" Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law."
I've always known the ascension of Jesus Christ was important. After all, it's the ending of His physical work on earth. He completed His job on the cross. He gave us a way to be saved.
But this verse brings the whole ascension thing to a whole new level, and to understand that, you have to know a little bit about the Old Testament law.
But this verse brings the whole ascension thing to a whole new level, and to understand that, you have to know a little bit about the Old Testament law.
The Old Testament law is the law spoken about in this verse. It refers to priests who offer blood sacrifices for the people's sins. Under the Old Testament law, such sacrifices were sufficient. But, as the writer of Hebrews continues in verse 9 of the same chapter, the new testament, or covenant, is:
"Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, for they did not continue in my covenant."
The Israelites broke the covenant, so Jesus came to earth to establish "a more perfect covenant." (vs. 6) Hebrews 7 dwells extensively on the subject of Jesus's priesthood. He is a priest, the high priest. His priesthood is especially important. His death on the cross established Him as a valid blood sacrifice, which is what washes away the first covenant. There could not have been a new covenant without a blood sacrifice, and Jesus was the priest who made that sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:22)
Now the question is, why didn't Jesus just remain on earth?
The answer is that His great sacrifice would have been invalidated. Jesus would have been relegated to the same role as the Old Testament priests. "If He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all."
Isn't that cool? The ascension of Jesus Christ is His stamp of permanency and validity on the new covenant. Without the ascension, there would be no salvation. I just love the book of Hebrews, don't you?
The answer is that His great sacrifice would have been invalidated. Jesus would have been relegated to the same role as the Old Testament priests. "If He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all."
Isn't that cool? The ascension of Jesus Christ is His stamp of permanency and validity on the new covenant. Without the ascension, there would be no salvation. I just love the book of Hebrews, don't you?
Nice insight!
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