The Curtain and Shadows

I’ve been chipping away at the difficulty of memorizing Hebrews 7 for the last three weeks.  Today, as I cracked into chapter 8 I was amazed at how the Holy Spirit lined it up with Good Friday & Easter this week!

I felt like I was watching a display of fireworks that gets bigger near the finale as the Holy Spirit led me to discover powerful truths in the paths of Hebrews.  If you haven’t read or studied [or memorized!] this book, I hold it out to you as a rich store of treasures to uncover!  Join me!

I only have time to share with you a tiny peek at one or two jewels.  To help you appreciate the beauty of the jewels, I wish I could tell you all that I have learned so far about the importance of Jesus as our Great High Priest! 

The writer is trying to get us to see that all the Old Testament laws and regulations for worship are just copies and shadows of the Reality that is found in Jesus!

The animal sacrifices...point to the necessity of the shedding of blood for forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9.22).
The tabernacle....points to the true sanctuary: heaven itself (Hebrews 9.24)
The old covenant written on stone....prepares the way for the new covenant written on our hearts (Hebrews 8.6-12)
The priests who offered the sacrifices for sin....point to the Great High Priest, Jesus, who offered himself for sin (Hebrews 10.11-12)
The need for the blood of an unblemished lamb...points to the blood of the perfect Christ, shed (on Good Friday!) on the cross (Hebrews 9.13-14).

What is the point of all this?  The aim is to draw near to God...for worship and fellowship.  We can’t draw near unless we are perfect, and we are not perfect because of sin. 

Easter is about hope! 

“The law made nothing perfect.  And a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”  Hebrews 7.19

Because of Good Friday and Easter, we have hope, by which we can draw near to God in worship!

This is where the firework display of Jesus’ got bigger and brighter for me!

Because I noticed this: 

“He sacrificed for their sins
once for all (remember the words from the cross: “It is finished”!)
when he offered himself.”
Hebrews 7.27

There it is!  The Priest IS the sacrifice!  Before, the priests had to bring a sacrifice for their own sins and for the sins of the people (Hebrews 7.27).  This Priest, Jesus, perfect, holy and unblemished (7.26), went into the Most Holy Place with a blood sacrifice...his own blood (9.12)!  His sacrifice was himself on the cross of Calvary!   This is “Good” Friday= “Good News”!.

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;
but he entered the Most Holy Place
once for all [Easter...the resurrection...it is finished!]
by his own blood,
having obtained eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9.12

As I meditated on this, I noticed the word “entered”.  Try to track with me, this is really really cool!

What did he enter?  The Most Holy Place [a.k.a. Heaven itself--the Real and True Most Holy Place].
With what did he enter?  Blood...his own blood [Good Friday, think cross].
Through what did he enter?  THE CURTAIN

“Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place.”
Hebrews 9.3

Have you ever thought about the curtain before??  This curtain was all about separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, representing God’s throne room, God’s presence (Exodus 26.31-34).  That means we ourselves cannot get into God’s presence unless we pass through the curtain.  And in the OT, only the High priest could do that, and only once a year, and only with an unblemished sacrifice (Hebrews 9.7-8).

Watch this display of light:

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain,
that is his body....”
Hebrews 10:20

BOOM!  Fireworks!  Amazing!!  Check this out:

“With a loud cry, [from the cross], Jesus breathed his last. 
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
Mark 15.37-38

Jesus IS the curtain!  The curtain is his body!  He entered so we could enter!  When he died on the cross, the temple curtain was actually torn and ripped in an unusual way, to show that the way into God’s presence is now open through Jesus!  It also shows that the shadow of former worship is past, and the reality of true worship is here!

Now, get ready for the grand finale, because this is not all!  But first let me summarize what we have so far:

Jesus is the High Priest, who goes into the Most Holy Place.
Jesus is the sacrifice, who offers himself unblemished, his own blood.
Jesus is the curtain, which opens the way to draw near to God, his body.

See this:
Body=Curtain
Blood=Sacrifice

Are you ready for the Grand Finale?!.......

