Hebrews 9 High Priest Enters the Sanctuary

Hebrews 9 NIV

Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
St. Petersburg, Russia

Under the first covenant God directed that a tabernacle be set up. This sanctuary made with human hands was only a copy of the true sanctuary of God. Within this sanctuary was an inner room in which only the high priest could enter. He could not enter this Most Holy Place without blood. With fear and trembling he would enter to offer the blood of animals for the unintentional sins of the people. This imperfect ritual had to be repeated over and over again for imperfect people.

But, when the Christ who is the high priest came he, himself, was the lamb that was sacrificed. The sacrifice did not take place in an earthly tabernacle. He went through the greater and most perfect tabernacle in heaven itself. He entered into the Most Perfect Holy Place willingly shedding his blood and giving his own life for the sins of the people. This most perfect sacrifice in the most perfect place needs no repeating. He died once for the many who would believe.

We live under a new covenant established for us by the great high priest, Jesus the Christ. Through the offering of his blood our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God we need have no to fear to enter into the heavenly tabernacle which has been opened to us by the blood of the lamb. We have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb; by the blood of the Great High Priest, himself.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 8 - Covenant of Love

Hebrews 8

The New Covenant in Christ gives life!

Jesus established the new covenant making the old one obsolete. The old covenant consisted of law. It consisted of what we must do. In following the law; although, we often try, we all fail miserably. So, in His wisdom and love God, sent His Son, as high priest, to make the ultimate sacrifice for us establishing this new covenant between God and man.

This new covenant is not about what we must do; but, what God has done for us.

Thanks be God for His love and mercy is great!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 7 - Redeemed by the High Priest

Hebrews 7 NIV 
Jesus is not just the King. He is thee High Priest. He has paid for our sins and through him we have been reconciled to God our Father. Do we get that? Do we understand the implications? We have been reconciled to God our Father. That is the goal of one who would follow Jesus. Being reconciled to God, our Father, through the sacrifice of the great High Priest, Jesus, by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit, is the goal. Is there anything more awesome than that?

It appears (from watching televangelism) that not everyone is aware of the goal nor of the gospel (good news of the Kingdom). There are many other goals. One of the most abhorrent goal is that of doing good works, supposedly godly works, so that one might become wealthy in this world. It is a counterfeit faith. It tells us that if we do this or that, God will bless us with riches, million dollar homes, expensive cars, airplanes, etc.. That is law; albeit counterfeit law. It is not the gospel. When did riches in this world become the first goal, the focus, of a Christian?

By his blood we are set free from bondage to the world. The pursuit of this world through the law over the kingdom throws us right back into bondage to things of this world. Any priest or pastor who teaches that Jesus came to make us rich in this world is not one we should be listening to.

Please, excuse my rampage this morning. I cannot count the times just in the past month I've encouraged people to be more discerning in what televangelists they're watching; even to just skip those channels altogether. And... then last night I found myself watching one. I did not sleep well because of the blasphemous things I heard.

I am not saying that it is a sin to be rich. There are many wealthy Christians. But, it is definitely wrong to promise that God will make someone rich if you send them your money. By doing that, the only one you're making rich in this world is the televangelist. The gifts of God cannot be bought.

Remember this, you were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, not with silver or gold.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 5 - Infant Christians

Hebrews 5 NIV
Years ago, there was a young man whom I had been teaching about Christ. We had seen each other almost every day for close to a year. I was going to be leaving and would probably never see him again so I attempted to explain to him about the peace and joy that comes with the indwelling Spirit of Christ. I could see a dazed look in his eyes. He finally said, "I just don't understand." I realized that he was still too new to Christianity to get it, yet. He was still an infant. He had much to learn. I smiled and told him that I understood that it was hard to grasp; but, that I was teaching him all this so that in years to come, when I wouldn't be around, he might remember my words and understand.

The author of Hebrews begins to explain the significance of Jesus being called as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, offering up prayers and a sacrifice for the people. The author understands that readers will not understand. They are still infants to Christianity. While, by this time they should be teaching, they still have much to learn. The problem the author sees is that they do not really want to learn. They no longer try to understand.

There are things that are beyond our comprehension. But, that should not stop us from trying to understand. It should not stop us from listening. It should not stop us from studying God's Word. I sometimes hear the excuse that someone does not attend community worship because they just don't understand scripture. They don't understand the lessons read or what the pastor's sermon is about. That is not a reason to stay away. If you don't understand, that is all the more reason to hear it. To know Christ and him crucified; to grow in Christ one must be fed with the Word.

See you at Worship where you can hear the word and grow in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 9:32-43 Peter Gets Around

Acts 9:32-43 NIV

Every now and then, I go up to the Bishop Baraga Shrine to pray. It is situated on a hill at the head of the bay between Baraga and L'Anse. From this vantage point, I can see much of the area that I have been called to serve; but very little of the area that Bishop Baraga served. He was a mover. He covered a goodly portion of Michigan by foot, snowshoe (that's why he's called the Snowshoe Priest) and canoe. When a family summoned him because a loved one was sick or dying; he was there no matter what the distance was.

