Gadfly's Muse

Heb 12:1-29 You Have Come to Mt. Zion

Image: View from Loch Lomond, Scotland, UK 2016

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:22–24)

This chapter is so full that it is almost painful to reflect on just a sub-set.  The reading schedule necessarily requires fairly large chunks of scripture if one desires to read through the entire bible in only two years.  It's important to keep the discipline of reading the whole word of God though and some sacrifices have to be made in morning devotionals.

The writer exhorts the Hebrews to persistent loyalty and faithfulness to Christ.  He shows us that our Christian life is like a foot race run in front of a stadium full of witnesses (vs. 1).  These witnesses are the saints who have gone before us and, in my mind, all the holy angels.  Each of us in particular and the entire church of Jesus Christ in general, is the subject of the ages, the drama that commands the attention of countless millions of spiritual eyes.  Everything that has been created and all things that happen contribute to the developing story.  We are to run with endurance... keeping our eyes on our Christ... who ran His race and won His victory and is there, ahead of us, urging us onward in our own run.

I remember intramural sports during my officer training days.  I was OK on the cross country run but I was rotten at the obstacle course.  My long legs and height helped with one and hindered the other.  A buddy of mine was just the opposite.  He was short, built like a fire plug and the cross country race just about killed him, but he scampered through the obstacle course.  We helped each other.... I would go ahead in the cross country, finish the race and then come back and run with him to the finish.  He would do the same for me in the obstacle course.  Together we got through it and our company team did pretty well.  That tough old drill sergeant was pleased.

Here we have a far more important race to run and a far more wonderful Savior to please.  The writer reminds us that we have not resisted to bloodshed yet (vs. 4).  We need perspective on our lives... it can be hard but for the most part we can say it could be a lot worse and has been a lot worse for others.  After all it was our Christ Himself who suffered so much more than we and prevailed.  And He will be with us in our striving also.  Yes the Lord chastens us in the process (vs 6-10) but it is the "chastening" of training, the discipline of exercise that one endures to prepare for a sports event... or a battle.  It's because He loves us that we undergo such things.  It is certainly not a sign of His ultimate disapproval of us but rather a sign of His entire commitment to our well being and ultimate victory. 

His goal (vs. 10), amazingly enough is that we be "partakers of His holiness."  Imagine that!  Let it sink in, oh my soul!  One day, in some ineffable way, I shall be "one" with the Trinity (see John 17).  Not, of course, in essence for I will never be God... but there is a Divine Fellowship ahead of us that is beyond our comprehension at present...  it will have to be experienced to be known but that is exactly what lies ahead.

Therefore, I, we, have to strengthen our hanging hands and feeble knees (vs. 12).  We have to remember that we have not come to a mountain that can be touched, no matter how beautiful it is or how imposing a sight it presents.  We have come (vs. 18-24) to Mt. Zion, the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.  We have come to a new society, a new culture, a new nation, a new army, a new assembly which is the church of the first born who are registered in heaven.  What a glorious assembly it is.  Revelation gives us hints of the brightness of its glory.  But the author here simply presents it as a kingdom which cannot be shaken (vs. 28).  This is our home... this is our future... this is our reason for living and our reason for enduring.

At the center of this assembly is our God, the consuming fire, Who is to be worshiped with reverence and godly fear.  It is He that we are to serve "acceptably" which is the least we can do for such a great God and in response to such a great grace as He has shown.  This is our encouragement... now to rededicate ourselves to running the race set before us with endurance and hope!

Heb 11:1- 40 Faith of Our Fathers

Image: Detail of Scone Abbey, located at Scone Palace, Scotland, UK.  Probably the Earl of Mansfield at prayers.

Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, fire and sword....  Hymn, "Faith of our Fathers"

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  (Heb 11:6)

I think it impossible that any person, upon reading chapter 11 of Hebrews, could still assert that in the OT people believed they were "saved by works."  Over and over again the author states "by faith.... etc" when recounting the great deeds and examples that "our fathers" did and set before us.  Along the way, I think, he teaches us something essential about the nature of "faith" itself.  "Faith" is efficient to the task of moving us to do stuff.  We don't trust in "dead works" in order to find hope in God... but we are shown that "faith alone" which does give us hope in God is never "faith alone" in that it does not engender good works.

