Proper 25: Epistle, Hebrews 7:23-28                                 

Hebrews 7:23-28

“It is finished.” For the Christian I am not sure there are any sweeter words in the Bible. The careful Bible reader will recognize these jewels from the lips of Christ, declaring His finished and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. With these words the domination of sin and death plaguing the human race from its debacle in the garden is ended. Forever ended.

But there is a work of Jesus that goes on, and in many ways it is just as sweet. Because in it He brings the truth and finality of His triumph to the attention of His Father and ours. In our epistle reading, the writer is once again taking up the issue of the superiority of Jesus in the work and history of redeeming love throughout and beyond the Old Covenant. That work is for all people. But His ongoing work is for His people. The issue here in Hebrews is the priesthood that Jesus holds and the argument is that merely human priests hold their priesthood only temporarily. But this Jesus, our Jesus holds His permanently and so is powerful and effective without limit. The Son of God is eternal and therefore so is His priesthood.

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). There it is. His ongoing work which “carries” His “It is finished” continually to the Father is His ongoing intercession for us. 

I love the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. It is my only hope before a holy God. But I surely love the ongoing work of the Son of God as well. This morning or this evening, whenever you are reading this meditation, know this for certain, child of God: Jesus has this day prayed for you. God be praised!