Hebrews 8

This devotional is written by Anita Jones.

The high priest of a new covenant
Now the main point of what we are saying is this: we do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:

‘The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbours,
or say to one another, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.’

13 By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

As I record this, I can hear thunder in the background.  And I can see and hear the rain pelting down. On my sunroof.

It reminds me of God cleansing power.

To clean His world and give water to the thirsty things.

I pray that today, as we look at this passage of Scripture, that we will also have our thirst quenched. And be cleaned by God's love.

I heard something this morning:

‘You only live today once. Why do it alone?’

And in the spirit of that, I want to say thank you for joining me today.

And for also including God in your day.

We don't need to live our lives alone, do we?

And this is one of the wonders of being part of a Christian community and family.

This chapter of Hebrews, Chapter 8, is a bit easier compared to the others we've had before.

The main point is that we now have a high priest of a new and better covenant.

The Old Covenant is the law that Israel was given. And now with Jesus, these Hebrews not only have a high priest, who is compassionate and better than all the previous priests…But they also have a new covenant.

And a new way of relating to God.

The way that this new covenant is described is of interest to us today, because of course, we are part of this new covenant.

Let me just mention three things that we see in this new covenant.

The covenant is different because God's law is quote inscribed on their hearts.

This is what you and I have to look forward to in our relationship with God.

As we grow, the ways of God are written on our hearts. The desires of the spirit become our desires. As we follow Jesus, we are transformed from the inside out.

Secondly, the new covenant is characterised by a personal relationship with God.

In verse 11, we see that there is no need for a neighbour to teach another, to know the Lord.

This is a big shift.

Now every person who chooses to be part of the covenant actually knows God personally.

This is a beautiful picture of the gospel.

And three: Now that we have a new covenant, there is forgiveness of sins.

No more craziness of sacrifice like the Old Testament system.

Now God is personal.

And accessible because Jesus has dealt with our sin decisively once and for all.

These features of the new covenant, and our new accessibility to God, are a new way of relating to God.

Which parts resonate with you? And with your picture of God?

Let's just pray one more time:

Thank you Jesus for paying the price for our sin, by your death on the cross.

Help us today to feel that freedom and to know Your goodness in all that we do.

Help us to be light shining out for you. In our city. In our world.

We pray that many, many, many more people will come to know you.

And that the light of your goodness, truth and beauty will shine in our world.

And they all will come to know you and worship you.

We pray this in your name,
Amen.