The commendations we read in this chapter point us to men and women who actively trusted God when it came to putting themselves at risk... trusting God to reward, encourage and strengthen them as they go about doing His will.  Abraham leaves the peace and security of his home and relatives to go journey in a land where he was not the least bit secure.  Joshua enters into a land inhabited by fierce warriors with walled cities at the head of his army.  But it was not the army that brought down Jericho... it was "by faith."  What can we say about Abraham offering up Isaac or Moses leading Israel through the walls of water in the Red Sea. 

It comes down to this:  "Faith means trusting God in the face of risk and in submission to His will and living accordingly."  It is not the relative quality of the life we live in faith that God accepts.  We know that sometimes our faith is weak... sometimes we don't trust as we ought... and often we do not live according to His will, but the great Good News is that we live by grace and God works in and through us to get us back on track.  But whether our faith is strong or weak, a grain of mustard seed or like that of Abraham, yet its essence is the same.  Faith is active not passive.  It moves us to God and to His will and that brings us into conflict with the world... as it did with our fathers. 

One specific continuous thread throughout the Scriptures is that of the spiritual battle around us.  Faith means that we have been conscripted, given our weapons and sent of a mission.  All these great examples of faith trusted God in the face of great difficulties and scary circumstances.  That's when it counts and that's what we should expect.  Life is not just the drudgery of trench warfare... God gives us hills and valleys in our walk before him.  But life in this fallen world is not just a bed of roses... faith calls us to duty with the sincere, earnest and hope-filled expectation that our reward far outweighs any risk that we face. 

Heb 10: 19-39 A God Who Is Not To Be Trifled With

Image:  Cloud Formation, vicinity of Bermuda, 2017

9 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Heb 10:29)

Sobering words indeed!  Especially when we remember that those to whom the writer issues this caution would have most likely been certified, pew-filling, church members.  He directs his thoughts to those who "sin willfully after... having received the knowledge of the truth"! (vs. 26) This puts it beyond all question.  There are those who have been taught the Gospel, who have perhaps had some elementary workings of the Holy Spirit (Heb 6:4,5), perhaps have lead bible studies and even born some fruit among the flock (specifically some of the televangelists fit here, but not just them) and yet their heart is not really given over to Christ.  When push comes to shove... when it really is a choice between the world and Christ... certain "friends" and Christ... pressures of ambition in the work place and Christ.... what ever (fill in the blank)... then Christ is subordinated to what is really "important."  

Perhaps we aren't overly explicit about it.  Perhaps, since we aren't facing merciless torturers as were the original hearers, we do not actually "insult the Spirit of grace" publicly or even out loud.  But, when we look at ourselves in the mirror and take stock of our lives, where do we find Christ in them?  

These verses (19-39) are certainly not devoid of grace but their central theme is that '"vengeance is Mine, I will repay" says the Lord.'  Jonathan Edwards preached a famously fiery sermon on vs. 31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  And we need to remind ourselves that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is also the God who rained fire on Sodom and sank the world in a flood.  He is not One to take lightly.  He expects His children to honor Him by honoring His Son and to keep His, the Son's, commandments. (Mat. 28:20)  The author is not hesitant to remind us of the entire testimony of Israel in the Old Testament and how the severity of God's law was summarily handed out to those who on valid testimony were found guilty.

There is another "Day approaching" (vs. 25) when our lives will be reviewed and the sincerity of our faith vindicated.  We must give heed to these cautions.  Though they are not to strip us of our joy or immobilize us in fear, yet they are true and our love and service to God must be cognizant of His wondrous glory, honor and purity.  A full grown tiger, no matter how long a person may have possessed it nor how well it was treated, is still a dangerous animal.  How much more must we accord respect to the Living God who made that tiger and all things else beside.

"For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise..." (vs. 36)

Heb 10:1-18 "I Have Come To Do Your Will"

Image:  Tree Ornament, 2016

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb 10:8–10)

When the author of Hebrews begins this chapter his intention is to completely and forever eliminate any idea remaining in our heads that we sinful human beings can do anything to merit God's forgiveness of our sins.  We look at the "good" things we've done in our lives.  We pat ourselves on the back because we have not (yet) actually killed someone.  We don't lie... as a routine.  We are generally faithful to our spouses and conscientious to our kids if we have them.  We attend church, perhaps even regularly.  We are not hesitant to give money to charity (though "sacrificial" giving may not apply), etc. etc.