Body+Blood=COMMUNION

Curtain+ Sacrifice=Draw near to God

OH!  AMAZING LOVE!  How Can it be!?  That Thou my God shouldst die for me!

my NIV study Bible (Zondervan)

When you see the words “body” and “blood” in Hebrews 10.20, do you hear Jesus on the night he was betrayed?  As I write, it is Maundy Thursday, the very night of the Last Supper....the Last Passover!  As in, Jesus fulfills the Passover, and that is why it was the last!

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.”  Luke 22.7  (and Jesus is that lamb!).

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”  Luke 22.19-20

Bread+Cup=Communion
Jesus the High Priest+Jesus’ body (curtain)+Jesus’ blood (sacrifice)=draw near to God

The connections are a glorious display of the beauty of Jesus!  What a reason to celebrate!  What a reason to rejoice and, even more, to be confident that we, too can enter into God’s presence through faith in Jesus. 
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.”  Hebrews 6.19-20

He entered the curtain to the Most Holy Place so we could enter heaven itself to be in God’s presence forever (9.24)!  Hallelujah!

Without Jesus, without Good Friday and Easter, we could never be made perfect (Hebrews 7.11, 18-19).  And if we are not perfect, then we cannot draw near to God in worship (Psalm 15).  But we all sin, so we cannot ever cleanse our own consciences from acts that lead to death, which is what we all deserve for our sin (Hebrews 9.14, cf. Romans 3.23 & 6.23). 

BUT!

“A better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God!” Hebrews 7.19

When we take communion, it actually is FOR communion---fellowship with God, drawing near to God. And it is all because of the body of Jesus (the curtain), and the blood of Jesus (the sacrifice).  Think about this next time you dip the bread in the wine at communion!

So, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience...” Hebrews 10.22

Have you put your faith in Jesus today?  Have you trusted in Him as the only way (Hebrews 9.8) to draw near to God?  If no, then I invite you to receive Jesus by faith today!  If yes, then, brothers and sisters, we have confidence to enter the throne of grace today where we find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need! (Hebrews 4.16).

Join me in worshiping our Great High Priest, Jesus, as I sing this song that I wrote, given to me by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, with the words from Hebrews 4.14-16.

Great High Priest

“Jesus came into the world as the Son and the final High Priest, not to be the best and last ‘shadow’ as a priest.
He came to fulfill and end the shadows because He is the Reality.”
(Dec. ’96 Piper)

If You Want Me To

(Google images)

“I have become like broken pottery.”  The words on the page of Psalm 31 in my Bible stood out as if I had written them myself.  Oh, how often the Psalmists express the very things I am feeling!  In his case, he was in distress, anguish and affliction.  He was weak, and even his close relationships were broken.

Yes, the Psalmist and I have a lot in common. 

My counselor once told me: “Let them see your cracks, so the glory of God can shine through.” 

It comes from 2 Corinthians 4.7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

It is hard to let people see my cracks, my brokenness.  It is humbling. 

But it is also hard for me not to wish away the cracks.  Deep down, I sometimes wonder, “Why did you allow this circumstance in my life, Lord?  It doesn’t makes sense to me.”  I would have never chosen this.

But I can’t change people, and I can’t change my circumstance.  So what am I going to do?

Sometimes I just cry, and Jesus is with me in my tears. 

But other times I really fight the temptation to compare myself to others. 

Today I saw myself in Peter when he asked: “Lord, what about him?” John 21:21.  How tempting it is to look at someone else’s life and think, “Lord, what about her?  Why didn’t she have to suffer?  Why doesn’t she face many trials?  Why does her life seem so put-together?  Why does everything work out for her?”

That is me being broken pottery, wishing I were porcelain. 

But Jesus rebukes Peter for comparing his calling to crucifixion with John’s seemingly privileged position.

(google images)

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You must follow me.”  John 21.22

These words struck my heart with power and truth.  I have done the same thing as Peter in my heart.

I look at my suffering and trials, and and then compare my assignment to another person’s, instead of simply following Jesus.

It comes down to this:  what do I want for my life?  What does Jesus want for my life?  And will God give me the grace to want what He wants? 

Suddenly I remembered one of my favorite songs, by Ginny Owens:

“The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear
And I don’t know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I’m gonna walk through the valley if You want me to

‘Cause I’m not who I was when I took my first step

(google images)

And I’m clinging to the promise You’re not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire if You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that’s not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I’d never go alone...”

