Category: Hebrews

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Original – copy, reality – shadow, these are useful categories for understanding the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself is the reality behind Scripture. The light of Scripture casts Jesus’ shadow back throughout the Old Testament, so that the Law of Moses is His shadow of the good things that will come/be fulfilled when He returns.

SJA Notes

* God of steadfast love and faithfulness, thank You for Your living word to us.

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

How do we get to this position of God, this promise from Him – To remember our sins no more?

It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The old testament covenant was full of sacrificial process.

But the blood shed on the shadowy earthly alter could not atone.

So what they for us?

How do we get our sins remembered no more by the Just God?

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, …”

It is His blood shed that takes away sin.

As we saw in yesterday’s passage, He brings about and continues to mediate a better covenant, one established through His sacrifice (once for all).

It is only through Jesus that God looks on us and remembers our sins no more.

How good is this! How wonderful a God we have!

* Holy God,

Your word to us is true.

Please write it on our hearts today.

Please help us understand a little more what it meant that You came to earth in the Person of the Son, Jesus, and offered up Yourself as a once-for-all sacrifice.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Law of Moses teaches us about the ministry of Jesus as our Messiah; about what He was to do. It helps us understand why it had to be that way. Reflect on verses 27,28.

SJA Notes

* Gracious Father, thank You for giving us such an inheritance even though we do not deserve such a gift.

“… And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Why did Jesus come to earth in the form of a man and die a death at Calvary?

Romans 6:23 helps us understand,

“For the wages of sin is death,”

We could not and cannot pay the penalty for our transgressions.

So Jesus took it Himself, He paid the price, He became curse for us. He bore our sins on the cross.

And as He fulfilled and closed out the first covenant with His death, He brought in and continues to mediate a new and better covenant – Having entered into heaven itself, the truth things – a once-for-all sacrifice to put away sin.

This new covenant is what God makes with us, His people.

This is why we can offer up our very selves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him.

Because of Jesus!

* Father God in Heaven,

Thank You that Jesus brings about this new covenant that we can be blessed and covered by.

Thank You for the inheritance we have, the free gift You give of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank You!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jerusalem Above (original) and Jerusalem Below (copy): Temple Above (original) and Temple Below (copy). With art, the original is prized rather than the copy. We should prize the work of Jesus in the Temple Above – this is the original salvation or religion!

SJA Notes

* Holy God, this day is Yours as each one is. Please help us today to bear Your Name well.

“By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing …”

God has great intent in the creation of the tabernacle under Moses, and then the temple under Solomon.

These copies and shadows, they point us to Jesus!

“… But by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”

There is importance in the sacrificial system (though it was a poor copy), even if only for one thing – That it points us to Jesus.

His is the sacrifice that matters.

He is the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.

Through Him (and Him alone) we obtain redemption for our sins.

This is our King, our Lord and Saviour!

* Father God,

Thank You for Your word, both the old and new testaments.

Please help us as we walk through Your word each day, please help us to see Jesus.

Amen.