guys. it is spring break for us here on the island and let me tell you, this year has flown by. After spring break, we have FIVE weeks left of the Kanakuk Institute and let me tell you, I will not be well when this is over. This year will be the one that I treasure the most. The Lord has completely transformed my whole entire life since being here and it has been the most incredible thing to be a part of. Thankful does not even begin to cover it. Ask me about it sometime. I will probably end up in sentimental tears but it will be worth every single second of it. gosh. thank you jesus.
you ever heard the clique phrase that people throw around all the time "Jesus is better"? People say it in many different contexts. Jesus is better than the suffering you are going through. Jesus is better than the sin that tempts you. Jesus is better than any friend, boy, or dream job. Jesus is better than anything. All of those are true and i agree with the statement completely. But I do not think that truly settled into my heart until this last week.
This last week we studied the book of Hebrews and it was AWESOME. I'll be honest, it is a DENSE book but the riches of it are plain to see. And you will never guess what the major theme of the book is. JESUS.IS.BETTER.
I will not give you the details of all what the book of Hebrews talks about and explains how Jesus is better. But I will give you a view. Hebrews says this about Jesus.
He is a:
-better covenant
-better High Priest
-better tabernacle
-better promises
-better law
-better atonement
-better hope
Jesus is better. As I read this book, I was continually being convinced of it. If you truly believe that, it will change everything about you. It will completely change the way you view God and as a byproduct, grow your love and trust of him.
Let's talk a little bit about one of these "Jesus is better" phrases. I think one of the biggest themes of this book is this idea of Jesus as a High Priest. In fact, the author of Hebrews declares this very clearly. It literally is comical how clear the author of this book is.
Hebrews 8:1: "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."
So we have a high priest in the person of Jesus.
But what the heck does that mean?
The high priest in the Jewish tradition was the only person who could go into the most intimate part of the temple, the holy of holies. This is where the presence of God dwelt and that was the only place the presence of God was found. The high priest only went into this place one time a year, year after year, to offer up animal sacrifices to cover the sins of all the people. And the priest himself had to offer up sacrifices for his own sins because he himself was also sinful. If the priest did not deal with his sins fully and went into the presence of God, he would die and would have to be dragged out of the holy of holies with a rope. If you think about it, it got the job done in atoning for sins, but I cannot help but imagine that there has to be a better way of doing this.
And then we meet Jesus.
Listen to this.
Hebrews 7:26-27: "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
Our high priest, Jesus, is holy and perfect. Which means he does not have to offer up sacrifices for himself first because he is already perfect in everyway. He is not like the human high priest who needed to first atone for their sinfulness. Jesus does not have to do that. Jesus is better.
Our high priest, Jesus, does not need to daily offer up sacrifices like the human high priests did. I mean, think about how exhausting that is. Daily, yearly, having to come before God, find an innocent animal, kill it, and praise God that another day of sin has been atoned for. That sounds exhausting. Jesus does not have to do that. Jesus was perfect and in his death, in his offering up of a perfect sacrifice, he fulfilled the punishment and penalty sin ONCE FOR ALL. No more need for daily sacrifice because when Jesus tasted death, he said IT IS FINISHED. It is done. Jesus did it once and for all. He does not need daily sacrifices because He offered up himself and in himself, he was enough. No more daily killing of innocents atonements. Jesus is better.
AND now get this. Jesus did not just do this, atone for our sins, and then go sit in heaven. Let's look at his heart behind doing so.
Hebrews 2 says that since His kids had flesh in blood, Jesus too became flesh and blood so that through his death, he could demolish the power that the devil had over Jesus' kids to hold people that Jesus created in slavery their whole lives. He did this SO THAT he could become a faithful and merciful high priest in order to take the penalty of sin for his people. MERCIFUL + FAITHFUL. He did it SO THAT he could be a merciful and faithful high priest. i mean ur kidding.
On top of that, He was tempted in everyway so that could sympathize with us in our weakness and help us in our temptations. And because of his sympathizing with us, we can draw near to him with confidence. DRAW NEAR. Remember when only one person once a year could draw near to God? And even then they risked death?
AND NOW we can not only draw near to God, but do so with confidence???????
I think that this is a much better deal. Jesus always brings the better option. Why? Because he IS the best option.
Thank you Jesus for always being better. May I believe it.
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