Daily Bread
Daily Bread Hebrews 8
3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Observation:
The writer of Hebrews goes on to describe the new covenant God has made with his people that is superior to the old one. And the new priest (Jesus), who is superior to the old priest (a mere human being). When God showed Moses the pattern for the tabernacle, or place of worship, and how the Israelites could be forgiven for their sins through the high priests making sacrifices in the holy of holies, it was a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus would come to earth.
But when the people of Israel turned away from the covenant God made with them, God decided to offer a new covenant that would bring people closer to Him. Instead of the law being written on clay tablets, now the Law would be written on human hearts and minds. Instead of priests making sacrifices, God would sacrifice His own Son as the once and for all sacrifice for our sins.
Application:
When I heard that the sanctuary in the Old Testament was a copy or shadow of what was to come, I think that our church should now be the reality of what has come. Every week when we gather we don’t need a high priest to make sacrifices for our sin, or even a pastor for that matter, but we gather in the reality that Jesus is our high priest and we celebrate the deliverance from sin that has been accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross.
As we celebrate communion together each week, we are realized that God is with us and as we eat the bread and the wine, it is a foreshadowing of the fellowship we will enjoy at God’s table one day. As we celebrate it today we look forward to our heavenly home. Each Sunday, we are reminded that our faithful high priest has already made the preparations for our forgiveness and we enter into His presence based on what He has done for us.
Spend some time reflecting that God’s covenant with you is written on your heart. This is the best covenant you will ever receive because it is based on God’s promises which are always yes in Jesus!
Prayer: Thank you God for replacing the old covenant that we were unable to uphold with a new covenant your Son, our faithful high priest has ushered in. As we realize your faithfulness, help us to be faithful to live in response to these incredible promises you have given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Observation:
The writer of Hebrews goes on to describe the new covenant God has made with his people that is superior to the old one. And the new priest (Jesus), who is superior to the old priest (a mere human being). When God showed Moses the pattern for the tabernacle, or place of worship, and how the Israelites could be forgiven for their sins through the high priests making sacrifices in the holy of holies, it was a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus would come to earth.
But when the people of Israel turned away from the covenant God made with them, God decided to offer a new covenant that would bring people closer to Him. Instead of the law being written on clay tablets, now the Law would be written on human hearts and minds. Instead of priests making sacrifices, God would sacrifice His own Son as the once and for all sacrifice for our sins.
Application:
When I heard that the sanctuary in the Old Testament was a copy or shadow of what was to come, I think that our church should now be the reality of what has come. Every week when we gather we don’t need a high priest to make sacrifices for our sin, or even a pastor for that matter, but we gather in the reality that Jesus is our high priest and we celebrate the deliverance from sin that has been accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross.
As we celebrate communion together each week, we are realized that God is with us and as we eat the bread and the wine, it is a foreshadowing of the fellowship we will enjoy at God’s table one day. As we celebrate it today we look forward to our heavenly home. Each Sunday, we are reminded that our faithful high priest has already made the preparations for our forgiveness and we enter into His presence based on what He has done for us.
Spend some time reflecting that God’s covenant with you is written on your heart. This is the best covenant you will ever receive because it is based on God’s promises which are always yes in Jesus!
Prayer: Thank you God for replacing the old covenant that we were unable to uphold with a new covenant your Son, our faithful high priest has ushered in. As we realize your faithfulness, help us to be faithful to live in response to these incredible promises you have given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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