Introduction
Memory Text: “For
Christ has not entered the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”
(Hebrews 9:24, NKJV).
Jesus’
ascension marks the moment that the new covenant, which provides the means
through which we can approach God boldly through faith, has been inaugurated.
What was the purpose of Jesus’ ascension to heaven according to Hebrews
9:24?
The purpose of Jesus’ ascension to heaven was to appear
before God with a better sacrifice, His own blood. In so doing, He fulfilled
the pilgrimage feasts’ prophetic significance by dying on the day for the
preparation of the Passover at the ninth hour, resurrected the third day and
ascended to heaven to receive assurance that His sacrifice had been accepted.
What should the experience of the Israelites at Mount Sinai teach us about meeting
before God?
The Israelites were consecrated for two days and on the
third day, they all went up the mountain to meet with God. God wanted them to
learn to fear and respect Him but out of faithlessness they were afraid and
wanted that Moses rather be the intermediary through which God would
communicate with them. This explains in a way the experience of the Israelites,
however, being with God can arouse fear in Us but now because of what Jesus has
done for Us, we can appear boldly before God’s presence.
How does Jesus act as our veil?
The veil served as a protection for the imperfect people
before God as God would not entertain the sight of sin. Now, Jesus as our
Priest also acts as our veil. Through Jesus’ incarnation, God pitched His tent
in our midst and made it possible for us to contemplate His glory. Through
Jesus, it becomes possible for a holy God to live among imperfect people.
Why should we accept Jesus’ invitation through the new and living way with
confidence?
We should accept this invitation with confidence because we have
our faith in Jesus who intercedes for us and with the accuser of the brethren
out of the way, we can claim salvation for ourselves.
In what sense have we arrived at the heavenly Jerusalem into the presence
of God?
The heavenly sanctuary belongs to the realm of the things “hoped
for” and “not seen” but assured to us through faith. In a sense, we have
already arrived at the heavenly sanctuary through our representative, Jesus.
In Conclusion,
Jesus is the way through which we can appear boldly before God,
because of His sacrifice sinful imperfect men can be made to appear before God.
However, we have to have faith in Jesus, if we want to be able to appear before
God, this faith has its anchor on a strong historical anchor. I pray that we
all have the grace to have our faith in Jesus, the One who opens the way
through the veil in Jesus’ name.
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