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Yet their work was not in vain. They were set to indi cate God’s method, and to foreshadow Him who was to come, God’s Apostle and High Priest, Jesus Christ. The great topic of the epistle to the Hebrews is the accom plishment in Christ of what had been only prefigured in the Levitical ministry. Even as that failed because of its threefold weakness, Christ won by the triple excellence of His ministrations. First, His own superiority as priest. “ For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore” (Heb. 7:28 R. V.) “For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, sepa rated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens,’* (Heb. 7:26 R. V.) Second, He has offered a better sacrifice. “For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins . , . then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will . . . By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of. the (body of Jesus Christ once for all . . . For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:4, 9, 10, 14, R. V.). And third, He ministers in a better sanctuary. “For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us” (Heb. 9:24, R. V). So when the better Priest had offered the better sacrifice in the better sanctuary, He sat down on the right hand of God, having solved the sin problem with a perfect atone ment. No more priestly caste, no more sacramental masses, no more altars and holy places! 2. A Voluntary Humiliation has merited the Seat of Power Consider the infinite stoop recorded in the few words of the Apostle Paul: “Christ Jesus . . . existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” But that is not the end of the story. There is a glorious issue. “WHEREFORE also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth.” Even so, while the multitudes of the heavenly host ascribe the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing, to the Lamb in the midst of the throne, the basis of their praise is, “Thou wast slain.” The extent of our exalted Lord’s dominion is indi cated in Ephesians 1:20-22: “He raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in t h e heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head oyer all things to the church.” In a word, God has elevated the man Christ Jesus to the place of supreme authority, has made Him Lord and Sov ereign of the whole universe. All angelic intelligences are under His sway. Whatever their rank, be they angels or archangels, cherubim or seraphim, principalities or powers, Jesus is far above them all. Their vast strength, their high intelligence, their amazing speed, their exalted faculties, are all bent to the service of Christ the Lord, the Man at God’s right hand. Likewise, whatever can bear a name is embraced in the unlimited dominion of Jesus. This makes Him Lord of all things, animate and inanimate, organic and inorganic, heavenly and earthly— it sweeps the whole range of creation.
Nor is He “King for a day.” This preeminence Is “not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” So that all time, as well as all space, bows to His dic tatorship. And if there be any forces that resist Him, these too must bow, for God has “put all things in sub jection under his feet.” Here is the assurance that the final victory lies with the Man of Calvary. “He must reign, until all his enemies be made his footstool.” Sometimes our hearts are full of questionings and doubtings. We see our world a cesspool of iniquity, a vale of tears, one great cemetery for the dead. The powers of darkness seem to be overpoweringly strong: right is on the scaffold and wrong is on the throne. Why, we ask, does not a sovereign God overthrow evil once for all, and relieve the world of its awful weight of sor row? Christ on the throne is a sufficient answer to my heart’s cry, although my mind be greatly perplexed. We think so much in terms of the immediate. He is dealing with ultimates. Faith looks beyond the present apparent chaos to final triumph, and the perfect order of the Kingdom of God. Our assurance is that Jesus,, the Babe of Bethlehem, the Man of Calvary, is both Lord and Christ, reigning at God’s right hand, the place of supreme authority and infinite power. “All things are under One. One Spirit, His Who wore the platted thorns with bleeding brow, Rules universal nature.” 3. A Glorious Triumph has won a Seat of Expectancy The prophetic announcement of our Lord’s session at God’s right hand carried this element of expectancy; “Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” So our text tells us, “This man, a f t e r he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” The triumph of the Cross and the resurrection from the dead assure the ultimate subjugation of all opposing forces, human or angelic. The devil and his angels will at last be cast out forever, unrepentant men who h a v e massed their puny powers “against the Lord, and against his Anointed” will be swallowed up in the last great judgment, and in a renewed heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteous ness: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” As He looked out well pleased upon a work of creation that was all “very good,” so shall He behold a perfected redemption and once again pronounce all things “ very good.” And we too shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” OUR AUTHORS The above is the first in a series of three articles on this subject by Dr. Macaulay who Is pastor of Wheaton Bible Church, Wheaton, Illinois. Our other authors are Reverend Vance Havner, Baptist minister and Conference speaker; Mel Larson, Youth leader and Associate Editor of the Evangelical Beacon; and Miss Ruth Paxson, well known Bible teacher and author. Their writ* ings will be a real contribution to your spiritual life and ministry.
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