Christmas is the culmination of something old and the ushering in of something brand new. For thousands of years, the Law, the sacrificial system, and the priesthood all pointed forward to something that was coming. These shadows were never the end result, but like a musical masterpiece building toward a crescendo, they continued to point to the coming culmination in Christ.
But not only is the first coming of Christ a culmination of something old; it ushered in something completely brand new. Jesus came to open a new and living way to the Father. He came to remove the veil that stood between God and man, and the way He came to remove it was by His own death on the cross.
Because of the gospel, we now have confidence rather than fear when we approach the Father. We can enter the holiest of holy places into the very presence of God with confidence, and it's all because of Jesus.
We can enter the holiest of holy places into the very presence of God with confidence, and it's all because of Jesus.
He is the great high Priest who rose from the grave to intercede for all eternity on behalf of His people. Christ came to bring something that had never before existed. He came to bring radical salvation for ruined sinners. His work on our behalf is so sufficient that the author of Hebrews can use words like "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith."
Let us hold onto the truth of the gospel in such a way that we actually live in the presence of God with full assurance and confidence that we are loved, accepted, and righteous.
Jesus came to this place to prepare a new place for His people.
