Jesus is
Our Forerunner
Heb.
6: 19,20 ESV
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope
that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has
gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest
forever after the order of Melchizedek.
John
14:2b,3 KJV
“ I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Under
the old Mosaic covenant, no one was allowed to follow the high priest
into the Holy of Holies, behind the curtain of separation. The priest
entered alone into the presence of God with an offering of blood,
which would cover the sins of the Israelites for a year, until the
next Day of Atonement.
Under
the New Covenant, Jesus entered once, for all of us, into the Holiest
Place with his own blood, and restored mankind to right standing with
God. He made it possible for us to receive His eternal life and His
righteousness.
When
Jesus said “it is finished”, and left His body on the cross, the
curtain which denied access to the mercy seat in the Jerusalem
temple, was ripped apart from top to bottom, showing to all the
world, that access to the throne of mercy is now freely available to
anyone-Jew or Gentile.
Whoever
desires to, is free to approach Him and receive His grace, mercy, and
forgiveness. Every miserable sinner, every self-righteous loser-
whosoever will, is welcome at the throne of God, because we have a
Forerunner who has cleared the way for us. No one will be turned
away: including YOU!
According
to Adam Clark's Commentary on the Bible, a forerunner runs before,
shows the way, does something first, and it also refers to the first
fruits of the harvest.
We
see here a wonderful picture of Jesus our High Priest and Redeemer.
He
went before us, as a man, into the very throne room of Almighty God,
secured forgiveness for all of us, and then defeated death by rising
from the grave, to live forever as our Intercessor, our King, and our
High Priest.
Jesus
is the beginning of the new creation. He is the first born, the
Forerunner. Through the miracle of the new birth, we who were born
into the race of Adam, can now, be born, of the Spirit, into Christ.
We have been transferred into the family of God: Jesus, our
forerunner, is not only our Redeemer, but He is also our Elder
Brother. He is God, and He is also a Man.
By
grace through faith, we can enjoy all the benefits and blessings
which are made available to us through Christ, our Forerunner and our
High Priest.
“ Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of
Him who hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us
exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is
in the world through lust.” II
Peter 1:2-4
God
bless you, as you rest in His grace!
©2012
Rev. Charles J. Loubert
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