Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Hebrews 6:19-20 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner [Jesus] has entered for us ...
JESUS' BLOOD, OUR ANCHOR
"In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil.” Words from a cherished hymn (My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less, TLH 370:2). Recently I made a discovery about this hymn (it's amazing how you can sing the words of a hymn for years and miss certain aspects of Gospel truths they are presenting). What I discovered is that the line about the anchor that holds "within the veil" comes from the Book of Hebrews right in the middle of the author's presentation of Jesus' work as our merciful High Priest.
In the next few devotions we consider the anchor that holds fast within the veil ... what it means ... and the encouragement it offers us to keep our eyes on Jesus, for He alone is our security for this life and the world to come.
It may be helpful for understanding what the author of Hebrews is teaching in the verse above if we picture in our minds the floor plan of the Temple. The Temple had a large room “the Holy Place." In the middle of this room was a small room "the Most Holy Place." These two rooms were separated by a thick curtain. In the Most Holy Place (behind the curtain) was a wooden chest, the Ark of the Covenant. The chest had a cover called the “mercy seat.” No one was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind that curtain except the High Priest. He could do this only once a year: on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). On that day he would enter through the curtain into the Most Holy Place carrying blood from a sacrificial animal and sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark to atone for his sins, the sins of his fellow-priests, and the sins of the people.
The Lord instituted this ritual for His priests to follow to bring home that their sin-guilt needed to be atoned for if they wished to enjoy a close relationship with Him now and live in His presence in heaven. By the sprinkling of animal blood on the mercy seat He was showing how the “atonement" would be brought about. It would happen by the blood that the Lamb of God would pour out on the cross. Recall now one of the miracles that occurred after Jesus cried out “It is finished!" and commended His spirit into the hands of His Father: the curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two. It was God's announcement to the world that the barrier separating Him from sinners had been removed, completely and permanently. It was as if He had said, "All who trust in my Son as their Savior enjoy the blessing of perfect remission for their sins and life everlasting. They may be at peace knowing that Jesus has made their life safe -- now and in the world to come." 