Verse 8 tells us that the true way into the real Most Holy Place was not possible through the old temple, because it was merely an illustration (verse 9) pointing to the real thing.
But Christ is our high priest of a ‘greater and more perfect tabernacle…not part of this creation’ (verse 11). Let this profound truth sink into your soul.
The effectiveness of Christ’s eternal high-priesthood is immensely magnified and intensified because of the more authentic concrete reality of the true Temple in which He serves. This is not the ‘physical’ temple of the Old Testament where God merely promised to bring His presence – No, this is the real Temple where God dwells eternally in the magnificent and real Most Holy Place, where the Trinity has been dwelling for all eternity from before creation and even before time existed (verse 24). It is into this Most Holy Place that Jesus Christ, our great high priest, entered with His own blood as a sin offering to obtain for us ‘eternal redemption’ (verse 12).
It is for us that Christ as done this (verse 24). Christ entered into God’s presence in the true Most Holy Place in heaven itself for us. And He did this to do away with our sin through the sacrifice of Himself (verse 26). Sin is done away with!
Oh, dear believer, be encouraged today. Christ is at the right hand of God Almighty in the Most Holy Place interceding for us, He has obtained for us an eternal redemption, and He has done away with sin. Christ will come again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him (verse 28). What a magnificent truth and enticing promise. Are you waiting for Christ? Do you believe that Christ has done away with sin? Do you believe that Christ has redeemed you forever through His blood? Do you believe that Christ appears before God for you?
This is what Hebrews 9 urges us to believe. This is massively encouraging.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a helpful illustration to help us believe that which we can’t see with our physical eyes. Thank You that Jesus has indeed appeared in Your presence in the Most Holy Place in heaven with His own blood as a sin offering for our sin to do away with sin and to redeem us forever. Help us to comprehend this vastly superior truth. Thank You that Jesus appears in heaven before You for us. Amen.