Peter Howard
Hebrews (part 6): A More Excellent Ministry
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
Today. We can’t change the past and we can’t predict the future, but we each have today as our own to make decisions. The writer of Hebrews was directing his message to a group whose time was nearly over. The temple, the heart of the old covenant of sacrifice and human priesthood, was about to pass away, and their faith and lives were in danger of being likewise destroyed.
The death of Jesus on the cross, and the tearing of the temple veil had signified the start of a new covenant – that of Jesus as eternal High Priest. Here, Jesus alone, offered salvation not through the blood of lambs but through his own shed blood. In Jesus’ day the priesthood was utterly corrupt and had run its course, the order of Aaron was to be replaced by the order of Melchizedek – eternal King of Righteousness and Peace.
Like the Jews of the seventh decade AD, we have an uncertain future, both individually and as a human race, and Jesus is offering us a rest from our troubles, forgiveness for our sins, and life eternal. But like the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him, today is our day to open the door of our hearts and accept what Jesus is offering us. Don’t harden your heart today, for you may not have a tomorrow.