Series: Jesus Is Better- The Better Covenant [#1]
JUST A SHADOW
Hebrews 8:1-6
Introduction:
As I was sitting and eating a hamburger this week at work in honor of Kaitlyn, one of the guys made an interesting statement about a fellow worker who has cancer. He said, “I know that he says that he is ready to go to Heaven; but if he is ready, why is he working so hard to stay here”. He said, “I think that people forget that you have to die before you can go to Heaven”. What a simple but true statement.
This morning, we are going to begin a new section of Hebrews: Jesus Is Better- The Better Covenant. The writer is showing us that this world is not enough. That this world is just a shadow of things to come. There is something more that is lasting and fulfilling. Inside every man’s heart, there is a desire to endure, to live on, and to move into real living that has not limits, no end; and Jesus Christ offers that reality to us. Jesus Christ came to bring us permanence and to turn our hearts from earthly shadows to eternal reality.
Hebrews 8:1 (NIV)
“The 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.”
1. Earthly Power vs. Eternal Power.
Once Jesus entered into Heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus sat down because He had finished His task. The fact that He is at the right hand of the throne of God speaks of His power and authority in Heaven. All of the high priest before Jesus had a power over the people. The people were dependent upon the high priest to have their sins forgiven; but the problem with this, these men all died.
The power of the high priest was just a shadow of the one true High Priest Jesus Christ. What Jesus did will last forever.
Hebrews 8:2 (NIV)
“And who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.”
2. Earthly Worship vs. Eternal Worship
The high priest was all about the procedures and the service. Through the years, the people were more worried about going through the proper motions than they were of truly worshipping God. True worship of God is a focus on God. True worship is a God focused heart.
The tabernacle is a type of…
? The Heavenly place where God lives.
The tabernacle is a type of…
? Jesus Christ, who is the meeting place between God and man.
The tabernacle is a type of…
? Christ in the Church where Jesus has fellowship with all believers.
Hebrews 8:3-4 (NIV)
“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. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.”
3. Earthly Forgiveness vs. Eternal Forgiveness
Another contrast shown is the difference between earthly forgiveness and eternal forgiveness. Earthly forgiveness is incomplete because we can forgive but very seldom can we forget. God’s forgiveness also forgets. His forgiveness blots out any memory of sin and is never brought back up.
There is another contrast between earthly and eternal forgiveness. Human forgiveness can’t remove guilt, but God’s can. We will never remove guilt from our hearts and we will never be free from burden. Only in God is there complete forgiveness and only in God does forgiveness forget and remove guilt. Isn’t that a beautiful thing that Christ does for us?
Hebrews 8:5 (NIV)
“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."
4. Human Wisdom vs. Divine Wisdom
The writer contrasts human wisdom and divine wisdom. When Moses was up on the mountain getting the 10 Commandments, God showed him a blueprint. God said, “I want you to build a tabernacle” and God wanted it built exactly like He showed Moses. Moses was not trusted to his own wisdom. Moses wasn’t to try to build something he thought would glorify God; but he was to build it exactly like God intended. It was to follow God’s design. God has a design for our lives also. If you build your life according to the blueprint of God, you will find perfection in that your life will fulfill the purpose for which you were created. If you depend on your own wisdom, you will waste your life, destroy your life, and destroy yourself in the end.
Hebrews 8:6 (NIV)
“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.”
5. Earthly Promises vs. Eternal Promises
The last contrast we see shows a contrast between earthly promises and eternal promises. Jesus is our mediator and a mediator stands available and willing to bring both sides together. Earthly promises are broken daily, but Jesus Christ offers the eternal promise of salvation if only we will surrender our life to Him.
Conclusion:
Without Christ, you are dead. Spiritually and eternally you are cut off from God. If you will turn your heart to Jesus, He will bring you into life everlasting.
