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January 1928
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hold a large place.. The prodigal regains his home, the publican a welcome, and women who were sinners were cheered to better things. He is no harsh administrator, no wilful tyrant'bent upon his own magnificence, but one who does not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax. The thing that is spoilt He re-makes, the thing that is lost He finds, the thing that is cast out He recalls, and the thing ready to perish He revives. Thus the pleasure of the Lord is His work. This hand, moreover, that rules today and is carrying forward the pleasure of the Lord was often lifted in prayer, and even now is not unused to that holy, service. “And Jesus on the Eternal Throne For sufferers intercedes.” The hand so used is likely to be guided by the most benevolent and far-seeing intelligence. Brutes do not pray. This is the privilege only of the holiest and best. As our spiritual natures develop in intelligence and heav- enly-mindedness, -we use more and more this holy exercise of intercession. It is to One who is; the chief of Inter cessors, who above all others was a “man of prayer,” into whose hand God has committed the righteous government of this world. f ANY students of the Word delight in the savory fascination of tracing to their fulfill- Scriptures to receive the greatest spiritual profit. Indeed, the student of the Bible who ignores the typical value of the Old Testament is of a sluggish heart, as well as dull mind (Lk. 24:25). Shall we not earnestly pray that our Lord will “open our hearts’ eyes” (lit. of Luke 2 4 :45) that we may understand the Scriptures ? It is also intensely interesting and edifying to study the New Testament in the light of the Old. The brilliance of any New Testament passage is greatly enhanced by adding thereto the light from its Old Testament counter part. So let us study this rich passage in Heb. 9:24-28. It speaks of three appearings of Christ: | | “He appeared once in the end o f the age to put away sin by the'sacrifice o f Himself,” v. 26 (past). 2. “He is entered into heaven now to appear in the presence of God for us,” v. 24 (present). 3. “He shall appear the second time (without a sin- offering ) unto salvation,” v. 28 (future). T h e D ay of A ton em en t A casual reading of this chapter shows that Christ, our great High Priest, here is compared (as well as con trasted) with the Old Testament priesthood and worship of the sanctuary. The earthly temple (or tabernacle) is clearly a miniature representation of the Heavenly Sanc tuary. The holy of holies represents the very Throne Room of God; and the mercy-seat represents God’s throne in heaven (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:1).
III. Concerning the ministry of pleasure, entrusted to the hand of Jesus, a promise is attached. “Shall pros per,” “shall break through,” notwithstanding all that lifts itself against it, and notwithstanding all the powers that array themselves in opposition. “Shall prosper.” That promise may be relied upon by the individual believer concerning the work of grace in his own heart. God’s pleasure shall succeed despite all my languor concerning it and my indolence in -seeking its ad vancement. Equally the promise belongs to the Church. The pleasure of the Lord shall not fail from it either. “ I will build my Church,” Christ said, and it will be built a praise in the earth. Moreover, the Lord reigneth over all. “The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” This holds true also when we' regard mankind. The ways of government and the confusions of nations often tax our faith, but He is not missing His way, nor is His purpose failing. That things are as they are, may be to the angels the surest sign that God has not abdicated the throne, and that the loving- kindness of the Lord is still a reality. The hand of Jesus is on the helm, and for the Believer that is “A sovereign balm for every wound, A cordial for his fears.” On the Day of Atonement the high priest appeared to the waiting and excited people without, in the court, to offer sacrifice for the people on the altar of burnt-offer ings (Lev. 16; especially verses 24 and 34). This speaks of Christ’s offering on the Cross:-—“Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God” to put away our sin (Heb. 9:14). Then the high priest took the shed blood from the altar, to appear before the mercy-seat in the holy of holies on their behalf. Eagerly, expectantly, breathlessly, the people waited without till the priest again appeared. Till they saw him they were a bit nervous lest he fail in some ordi nance, pay the penalty with his life, and render the sacrifice unacceptable. When he reappeared from the holy of holies the people were hilarious with unrestrained joy. They then knew that the sacrifice on their behalf had been accepted; the atoning blood had effectually covered wrath. And does not the resurrection of Christ bear the same message to us ? Had His offering on Calvary been unac ceptable, or had He not been God’s appointed and anointed offerer, He would have remained in the. grave. But lo, after three days, in a great demonstration of power and glory, He reappeared: the blessed assurance and incon trovertible proof that He and His offering were fully approved by God! He was raised again from the dead “because of the acquittal He secured for us” (Rom. 4:25, Weymouth’s translation; also cf. Rom. 1 :4). In order to get fully before us the significance of the “three appearings” of Heb. 9 :24-28, we must call upon another function of the Old Testament priesthood,-—name ly, that of offering incense on the golden altar in the holy place. Such a scene is described in Luke 1 :9-10 (see also Lev. 16:12-13). Zacharias went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense, and the whole multitude of the peo ple were praying without. This priestly ministration is a
The Appearings o f Christ, Our H igh Priest B y E vangelist F red J. M eldau , Denver, Colorado (Heb. 9:24-28)
H l | ment the Holy Spirit-given types (Heb. 9:8) L of the Old Testament. Such a study of the & Word of Cod, that sees Christ in all the ordinances, incidents, and characters—yea, all things—of the Old Testament, is the way to study the
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