Today's reading expands on that of yesterday.
"For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with the blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:24-26 [NIV]
This emphasises the point that it was through the sacrifice of the Son of God that sin was ultimately defeated; the final payment made. It was through Jesus rising again, entering heaven to appear for us in God's presence that death was defeated. As a result, we too have the expectation of a life beyond our current earthly existence. We can never remind ourselves often enough of the Good News of what Jesus has done for us all.
There is also a lesson here in humility. Jesus is the Son of God, yet allowed himself to be made man, live a life within the confines of the human form, and allowed himself to be killed; the ultimate in putting the needs of others before oneself. The way of this world is to put the needs of oneself well before the needs of others. I wonder how often, how much, we live according to the ways of the world rather than according to the way of Jesus in this respect. How much do we need to change?
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Amen
Mike Iredale
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