Christ Died Outside of Jerusalem (Heb. 13:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08-05-03

 

                                                                                                           

My Worship Time                                          Focus: Christ Died Outside Jerusalem

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 13:11

 

Message of the verse:  “11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.”  (NASB)  “Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, but the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.”  (NLT)

            This verse speaks of the Day of Atonement, where the High Priest would go into the Most Holy Place and would put the blood of an animal onto the top of the Ark of the Covenant for the sins of the nation of Israel, and then the body of the animal would be burned outside the walls of Jerusalem.  Jesus Christ was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem for the sins of all, so the Day of Atonement was a picture of what would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The readers of this letter wanted to go back into this Jewish types and symbols of Christ in order to avoid persecution from the unbelieving Jews, and the writer is telling them to get out of this old and on with the new in spite of the possible persecution that could come upon them.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can learn for this verse that I am not to take the easy way out of the things in life, rather I am to, by faith, do as the Lord has shown me in His Word, and as I am taught from my Church, and do as I learn from the devotions I do each day. 

 

The Word of God has brought challenges to my heart today as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to keep me true to His Word and to Him in spite of circumstances or consequences.