Peter was a mover, as well. He was moving freely about between communities. He was busy healing people and at bedsides with those who were grieving. His ministry was not confined to a specific place. He, as we all are, was sent to proclaim the Good News to all people.

I am most fortunate to serve with a congregation that understands that my call is not merely as a chaplain to members; but, to minister to all people in the community who are in need. I am most fortunate that I am free to pray with the sick, bury the dead, proclaim the Good News to all people whether they are a member of this congregation or not; even if they have never even visited the congregation.

I spend very few hours in the office and most of those hours are either in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening. My time is spent within the community, freely moving about and going wherever there is a need for healing and hope; wherever there is a need for the Good News of the Kingdom of Christ Jesus to be proclaimed. I thank God for the people of Skanee who have called me to serve not just them; but, anyone who is in need.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 23:44-49 The Torn Curtain

Luke 23:44-49 NIV


Rip! The sound of the temple curtain being torn in two. Do you recall how St. Mark described what happened after Jesus' baptism? "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." (Mark 1:9) So what exactly is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two at Jesus' death?

I was taught, as a child, that it meant that we now all have direct access to God. We are free to directly communicate and relate with and to God. The High Priests are no longer needed to stand between us and God. As Jesus died on the cross for us, he freed us from our sins so that we are worthy to come before God. That is good news.

But, I believe there is more to it than that. When a door is open it is open to everything and everyone on both sides of the door. We are free to enter and that which was closed in on the other side is also now able to leave.

Behind the temple curtain was the Holy of Holies; God's earthy dwelling place. The tearing of the temple curtain signifies that with Christ's death God's dwelling place on earth was no longer contained to a specific place. His dwelling place; his Kingdom, rushed out into the world as Jesus breathed his last breath.

The Kingdom of God is truly at hand. Live in it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 22:41-46 - Figure It Out!

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’

If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.  (Matt 22:41-46 NIV)

They had tried, on more than one occasion, to trip up Jesus. They had tried to catch him blaspheming. But, with no success. Now, it Jesus' turn. "Figure it out, guys! If the Messiah is the son of David, why does David call him Lord?" Why did the Lord say of this descendant of David that all his enemies will be put under his feet? (Psalm 110:1) Why did the Lord promise to make this son of David a priest in the order of Melchizedek? (Psalm 110:4) There was no response from the  Pharisees. Jesus is the Lord!

One thing I can say for the Pharisees: they knew the scriptures and they knew that there was no further place to go in this debate. Reading and knowing the Holy Scriptures is definitely a worthwhile project if we are going to be discussing and debating who or what the LORD is or does or has done.
Happy reading....!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Ezekiel 43-44 - God's Glory

The temple is to be made perfectly, according to God's design, and the LORD will fill it with His glory. The people will see and be reminded that even as God is perfect, we are not. Yet, God calls those who are not perfect and sanctifies us. He calls us who were not holy; sanctified through the blood of the everlasting covenant, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

According to the Book of Ezekiel, the regulations and laws of the temple must all be followed. Those laws include:  “A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then he may defile himself." (Ezek 44:25 NIV)

All I can say about that is: the position of priest has drastically changed since the advent of Jesus the Christ. Through Jesus the Christ, we are now all members of a royal priesthood. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:8-10)  Who then, if not the priests or pastors (shepherds) would pray with the dying or hold them as they breathe their last earthly breath as they enter through the gateway of death into eternal life?

We declare the marvelous praises of Him who has called out darkness into His light and we are with our brothers and sisters in Christ (for in Christ, all are our brothers and sisters) even as they enter into God's glory most fully.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Chronicles 13

David receives the fear of the LORD.  It's kind of unclear (at least to me) why a man who tries to keep the ark from falling and being damaged is destroyed by God for touching it.  Just seems to me that a little grace could have been applied here.  But, then I am not God and He did give them the rules.  It appears that David has taken a short-cut or two in transporting the ark in the first place.  There were rings in the ark and two poles.  The ark was suppose to be transported by priests carrying it upon their shoulders.  It was not acceptable to move the ark in a cart (even a new one) pulled by oxen.  Also, the reading does not say whether Uzzah was a priest.  He and his brother were simply driving the cart.  For a non-priest to touch the ark was a capital offense.  So his death probably could've been avoided if David had followed God's instructions for moving the ark.  David learns a hard lesson here.  He receives the fear of the LORD.  When he finally moves the ark to Jerusalem, in a couple of chapters, we'll see he has learned this lesson and moves it with poles and it is the priests and Levites who carry it.

This story, too, is a repeat.  You can find it in 2 Samuel 6.  As I started flipping back and forth for comparisons, I was wishing that I had a copy of Walt Wangerin's "Book of God."   It is an excellent novel and I would have loved to read the story of David moving the ark with Walt Wangerin's slant on it this morning.  But, it appears I gave my copy away, again! I keep purchasing them and then giving them away... It is an excellent read!