Because He Appeared

The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” (Leviticus 16:2, NIV 1984),

My Musings – Moses, the only person the “Lord would [ever] speak to…face to face” would not always be around to intercede between the Israelites and God. Provisions had to be made for when that time came.

The Meeting Place – “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.'” (Exodus 25:1-2, 8, NIV 1984). The “sanctuary” called the Tabernacle. A moveable and transportable meeting place. But more importantly, a place that God would “appear in the cloud,” “behind the curtain” in “the Most Holy Place.” Later, when the kingdom was fully established a fixed Temple would be constructed.

The Intercessor – “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.” (Exodus 28:1, NIV 1984). Specifically, “among the Israelites” meant the tribe of Levi. Even more specifically, all priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests. Only Aaron and his descendants were to serve as priests. For, “the priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.” (Exodus 29: 9, NIV 1984).

A Lasting Ordinance – Only until someone greater than Moses came. “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.” (Hebrews 3:1-6, NIV 1984). One day, He would come.

What Would Be Said in the Future – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18, NIV 1984). One day, “everything [would be] accomplished.” He had promised as much to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “All nations will be blessed.“

Everything is Accomplished – “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30, NIV 1984). He had paid the price for sinful mankind. He had fulfilled the “smallest letter” of the Law His Father had handed down to Moses. He had filled in the “least stroke of a pen” and the penalty of sin, for all who would believe and receive Him, disappeared. No longer under the Law, but under grace. “Everything [was] accomplished.“

Behind the Curtain – “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.” (Matthew 27:51, NIV 1984). The added exclamation point after “it is finished!” Torn “from top to bottom” by the means of God’s grace, not from bottom to top by means of a man keeping the Law. “For it is by grace [we] have been saved, through faith—and this not from [ourselves], it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV 1984).

A New Priesthood – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Not on the basis of a regulation [Levitical] as to his ancestry [Aaron] but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:16, NIV 1984). No longer just a prophet or King. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he [Jesus] comes to whom it belongs.” (Genesis 49:10, NIV 1984). Now a “high priest forever.”

A New Intercessor – “Who [then] will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34, NIV 1984). The us would be anyone who has placed their faith in Jesus. Jesus, the God – Man. A perfect intercessor. One who fully knows what it takes to fulfill the righteous requirements of a Holy God, and who took on human flesh to fulfill them.

The Power of an Indestructible Life – “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.'” (Matthew 28:1-6, NIV 1984). Death could not keep Him in the grave. Now that’s indestructible.

The Promise of a Second Resurrection – “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57, NIV 1984). Because He conquered death on our behalf.

My Advice – “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:24-26, NIV 1984). But you can only take part in these blessings if you have turned “from your wicked ways” and accepted Christ as your Savior.

“Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses.” That was then. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV 1984). This is now.