The End of God's Plan

Introduction

Ever had to wait for something and the anticipation of waiting was enough to make you wish that things would speed up? I suppose as children we have a hard time waiting for Christmas or a birthday. It seems that the days just creep by and time seems to stand still. And finally that special day arrives and there is much joy and the anticipation gives way to reality. As we age there are other days that we meet with great anticipation. Graduation from high school or college, marriage, the birth of a child, the first day at a new job. Do you find that you anticipate less days now? Some of us are still like little children at heart when it comes to anticipating an event or day.

Have you ever thought of the day for Christ’s return as a day to anticipate? Have you ever thought of the judgment day as a day for joy and celebration? The word judgment generates thoughts of condemnation and courtroom scenes of stern judges waiting to pronounce sentence. But for those of us who belong to Christ; for those of us who are in God’s family; for those of us who belong to the church judgment is not to be feared. For us who are Christ’s judgment will be a day of joy, excitement, celebration, and victory. Today we are going to look at the basis for our joy and we will celebrate the victory that is ours.

Sacrifices

A large crowd has gathered. The bull has been slaughtered. A basin was used to collect the blood. The High Priest is dressed in his special clothes. There is a quiet whisper which passes through the crowd. Children squirm just a bit. But parents quickly hold on to them. The questions begin. When will he go into the holiest place? How long will it take? Will God be pleased? What happens if he doesn’t do everything right? And with each question the anticipation mounts. There is a tenseness about the priest’s work. There is a reverent hush as the priest enters the building making his way to the holiest place. The curtain is opened long enough so that those close the temple can see the smoke from the incense which fills the holy of holies. And into that smoke the priest enters with the blood of the bull.

Once he disappears behind the curtain the people remain quiet. Eyes strain to see some sign of life and activity. Ears strain to hear any sound. Any movement of the curtain is met with an equal stirring among the crowd as they await the return of the high priest. Waiting brings a mixture of fear, apprehension, and wondering. And with what must seem like an eternal day, the curtains are pulled back and the priest walks slowly back to the people. Even before he speaks the people’s fear has turned to joy; apprehension turns to relief; and wondering has given way to confidence. God has accepted the sacrifice. The people are forgiven. The high priest is alive. God is pleased. And this will be repeated next year. The same ritual and the very mixture of emotions.

The writer of Hebrews knew this procedure well. But now a new solution to the annual sacrifice has been presented. In the death of Jesus a new sacrifice has been offered. The high priest entered a man made sanctuary; Jesus entered the real one—heaven itself. The high priest entered the presence of God without seeing God; Jesus entered God’s presence and saw him. The high priest had to repeat this procedure and ritual annually. Jesus’ death was once for all time. The high priest entered the man made holy of holies with the blood of a bull; Jesus entered heaven with his own blood.

God used a high priest, the blood of a bull, and a man made sanctuary to forgive sins. But none of these were permanent. None of these could ultimately accomplish what he really wanted—a permanent relationship. Jesus in his death accomplished the full intent of God. Appearing in God’s presence he presented his own blood as the payment for sin. Because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (9:22). The perfect man presented the perfect blood. And God forgave—past, present, and future—all sins are forgiven. No more sacrifice is required. No more sacrifice will come. Once and for all, the blood of Jesus forgives our sin and establishes our relationship with God. Those who by faith accept the sacrifice of Jesus as the means of forgiveness belong to God’s family, the church.

Application

There are two points I want us to grasp from this section. Realize that the author is convincing his readers that Jesus’ sacrifice is superior to the sacrifice of the High Priest. The first point is not really a major point of this text but it is a point to understand. We are going to die. The author says that Jesus, too, died. We will die. Jesus died. But in his death Jesus took care of our sin problem. The writer assures us that just as Jesus died so we, too, will die. And with our death will come judgment. Death and then the judgment are inevitable. We may try to ignore the reality of our death; we may try to push it out of our minds, but the reality is that death and then the judgement are coming.

Since we know that death and then judgment is coming, what is our response to such truth. The Hebrew writer tells us. Jesus is coming again and when he comes again he will come to bring salvation. This salvation is not for all but for those who are waiting for him. When the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies whether at the temple or the tabernacle, the people waited outside the structure for the High Pries to reappear. They didn’t wander off; they didn’t become disinterested in what was happening. They remained focused on the curtain. They waited with great anticipation for the High Priest’s return. So, too, Jesus is returning. Those who are waiting for him; those who wait with great anticipation; those who long for his appearing will share in his salvation.

Let’s be honest. It is difficult to wait with that kind of anticipation. We didn’t see Jesus go into the Holiest of all places. We didn’t see the smoke. We didn’t see him leave. But the promise is that he is returning and every generation must wait for his reappearing. Generations have come and gone. We may or may not be the last generation. Will Jesus return to find us waiting for him? Or will he return to find us like his disciples in Gethsemane asleep and unable to focus. We are going to die and Jesus is going to return. Let’s be anticipating his return.

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