This week we will concentrate on the readings from Hebrews, which look at what Jesus achieved through his death on the cross, from the point of view of this letter written to a Jewish community.
"But God found fault with the people and said, 'The time is coming, declared the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour or a man his brother, saying; 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'" Hebrews 8:8-12 [NIV]
In the Old Testament system it was only the high priest who could enter into the Most Holy Place, into the presence of God; and then only once a year, with a sacrifice to atone for the sins of himself and the people. Jesus, through his death on the cross, brought an end to the old system, the old covenant, and brought in a new system; the new covenant that he had promised. In atoning for the sins of the world Jesus broke down the barrier between God and his people so that now all could know God, and be known by God, personally.
The Holy Spirit was given as a gift to cement the connection. We can all now have a personal relationship with God, because of Jesus. And we live in the certainty that our sins have been forgiven and our wickedness remembered by God no more.
Today, make the most of what Jesus has done. Set aside time to focus on God and enter into his presence and think on how great is the love of God; that he died for you.
Mike Iredale
Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 120:1-7, Ezekiel 13:1-15:8, Hebrews 8:1-13
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