But, let's stop and think about what we read here.  In verses 1 & 2 the author reminds us of the "good things" that the ancient Israelites did under the law.  They did things that the Lord God Himself had commanded.  Year after year they traipsed to Jerusalem and gave up their very expensive offerings on the altar.  God said "do this and you will be forgiven" and they did.  But each year, in fact, each day, after having given up these offerings there yet remained the knowledge of their impurity.  As verse 2 mentions they still had "consciousness of sins".  

Our author plainly states "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."  And doing these things is the very best any fallen man can do for his own sin.... and they don't work!  How can any sane human being then imagine that some lesser "good" thing will recommend him or her to God?

It is in that context that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, stood before God and proclaimed: "You have prepare for Me a body... and I am here to do Your will, O God."  It is your will, O Father, for these, your children to be forgiven of their sins... to have them washed away... to have them bear them no more!  Your loving heart wants them purified, once and for all, such that by One Offering they are purified of all their past, present and future sins.  By one washing in blood, they are clean forever!

No longer is there any remaining sacrificial offering to be constantly redone and no other deeds will improve their standing before You.  I have come... I will do it... and I HAVE done it.  Now, all those in whom the Holy Spirit is working unto sanctification (vs 14) are "perfected forever!"  All this I have done!

We believers do not stand before God as He sees us standing before Him, with any reason to be ashamed.  Though our sins were as scarlet they are now white as snow.  We are "perfected.... forever!"  Yes, we still struggle with sin but they do not change our standing.  We are being sanctified and our lives more and more conform to Christ, but those advances do not, in and of themselves, improve our merit and make us more worthy than before.  It is all Christ and what He has done... it is not us and what we do or have done.

That is good news indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Interview With God?

Aside from the very real concern about erecting false images of God as well as representing Him as a bit less in control than He is, this movie had some surprisingly good elements to it.

There is a plot twist at about the 2/3 point that caught me completely off guard.  I won't spoil it but it did change my point of view about what was going on.  Otherwise the plot is OK... just one more melodrama about clueless young people who find themselves in deep marital problems.  The plot twist worked out pretty well for that.

Now, regarding the actual interview.  Of course it was far-fetched.  It was certainly ridiculous that the reporter's editor was all excited about the interview and intended to put it on the front page.  Naahh.  Never would happen.  Given that I found the questions asked and the Deity's answers to be surprisingly nuanced and complex.  God's sovereignty and free will, why do bad things happen to people, etc.  The Deity was a bit vague about the Great Flood... seems He might be open to admitting it might have been a bit harsh.... Naaahh.  But on the whole I thought theology was handled pretty well given the venue, time constraints and the theological capacity of the intended audience.

Do I recommend the movie... yes and no.  I generally don't watch any movie that has a physical representation of the Lord God or the Lord Christ.  I have never seen the big ones and I will never see "The Shack."  I was curious about this one and was not really offended by anything in it.  It might be a good candidate for an in-home showing for discussion with non-believers.  As far as discipleship for believes... no... this ain't Sunday School material.

I would say a rating of 3 of 5.

Heb 9:1-25 A Clear Conscience

Image: "Toward the Light", Loch Leven Sunrise, Scotland, UK 2016

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (Heb 9:13–14)

As the guy on TV says: "But wait... there's more!"  The author of Hebrews keeps piling it on.  We have a Word made more sure, we have a Son instead of an angel, we have a better High Priest and a far better covenant.  Now he flashes before us the truth of a better sacrifice.

It's difficult for modern Americans to wrap their heads around this whole "sacrifice" business.  We are, for the most part, an antiseptic people (now much more so than when I was young).  We have clean houses and dish washers and daily showers and etc. etc.  The idea of blood spilling over onto our clean table cloths brings horror to our minds.  So bloody sacrifices just don't fit into our daily contemplation.  

Perhaps it is this antiseptic background and aversion to blood that lies close to the root of our anxieties and shame.  Many of us are not happy with ourselves.  We want to be told that we're "OK" and we have nothing to worry about but that doesn't clear up the problem.  In our more truthful moments we confront the reality of our own histories, the fragile handle we have on our lives, the looming sense of approaching disasters in the world, and we cannot find peace.  Our consciences are troubled and not only be the memory of really egregious sins.

