The Verdict

Good Wednesday to you,

Genuine replicas aside, I think we can all agree that an original is always better than a copy. The author of Hebrews goes to great lengths to establish the supremacy of Jesus' sacrifice over that of the traditional high priest. Jesus offers His sacrifice in the "original Tabernacle" – the very presence of God, while the high priests of Israel offered them in the replica, a tabernacle they themselves constructed. The "Covenant" with Israel was a reminder that sin exists, it has consequences, and must be addressed if we are to have a meaningful relationship with our Creator.

In contrast to "involuntary sacrifices" offered in response to sin, the "voluntary sacrifice" of Jesus changes everything. The former was an act of law following willful disobedience, while the former was an act of love stemming from willful obedience. This deep but solid "meat" (theology) supports our faith and trust in Jesus as the way to approach a Holy God. No longer do we have to worry about our relationship with God being in jeopardy. When Jesus said, "It is finished," it was!

We will continue in our "deep dive" of theology for the next two weeks as we finish the 10th chapter of Hebrews. This coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday! Be sure to wear red in honor of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Slowly, but surely we are opening up on Sunday mornings. It is good to see faces I’ve not seen (apart from online) for a long time. We are looking forward to the mask mandate being lifted come June 15, but until then we will comply with the State and County re-opening guidelines. Thank you for your patience!

As always, I am grateful for your support. If your church family can assist you in any way, please let me know. I hope you are having a great week.

Grace and peace,
Pastor David

If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now.