(Watch and listen on YouTube here)

There it is: “If you want me to.”  This reminds me so much of Jesus’ own prayer in the garden before he was crucified:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26.39

Jesus asked for what he wanted, but prayed for what the Father wanted.  Oh, God, please give me the grace to pray like this too! 

My first year of college I had this verse written on the wall of my dorm room: 

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...” Philippians 3.10

I remember thinking, “Do I really want to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings??”

I love how Ginny Owens put it in her song: “So if all of these trials bring me closer to You, then I will go through the fire if you want me to.”

Okay, so every day I am not comparing myself to others; just sometimes the temptation pulls at me.  But as I think of the last few years, I can also  remember the precious fellowship I have had in prayer, song and tears with Christ.  I have seen glimpses of His beauty.  And it always draws me closer, to want to follow Him more, to love him more. 

There must be some reason, unknown to me, that God has chosen this story for me. But it is my story, for His glory, and not another’s.

In The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis, Aslan tells Shasta: ‘Child, I am telling you your own story, not hers.  No one is told any story but their own.’”

This is just what I needed to hear today.  Just like the words Peter heard, in “the kind of death by which [he] would glorify God” John 21.19.

(google images)

What will I do when I am faced with trials that I don’t want but I can’t change?  Will I look to someone else’s story?  Will I count their cracks and have self-pity for my own?  Or will I fix my eyes on Jesus, and long for His glory to shine through in my weakness? 

Lord, give me more grace to fix my eyes on You each day (Hebrews 12.2), to want what you want even when you give me assignments I don’t want.  When I get tempted in the “snare of compare”, I invite you to rebuke me and remind me to follow you (John 21.22).  Forgive me for looking to those around me rather than to you, for comparing myself to others and for my stubborn will that fights your will.  I pray for more grace to enjoy sweet fellowship with you, Jesus, as I share in your sufferings (Phil. 3.10), that I will truly desire more than anything else to be closer to You (Psalm 73.25).  Thank you that no matter what trial I go through, you promise to be with me (Isaiah 41.10), to never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13.5)  And in my weakness and sufferings, give me the grace to rejoice and let your glory be revealed in me (1 Peter 4.13), through me and to me, in Jesus name, Amen.

[Note: I highly recommend you set aside 47 minutes while you are working or driving (not laying down...too sleepy!) to listen to this message, by Carolyn Mahaney, called "The Snare of Compare", given at a women's conference for The Gospel Coalition in 2012.  Though she is not fancy, famous, or funny, she is full of wisdom and truth].

Made Perfect For All Time

me on my sad, bad hair day

I keep getting messages from the culture to be perfect:

“Have the perfect body.”
“Wear the perfect clothes, and look perfect.”
“Get the perfect job and career.”
“Be the perfect mom....oh, and make sure your kids are perfect too!”
“Live in the perfect house.”
“Marry the perfect man....oh and be the perfect wife!”

I’m sick of feeling constrained to be perfect.  I feel smothered and stifled when I am forced and pressured to conform to all of these unreasonable expectations.

I hate the feeling of not being perfect.  I don’t like to see people with fit and firm abs, while my poofy muffin top bellybutton is all wrinkled and distorted.  Sure, I have 4 beautiful kids as a result of the sequential pregnancies, but now my body is---gasp--not perfect!  (I was tempted to post a proof photo of this, but I can’t bare it).

I fight feelings of jealousy or comparison at seeing women looking all made-up and perfect, while I am just trying to get my 4 kids out of bed, dressed and fed.  Woops!  I forgot to look in the mirror!  Once my friend even caught me wearing slippers at the pick-up for school.  And hair?  Make-up?  That is only for my best days, when I am feeling the capacity to actually prepare myself.

The message for many modern Western women is to get the perfect career, and to keep up with the home and family too.  If you are able to do this, then I applaud you!  Wow, that is just amazing.  For me, I am at the stage of having kids age 7, 6, 4 and 2, so this one is just out of the question for me to try to attain.

But then, the temptation to be the perfect mom sneaks up.  I come and go from social media, many times truly rejoicing (click: “like” and “love”!) in what my friends and “friends” are posting.  Yet, on my down days, I cannot click the “Instagram” or “Facebook” aps, because I know I will be tempted to compare myself and get discouraged. 