So here is the paradox:  we long for the freedom of mind which I will call a clear conscience and yet we are averse to the idea of blood... of sacrifice... which is, according to verse 22, the only way that "remission", the cleansing of stains, can happen.  The author is not the least hesitant to tell us that apart from blood there is no purification and no remission.  We need a sacrifice!  And not just any old sacrifice!  We need something that works... that is guaranteed to work.  We will not find it by killing a chicken or a calf or a deer or even another fallen human being.  There is only one sacrifice that can do what we need.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, offered Himself up for this very purpose.  No one put Him on the cross, He went there of His own free will.  He went there having completed the amazing feat of living without sin or stain on His life.  He did not have to suffer for Himself therefore He could suffer for others.  God the Father, Whose eternal covenant with His Son required this very thing, confirmed the perfection of Jesus' death by shaking the world and ripping the veil in the temple.  With this perfect sacrifice there no longer is any obstacle before those who come to God through Christ.  He has entered into the veil to the Presence of our Glorious God and in His Person, on His shoulders, we are brought in also.  We are in Him and He is in us.  He is our Perfect Mediator because the blood that He presents to God the Father, on our behalf, is the very blood He shed for us.

Here is peace... Here is light.  As the eye is inevitably drawn to the bright sky in the image above, so our mind's eye is inevitably drawn to Christ as the one and only solution to the things that trouble our mind.  Guilt?  "It is finished!"  Anxiety? "Trust in Me!"  Fear?  "Fear not, I am with you!"  His blood has completely stripped away any basis for despair.  

Heb 8:1- 13 Better in Every Way...

Image: "Castle Rock", Edinburgh Castle & Rock, 2016

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Heb 8:6)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Heb 8:10)

Hebrews continues the main theme of "But now... better" and focusing on the New and Better Covenant.  What strikes me as I read this chapter is just how amazingly good the Old Mosaic Covenant actually was.  It's good to reflect on that in order to gain perspective on how superlatively "good" the New Covenant is.

First, as the author clearly lays out first, the Mosaic covenant was a "copy and shadow of the heavenly things" (vs. 5).  As such it was, from inception to conclusion, a covenant of grace.  We forget that all too often.  God showed great love and mercy to Israel when He gave them His Law as properly comprehended.  It was never designed nor imagined to be a covenant of "works" in the eyes of those who were positionally righteous in it as was John the Baptist's father and his mother (Luke 1:6).  Rather the "Law" was the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that it incorporated His covenant commands for the conduct God desires in His people and it provided the Sacramental means by which the grace and mercy of Christ could be found in the face of transgressions and sins.  In every main principle this is identical to how the New Covenant operates also in that we have God's desires for us clearly presented to us in such teachings as the Sermon on the Mount and then we have the sacraments (Baptism & the Lord's Supper) established for us to seek and find the comfort of forgiveness and strength.  It is in the subordinate principles that they New Covenant is discovered to be so much "better."

In the Mosaic covenant the Christ and His Promises was exhibited in "anticipation" and with much diminished clarity.  In the New Covenant Christ and His Promises are exhibited in "certainty", "fulfillment" and brilliant clarity.  It is the difference between  Ford Model T automobile and a brand new Lamborghini.  The essential principles of the two are the same, they are both cars and they function to get people where they want to go.  That's about where the comparison stops.  No one, in his right mind would choose the Model T having been offered the Lamborghini.  

The New Covenant established God's immanent Holy Spirit on earth in a much greater and effective manner.  No longer would His ministry be confined to the Remnant of faithful among the Israelites and the few non-Israelites who were drawn to God through the Mosaic institutions.  Now, post-Pentecost, the Spirit works directly on human hearts through the preached word and the call of the Gospel.  A new people of God, replacing the Israelites, was and is created.  A people who are taught by God and transformed by God who embrace His commandments and have a heart which loves to seek after righteousness through them.  These are the ones who now receive the assurance "I will be their God and they shall be My people" (vs. 10) and as such, they and they alone stand positionally before God as heirs of all His promises including those made in the Mosaic institutions.

Like the Model T (though I confess that it has its appeal even today) the Mosaic institutions are "obsolete" (vs. 13) and as such, as a means by which an individual can approach God, it has vanished away (vs. 13).

