"But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:10, 11)
Jesus in His Cross is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant Tabernacle, Temple. "The Most Holy Place," He entered is, "not of this creation." And Jesus did not enter, "with the blood of goats and calves." Jesus, "with His own blood...entered." Now, because of Jesus', "own blood," you and I may/can enter, have entered, are permanent dwellers in, "The Most Holy Place"; no coming to or into, no leaving for you and me. Because you and I are in Christ and Christ is in us, we have entered the most envied place of the Universe, "the Most Holy Place," which, in the Old Covenant, was the representation of the most intimate fellowship in the Godhead.
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." It is correct to say that when the world looks into our faces, the face of the Church, they also see, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." They are peering into, "the face of Jesus Christ," revealed, as the Blessed Trinity has chosen, in His People, and thereby into the very Face of God. Perhaps there is a sense in which we could say that the Church is an "earthly" manifestation of, "the Most Holy Place."
Today, as you and I engage the world, it is good to keep in mind and heart that, "we are ambassadors for Christ," and, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," is now also manifest in His Body, the Church, in you and me. Perhaps this gives a new sense to the song, "Shine, Jesus, Shine."
Father, in Jesus' Name, shine in me. Let, "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," be in my face, in my words, in my actions. Amen.
Jesus in His Cross is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant Tabernacle, Temple. "The Most Holy Place," He entered is, "not of this creation." And Jesus did not enter, "with the blood of goats and calves." Jesus, "with His own blood...entered." Now, because of Jesus', "own blood," you and I may/can enter, have entered, are permanent dwellers in, "The Most Holy Place"; no coming to or into, no leaving for you and me. Because you and I are in Christ and Christ is in us, we have entered the most envied place of the Universe, "the Most Holy Place," which, in the Old Covenant, was the representation of the most intimate fellowship in the Godhead.
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." It is correct to say that when the world looks into our faces, the face of the Church, they also see, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." They are peering into, "the face of Jesus Christ," revealed, as the Blessed Trinity has chosen, in His People, and thereby into the very Face of God. Perhaps there is a sense in which we could say that the Church is an "earthly" manifestation of, "the Most Holy Place."
Today, as you and I engage the world, it is good to keep in mind and heart that, "we are ambassadors for Christ," and, "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," is now also manifest in His Body, the Church, in you and me. Perhaps this gives a new sense to the song, "Shine, Jesus, Shine."
Father, in Jesus' Name, shine in me. Let, "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," be in my face, in my words, in my actions. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
