David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 8:1-17

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. ³ Forevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”⁶ But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ⁷  For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Jesus spoke about the danger of being empty when an evil spirit has been cast from a person (Matthew 12:43-45). For when it returns to that emptiness it brings seven others and the state of that one is more evil than before. He also lamented over Jerusalem, saying that because they did not receive him their house would be left desolate – utterly empty (Matthew 23:37-39).

There is a double sadness to these truths. Not only are the conditions described here sad and terrible, they are entirely preventable. There is a completely better way. That is the way of Jesus who is exactly fitting and according to God’s design, the perfect redemption for us from garish false idols or from ritualistic religiosity.

Today, sadly, there is little effort given to constructing much of anything according to heavenly patterns or values. That is not to say that churches must be designed in a certain way. That’s the whole point of this passage: the old way of the temple and sacrifices did not work, even though it was patterned exactly according to God’s instructions. The second covenant is about relationship and puts us into a kingdom by which we represent God to the world. It’s all about loving God and our neighbor. It’s all based on Jesus’ sacrifice and our part in his continuing ministry to the world.

But unless we embrace our neediness, and emptiness apart from Christ we will never find rest. We will only be consumed by the demons that not only ignore the design and intent of God, but blind us to our desperate need for him. We’ve outrun our neediness and we must repent.