22 January 2015 - learning to spell obedience

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

He is without limits. We tend to think how great it would be to be part of the "large number of people" who hear what he has done and follow him. Wouldn't it be great to be caught up in all of that excitement? Wouldn't it be great to see the many cures? To feel the thrill that even demons fall down before him?

Before Jesus, earthly priests offer imperfect sacrifices in a a place that is only a pattern of the heavenly sanctuary. They have to keep offering and offering and offering and it is never enough. Before the resurrection there are even limits to our access to Jesus. We press in with the crowds and he withdraws.

There are all these limits on our access to God that come from our fallen human nature. These limits are obliterated by the resurrection.  Now, we actually have more access to Jesus than do the crowds who follow him. He gets into a boat because of the crowd so that they do not crush him. He never withdraws from the place where he makes intercession for us. He is always able to save us from his place in the true heavenly sanctuary.

This is his more excellent ministry. This is the better covenant that is built on a better promise.

Only Jesus is able to say with complete sincerity of heart, "Here am I Lord; I come to do your will." Only this obedience unlocks all the blessings the Father wants to give us. So Jesus makes the blessings of this obedience to all who turn to him in their hearts. He does this by making his own obedience present within us.

May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."

Before the resurrection the demons must be silenced. Disobedient hearts always distort the truth of who Jesus is and who the Father is. They cannot speak the full truth of God's love because they refuse to abide in that love. But now, filled with resurrection power, we can and must proclaim, "You are the Son of God."

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.