But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:11-15)
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:11-15)
Back to the Temple, but not the one made by human hands. Jesus came to the Holy Place – to the world, and served as our priest. But when it came time to enter the Holy of Holies as the High Priest, it was not through the sacrifice of animals. It was through the sacrifice of Himself.
In our society, we think of heroes (if we think properly of them) as those who do something they don’t have to do, at risk to themselves, on behalf of someone (or more than one someone) else or in the name of something we hold valuable. Such people are given their fifteen minutes of fame while people rage on about whatever villain was involved for the next several weeks. (Then we wonder why people go to malls or concerts or schools and shoot people.) There are calls now for women to “shout their abortions” as though they’ve done something heroic by killing a baby, while almost no one cheers the adoptive parent.
But there’s bigger heroism. What of the hero who saves the life of the villain, and pays for it with his own life? What of the hero who does this not knowing that it might require his death, but would require his death. Some would say “That’s not a hero, that’s a madman.” I would say that’s the real hero, and those who are willing only to do less are demi-heroes or shadow heroes. I don’t mean to take anything away from them, but the other is more.
In our society, we think of heroes (if we think properly of them) as those who do something they don’t have to do, at risk to themselves, on behalf of someone (or more than one someone) else or in the name of something we hold valuable. Such people are given their fifteen minutes of fame while people rage on about whatever villain was involved for the next several weeks. (Then we wonder why people go to malls or concerts or schools and shoot people.) There are calls now for women to “shout their abortions” as though they’ve done something heroic by killing a baby, while almost no one cheers the adoptive parent.
But there’s bigger heroism. What of the hero who saves the life of the villain, and pays for it with his own life? What of the hero who does this not knowing that it might require his death, but would require his death. Some would say “That’s not a hero, that’s a madman.” I would say that’s the real hero, and those who are willing only to do less are demi-heroes or shadow heroes. I don’t mean to take anything away from them, but the other is more.
Comments
Post a Comment