What other response can any individual exhibit in the face of such a declaration?  What response would we exhibit if we suddenly found a Lamborghini parked in our driveway with a big bow tied on it?  Would we not rejoice in the gift?  Certainly this New Covenant puts that "gift" to shame.

We have a mighty castle in which to live.  It is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and it is impregnable in every way.  As long as we live in that castle, the New Covenant that He has established, we shall never fall and we shall always prevail.  This is His Gospel and His promise.  All that remains is to enter it with thanksgiving and rejoice, always, in what He has done for us.

Heb 7:1 - 8:2 "But Now!"

Image:  "More To Come", 2018

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. (Heb 7:22). 

"But now... a better" is the constant theme of Hebrews.  We have a better, more sure Word.  We have a better prophet.  We have a better High Priest.  We have a better covenant.  

When we remember that this epistle was written to the physical heirs of the ancient Israelites, the progeny of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David then this "now" and "better" takes on more significance and has greater impact.

Consider the United States of American and its constitution.  Imagine how earth shaking it would be for us who live here if a "new" convention was organized and in due time a "new" constitution was announced.  There would be some continuity with the old but for all practical purposes everything would be different.  Our present government organization would be substantially altered.  Perhaps the office of president would be abolished and some new administration would replace it.  There would,necessarily, be a revamping of our entire body of laws since they all presume the "old" constitution.  

Effectively the entire social order of our country would be thrown into a period of uncertainty and confusion and people would wonder how it's going to work out.

Such was the effect and impact of the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God.  This man, this God-in-the-flesh Son of God and of the virgin Mary, ushered in just such an earthquake of social significance.  He instituted a new social order based on new understandings of the present reality.  He proclaimed that a new world was now about to bloom.  It was already present in the bud but was not yet completely unfolded.

Man was confronted with a "new covenant", a new way of understanding himself in relation to God.  Yes, the fundamentals remained in place.  The God of the OT covenants was the God of the New.  Yes, salvation was still by grace through faith.  Yes, there is still the requirement for a priesthood and sacraments. But in implementation and form, all these things took on a new and better shape.  Things were not as they were and things would never be the same again.

Now we have a new, eternal covenant.  There will not be another.  Now we have a new, eternal High Priest.  There will not be another.  Now God's Love and covenant promises to His people have been placed on a much more accessible footing and the door stands open to all, of whatever tribe or race, to "draw near to God" (vs. 19).  We now have a real, living mediator who, unlike all previous human mediators, is able to "ave to the uttermost those who come to God through Him."

Like the old covenants there is division and exclusivity here.  Only through this priest is access to God possible but this Priest is a surety that such access is not only possible but guaranteed for all who seek after God through Him.  

Things are different.  We cannot ignore the consequences.  The clarion call has been sounded and it remains only to answer its summons.  "Now" is the time and "better" is the quality.  How can anyone ignore such an exciting invitation?

Heb 6:1- 20 A Strong Consolation

Image: "Hopelessness", Bienville Square, Mobile AL 2016

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, Heb 6:18)

I wonder what the old guy was thinking?  He did not seem to be going anywhere in particular, he was just walking in the park.  But, yet, he was not enjoying the park... his head was down... he was either lost in thought, or more seriously, just existing.

Lack of hope will do that to a person.  Life moves to a different, darker plane.  There is beauty around you but you are oblivious to it.  The world exists in shades of gray and lacks interest.  You haven't quite given over to despair... life goes on... but quite frankly you don't see much sense in it.  When you confront yourself on these thoughts you have to admit that you're just passing time... till you die.

The antidote to hopelessness is hope!  (Well, duh)  Hope changes everything in that now it colors whatever we face, how we face it and how we understand it.  Hope has as corollary components, meaning and purpose.  When we have hope then life is lived purposefully toward the fulfilling of that hope.

Imagine a person who has the winning ticket to a big lottery.  That person, holding on to that ticket, has a steadfast and sure hope.  They have a different future ahead of them.  There are things that need to be done now, today, to prepare for that hope.  There are accountants to call, decisions to make, new telephone numbers to arrange, space must be made available for the sudden onslaught of family you never knew you had.  Well, let's just say that the present is colored by the strong hope that you have for the future.

