Wednesday after Ad te levavi, the First Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 2, 2020 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 (NKJV)
10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Devotion
The Old Testament tabernacle—and later the temple which Solomon built—had two chambers: the Holy Place and the Holiest Place. The second contained the ark of the covenant, on which was the mercy seat of God, and signified the very throne room of heaven. Between these chambers was a veil, so that one could not approach the throne of God without first making atonement for sin. When the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, this veil was torn in two, showing that the earthly symbols were no longer needed, for the Christ Himself is the true Veil—that is, He is the entryway into the throne room of God.
Verse 20 says that we enter the Holiest—which is the presence of God—“through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Christ’s flesh is the veil because, through His flesh, men are united with God. Because He rose from the dead in the flesh, our flesh will also be raised from the dead when He comes again.
The Advent of the Christ means the replacement of the old with the new. At His first Advent He fulfilled and replaced the earthly temple with His own flesh and blood. At His second Advent He will take our old sinful flesh and make it new and holy. At that time, those who believe in Him will dwell forever in the holy presence of God.
Prayer: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