I know I am not the perfect mom, but I am even more confident that my kids are not the perfect kids!  Oh, the shame I fight when I encounter judgmental looks from others, or even actual negative comments.  How hard it is not to absorb them as my own failures or imperfect identity.

Single and engaged women may think they will find the perfect man, but all the married and formerly married people know there is not such a man (bless our husbands for loving the imperfect woman!).  And I don’t think there is a perfect house either, or else there wouldn’t be so many Americans moving all the time and doing home renovations every year.

There must be something better than all this.  Something that really satisfies. 

Today while I was looking into the mirror of the Bible and studying snapshots of Scripture, I saw something amazing!!  Something more beautiful than any picture I had seen in a while!  I gazed at the reflection of myself, but not in the bathroom mirror.  It was absolutely stunning!

(photo: google images)

It all started in Hebrews 7, when I was trying to untangle the theological knots about the priesthood.  As I memorized verses 11-19, that is when it popped out:

“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood...why was their still need for another priest to come?”

and verse 19:

“for the law made nothing perfect...”

There it was!  Perfection!  Sure enough, people throughout all time and history have tried to make themselves perfect through religion or through following the law. 

Even worse than feeling cultural pressure to be perfect, is the religious pressure in some circles to act perfect or to pretend we have it all together spiritually. 

But here it says clearly, that we cannot find perfection through the law.  We can never follow the law perfectly, and we can never draw near to God on our own, because of our sin.  God is holy, and we do not love him perfectly with our whole hearts.

The astounding light blazed in truth when I read this about Jesus:

“He is able to save completely those who come to God through him...he is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.”
Hebrews 7.25-26

This is it!  The perfect man!  The perfect priest!  And he, only he, can save us perfectly from our sin!  It is because we are not holy, but he is holy.  We are sinners, and he is set apart from sinners. 

There is that word again: PERFECT:

“..the Son...has been made perfect forever.” Hebrews 7.28 (see also 5.9).

(photo: google images)

I kept tracing this theme throughout Hebrews, and it was stunning:




“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we may serve the living God!”  Hebrews 9.14

Easter is approaching, and this is something to celebrate!  Let this truth soak in the next time you look at your blemishes in the morning mirror, or the next time you feel guilty for messing up again, or the next time you try to be perfect through your own work or through religion.

Jesus suffering on the cross, pouring out his blood for our sin, cleanses us!  He offered himself unblemished so that we could be made perfect for all time!
No wonder I was feeling smothered by the lies of the culture!  It was polluted perfection--is there such a thing!?  “The law...can never..make perfect those who draw near to worship.” Hebrews 10.1

Oh, how refreshing is the Gospel! 

This was all stunning beauty to me, as I gazed at the perfect High priest, Jesus, made perfect through his suffering.

But there is MORE!  Can it be so?!  It was like a double take in a mirror after you just had a make-over, or like a bride studying her reflection in the floor-length mirror just before her entrance.  “Is this really ME??”

Me, a bride, my best day

“By one sacrifice he has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.”  Hebrews 10.14

What?!  Astounding!  Through Jesus I am already made perfect!  This is fabulous news!  And this is for all time--forever!  No more trying, it’s a done deal!

We don’t have to try to be perfect through looks, body, marriage, home, kids, career or religious works.  We who look to Christ in faith already are perfect because his righteousness is counted to us!

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5.25-27

Think of it!  I already have the perfect clothes: “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61.10

We who are in Christ are promised the perfect bodies: “The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed!” 1Cor. 15.53

He is preparing the perfect Home for us: “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb. 11.16 & just read Revelation 21!). 

And if this sounds like a Cinderella fairy-tale, then I invite you to put on the lenses of faith and gaze into the reality found in the Bible that we shall soon see with our own eyes.  All of these things are just a shadow of the greater things to come! 

There’s nothing wrong with having nice clothes, make-up, hair, house, family, or whatever else.  Just let those things be pointers to the beauty found in Christ. 

And when the perfect life we wish for isn’t coming, let us set our hope on the perfect Son of God--Jesus-- who actually is coming again, and who clothes us with his perfection.

“The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.”

Hymn by Samuel John Stone

my wedding kiss: a shadow of the Wedding to come