Pastor Scott Jonas
Hebrews 9
Greater than the Holy of Holies
10/30/18
There once was a man who went to the temple. When he saw the grandeur and holiness of Solomon’s temple it made him tremble. He barely made it in the courtyard. He would go no further. He’d heard what was inside the massive doors in front of him, the room called Holy Place: the giant lampstand of hammered Gold lifting up 7 lamps, the golden table that held loaves for the twelve tribes of Israel. It gave him the shivers, a place so special, so sacred. Through the drapes was the next room, called the Most Holy Place. It was a forbidden place. Images of Angels warned you not to enter. Holiness kills the unholy like light kills the darkness. Near the entrance of the Most Holy place was a golden altar where the high priest burned incense to protect himself from the glory of God. Behind that curtain was the ark of the covenant which contained the original ten commandment tablets. The ark was called the mercy seat because Yahweh sat on it like a throne. No one had ever seen God is all his glory and lived. The man was terrified of witnessing the full holiness of God.
The smell of blood from animal sacrifices was also unnerving. It was a warning, this a place of death.
So he entered the courtyard of the Temple but stayed as far from the Holy Place as possible. This man was a sinner and he knew it. He entered a profession that made him make hard choices and daily compromises against his conscience. He practically gripped the courtyard wall trying to escape an uncompromising God. The man couldn’t even look up to heaven he was so ashamed. He hit himself over and over, “God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on me a sinner.” He almost didn’t want God to answer back because he knew that he deserved a harsh rebuke.
There once was a woman who went to church. When she saw the grandeur and the holiness of the sanctuary it made her tremble. She knew she was a sinner. Her family, career and life constantly made her make compromises against her conscience. She sat in the back row because a front row seat felt too dangerous, too vulnerable. In the back row, you feel like you could escape if you needed to. When she prayed, she didn’t look up because it felt like someone was watching. All of the mentions of the body and the blood made her quesy. When the Pastor had a time of silence for self reflection it felt like forever. She just kept breathing in and silently saying “God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on me a sinner. God have mercy on me a sinner.”
A man in the Temple and a woman at church. They may be separated by time and culture but they are both afflicted with the same condition. They fear a Holy God. Their instinct is correct and reasonable. The tame definition of Holiness is a special place, set apart by God. It sounds like your dining room growing up, “Mom would say, “Don’t play in the dining room. It’s only when company comes over.” Tame. Unless you break some china then it gets real. The real and raw definition of Holiness is “You don’t belong here!” You are not and will never be good enough for this place.
In Hebrews Chapter 9, the author tells the story how God’s Holiest place became obsolete. The Hebrews sometimes saw the Temple as a forgiveness factory. But it actually was meant as more of a grand object lesson in the Holiness of God. The Temple and sacrificial system taught that the gap between God and us is wide. We don’t even follow our conscience let alone follow the Lord. He is perfect. He created life; we take life. He is the only source that can make things right so we have to go to him. But we are afraid to go to him because of our sin and shame. The temple system teaches us that we need someone to break this cycle. We need someone who is Holy like God but is willing to meet us face to face. We need Jesus.
The Temple’s Holy place was another sign pointing to Jesus. This should have been obvious. Though the temple was one of the grandest structures in the ancient world, it was temporary. Not too long after Hebrews was written, the Temple was destroyed and hasn’t been restored since. Human structures, even those dedicated to God, have a shelf life. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the solution to our sin and shame problem.
When Jesus died on the cross the curtain between the holy place and the Holiest place ripped in two. This was a not so subtle way of God announcing that the Holiness of God is not restricted anymore. The publican man beating his chest and the woman sitting in the back of the church don’t have to tremble anymore. They can look into the face of Jesus and see his lips say these words, “I forgive you.”
The blood of animals taught the Hebrews that sin brings death. God did not enjoy the killing of sheep and doves. They are part of his good creation. It pained him to receive those offerings more than the worshippers who had to give them up. Back when Adam and eve sinned God sacrificed an animal and covered his children with the skins. Sin brought death and more death.
But now through Jesus Christ, we are covered by his blood once and for all. His sacrifice was sufficient to cover the whole world. His death put to death our sin. When we come to receive the bread and the wine, we are not resacrificing Jesus. That’s absurd and unnecessary. Your sin has been covered. Now you just have to deal with your conscience.
Our consciences were placed there by our creator as another sign pointing to God. When we go against that inner voice, it sticks with us. It is like a splinter in our mind that doesn’t want to go away. It is an echo from the past that haunts us. If there is one thing we can agree on from this week in politics, it is that the past often haunts us. You probably have something that curses you, that tells you that you aren’t good enough for this holy place. That is not your conscience speaking. That is not God speaking. That is your accuser, the devil speaking.
The Holy Spirit is not confined by a Tabernacle, a Temple or a mountain. The Holy Spirit was gifted to you at your Baptism. The curtain that closed off your heart was opened by Jesus. He continually cleans your heart, mind and soul. You are the most Holy place on earth. Your heart is the mercy seat of God.. He dwells here. Sitting in the back isn’t going to work. You can’t avoid Holy places because you are one. We all are Holy places. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who wants you to stay close to Him.