Groundhog Day
Good Wednesday to you,
The movie Groundhog Day takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (try saying that 10 times fast) with Bill Murray who plays the part of Phil Connors, a meteorologist. Phil is on assignment to report on the town's celebration of Groundhog Day when Punxsutawney Phil, the resident groundhog, predicts if spring is coming early, or if winter will be extended another 6 weeks. Phil is not too happy with the assignment—and certainly is not going to be upstaged by a rodent. He already knows there is a storm brewing and tries to leave town immediately, but is caught in the storm and forced to stay the night in a local hotel.
This is where it gets interesting. Something strange happens and Phil is stuck in a time loop. He experiences the same day, February 2, over and over, doing the same thing again and again. No one is aware of what is happening to Phil and he's stuck.
I could not help but think of this movie in comparison to our passage on Sunday. I could not help but wonder if the priests and Israelites ever felt like they were stuck in a loop—doing the same thing over and over again, offering sacrifices, day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year. Would it ever stop?
The answer is absolutely yes! It did stop. As soon as Jesus said, "It is finished!" the cycle ended—once and for all. As we read the passage, the author of Hebrews is looking back and seeing how clearly the Levitical Priesthood points to Jesus as the one who breaks the cycle of sin and death, offering himself as the final sacrifice. Jesus offers a new way to enjoying fellowship with God which is promised and guaranteed on an oath by God.
Too often we try and make our own way to break free from the cycle of sin and death. Too often we see "going to church" or "volunteering around the community" as saving acts. Those are good and wonderful activities in and of themselves, but doing them over and over again is not enough for salvation. Fortunately, there is nothing we can do to earn fellowship with God—it is a free gift. The only way is through Jesus—the final High Priest—who is seated at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. Thank you, Jesus!
The good news is this: we have a High Priest who is "holy, blameless, pure, set apart, and exalted above the heavens" and does not need to offer sacrifice for himself unlike the Levitical Priesthood (day in and day out), but, rather, has offered the sacrifice of himself. Jesus is the one who the Levitical Priesthood was pointing to—just like Melchizedek points to Jesus.
As we look to the Levitical Priesthood, our eyes are re-directed to Jesus. I hope you have taken the opportunity to share with someone how they point you to Jesus this week. If not, let this be a gentle reminder. :)
Again, thank you all for your prayers and encouragement these past two weeks. This coming Sunday, Pastor David will pick up where we left off looking at Hebrews 8:1-13.
Blessings,
Pastor John
If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now.
