Sunday: Jesus Before the Father
Read Hebrews 9:24. According to this passage, what was the purpose of Jesus’ ascension to heaven?
God instructed Israel that their males should go three times every year up to Jerusalem to “appear before the Lord” with an offering. The appointed times were the feast of Passover (Unleavened Bread), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (Exodus 23:14-17, Deuteronomy 16:16). Passover celebrated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Pentecost celebrated the barley harvest and, by the time of the New Testament, it was associated with the giving of the law at Sinai. The Feast of Booths celebrated God’s care for Israel during their sojourn in the desert. According to the New Testament, all the Old testament feasts also have prophetic significance.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Hebrews 9:24 describes Jesus’ ascension into the presence of the Father. He arrived at the heavenly sanctuary, “the true one,” in order to “appear” before God with a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23-24, NIV) — His own blood.
Jesus fulfilled the pilgrimage feasts’ prophetic significance with amazing accuracy. He died on the day for the preparation of the Passover at the ninth hour, the moment in which Passover lambs were sacrificed (John 19:14, Matthew 27:45-50). Jesus was resurrected on the third day and ascended to heaven to receive assurance that His sacrifice had been accepted (John 20:17, 1 Corinthians 15:20), when the priest was to wave the sheaf of ripe barley as the first fruits (Leviticus 23:10-12). Then, He ascended 40 days later to sit at the right hand of God and inaugurate the new covenant on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:1-2:47).
The purpose of pilgrimage in ancient Israel was to “behold the face of God” (Psalm 42:2, NRSV). This meant to experience God’s favor (Psalm 17:15). Similarly, the Hebrew expression to “seek the face of God” meant to ask God for help (2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 27:8, Psalm 105:4). This is the sense, in Hebrews, of Jesus’ ascension. Jesus ascended to God with the perfect sacrifice. Jesus ascended to heaven also as our forerunner into the presence of God (Hebrews 6:19-20). He has made real the promise for the believers who journey “seeking a homeland,” desiring “a better country” looking “forward to the city … whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 13-16, NRSV).
| Again, why should the reality of what Christ has done, not only on the cross but what He is doing now in heaven, give us assurance of salvation? |
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The text doesn't seem to answer the question. Unless to "appear before the Lord" means to give a personal account of what happened?
It's good to remember that the Bible Study guide is not a catechism, but only a suggested line of study. That is why it is good to review the biblical context, rather than going by the lesson author's words.
In this case, all the verses preceding Heb. 9:24 in the chapter are necessary context. At minimum, please read Heb. 9:16-23 for context. If you will do so, you will see that the author presents Christ appearing as both as High Priest and sacrifice in the heavenly temple. This is mentioned in the context of Israelites being instructed to "appear before the Lord" with their offerings three times every year.
The author of Hebrews points out that Jesus, as High Priest, offers His own blood (rather than the blood of animals) "before the Lord." It seems to be his way of letting us know, among other things, that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament sanctuary types and symbols. nd the sacrifice of His life is the "once-and-for-all" sacrifice that takes away the sins of all who believe in Him. (See Hebrews 10:1-18. As always, read the context. 😉)
Again, why should the reality of what Christ has done, not only on the cross but what He is doing now in heaven, give us assurance of salvation?
It is by faith that we grasp hold of what Christ is doing for us. Romans 3:21-26. Faith is not with out evidence. Hebrews 11:1. The evidence is what He said He is doing for us. John 3:16. He is apearing before God for us. Hebrews 9:24. He is following through with making a way to fulfill the promise, that who so ever believeth in Him should not parish but have eternal(everlasting) life(salvation through Christ). Christ dying on the Cross and ascending to heaven, God the Father giving Him approval face to face. Christ coming back for forty days to give face to face encouragement to His followers, plus raising from the dead several faithful followers to be a witness of God's love, and He assended to heaven to open the veil and be our Mediator and Intercessor, is evidence enough for us to have assurance of salvation. Because we believe in Christ, ask for forgivness, repent, and by given faith, trust in Him.
According to Paul, if he is the writer of Hebrews, verse 24 states that Christ Jesus went to heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us. This does not clearly state what Christ Jesus actually does, though other passages point out specifics. In my opinion, the writer uses language He deems necessary for the Jews to be able to grasp the teaching of the new 'Way', ‘Gift of Grace by Faith’, by connecting it to their well-understood sacrificial system.
As I understand God's 'Truth and Light', I read that the Son of God went home to be with His Father and the family of heavenly beings because His mission had ended. He returned to His place of authority to fulfill His duties of the Heavenly realm; now including the intimate knowledge of man as He experienced mankind’s life Himself.
His administration of the realms of the universe, of angels and heavenly beings, includes now the close watch-care over all who believe and follow the Savior’s ‘Way of Truth and Light’ by faith whiles living in the heavenly kingdom on earth.
The Gospel of the kingdom of heaven is the blueprint for the kingdom on earth - life for the believer as taught to His apostles and followers personally, and to us based on the recordings of that which He spoke to them about; this is why He came - to teach man how to live his life rightly.
John 14:1-3NKJV - v.2 in His own words tell His apostles: ”In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.”
He is preparing a place in heaven for His disciples and those who believe through them as they preach and teach God's Good News, making sure that everything is ready to welcome us into heaven's kingdom.
John 16:22- 24NKJV – v. 23,24 in His own words tells the Apostles: ”In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
Heb.10:20NJKV - Jesus opened for the believer the ‘Way to heaven’ through the ‘veil’, which is His body(flesh) for us to now be able to communicate with the Father directly. We are still in our body, but we are hid in the Son and with Him in the Father as we live our life by faith according to His Will.
What Christ does ....?!
is the reconciliation of God's nature onto himself in Christ ! 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Colossians 1:19-20
Shalom
Larry , thank you for taking the time to reflect - Yes and amen to what you pointed out the work of Christ Jesus to be; though this took place whiles He was in the flesh and walked among us.
The lesson referred to work He supposedly does in heaven on our behalf, and to the statements given there is no clear record in His own words.
The only evidence of work on our behalf is that He prepares a place for us to be were He is now.
I agree and share into your praises you have shared in your own comments.
Only in Christ Jesus's divinity/divine nature in flesh, The Father can reconcile all things onto his own divine nature without compromise, as he balances his love and mercy with divine justice ...without compromise.
A perfect fail-save plan in the Godhead from eternity ... AMEN ...OH WHAT A GOD WE SERVE ....(Satan lost)
2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Colossians 1:19-20