So it is with what this chapter of Hebrews teaches us.  This world can get to us.  It can reduce us to "going through the motions" and suck the joy out of just about everything.  Things get harder not easier as we mature.  Young families are exhaustingly busy.  The pressures of instant communication leave us with no place to hide and be quiet.  Increasing age takes its toll.

With all that going on any of us can find ourselves just putting one foot in front of the other.  Not seeing much, not appreciating much, just moving on.  But we don't have to live that way.  We have a strong consolation.  God who (1) cannot lie has (2) confirmed His promise to us by an oath.  The Person of God and the Act of God both guarantee for us, far more than a winning lottery ticket, that we have purpose in life and a future to gain.  We have Hope embodied in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has entered into the "Presence behind the veil" to intercede for us and guarantee our safe passage from this present life into the hope that lies ahead.

This hope is an anchor for our soul.  When we sense the loneliness and emptiness coiling around our hearts, we must refocus on our great blessing.  Our High Priest will not, cannot fail, to bring us joy in due season.  Look around... the park is beautiful... the birds are singing in the trees and the fountain is splashing living water all about us. Let hope do its job.

 

Heb 4:14-5:14 An Infinitely Superior Priest

Image: Buddhist Monk, 2007 South Korea

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. (Heb 5:1–2)

As a general rule men must have their idols and they must have their priests.  From the earliest historical evidences of human habitation in this beautiful world, we see that worship and religion are always present.  Men feel an inherent need to pray... but to "whom" or to "what?" 

It is to answer this last question that every culture develops its seers or shamen or priests.  These folks, men and women, assert some kind of answer to the question and also the inescapable corollary question: "how can I get this god or being or thing on my side?"  Religious fear is always attendant to man's need to pray because as Rom. 1 teaches us, God's wrath is evident in the creation about us.  Man sees death everywhere... sometimes brutally so... and so his natural and correct deduction is that 'what-ever' is out there is angry.  

Thus the priesthood, in whatever form it takes, acts to intercede with the god who is out there and tries to propitiate its anger.  Even in our godless modern age people are forever seeking out "experts" who will counsel them and whisper pleasing words in their ears.  "Now, now... it's OK... you're OK.... it's all in your mind."  These folk are far more deadly than the pagan priesthood.  At least the pagans recognized the problem.  These people, kicking against the goads, assert that there isn't a problem with the natural human situation.  They never really satisfy because comforting as their words may be, deep in the sub conscious, men and women don't believe their lies.

Well, we Christians know that there is a God out there.  We also know that He is angry at sin every day.  We know that one day He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man He has raised from the dead.  We know that we will give answer for every word that comes from our mouth and that no evil thought in our hearts goes unnoticed.  Christians know that the Pagans were right in one regard.  We also know that these pagans had no real idea of just how bad the problem really was.

The pagans also recognized that they needed a priest to intercede for them.  We Christians also recognize this necessity.  But since we have a fuller knowledge of the depth of sin, the immensity of it, the horror of it, the total enslavement of it, we also recognize that no fallen human priest will ever be fully capable of dealing with it.  Every fallen human priest needs a priest for himself.  There is no grace in him because he is fallen just as we are.  What we need is a High Priest Who is Holy, Perfect and Un-defiled. So, God in His wisdom and love has provided us one.

Jesus, the Son of God (ch. 4 vs. 14) has been raised to the right hand of God the Father to be just this priest for us.  Because He is without sin, because He has all authority in heaven and on earth, because He and only He has life in Himself and is thus able to impart it to others, He is able to do what no fallen human priest can do: He can forgive sins... He can remove the guilt and the stain of sin from us.

Through His inter-mediation we can know that we really are "OK" - we are eternally secure... we will never face the self-evident wrath that is displayed around us.  We have been reconciled with God and His entire orientation toward us, now, through the ministry of His Son, is one of blessing.  He is our God and we are His People and Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, is our High Priest.

No other religion in this world can satisfy because all other religions are grounded in a lie.  Christians and they alone have the only High Priest that can deal with God's anger at sin.  

Lord Christ you truly are magnificent.  Thank you for being our High Priest.  Teach us, teach me, to completely embrace you in this role... to see you with spiritual eyes and to hear your comforting counsel with spiritual ears.  Grant us the peace that you have won for us and reveal to us the righteousness in which, by grace, we stand.  Make us wholly dependent on you and your ministry as our High Priest for that is our wisdom and hope.