SOMETHING TO OFFER. Hebrews 8:3-5 Somewhat to offer," reminds us that our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as an offering and a sacrifice for sin. He completed the work of "suffering the just for the unjust to bring us to God." He was raised again from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant. He presents this before God on behalf of those He represents.
The primary purpose of the Hebrew priesthood was to offer gifts and sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. The high priest was their representative. Now that our Lord Jesus Christ has provided the ultimate and final sacrifice once for all and is seated at the right hand of God, there is no longer a need for a priesthood on earth, so we can approach God. Our High Priest in heaven has opened the way to heaven for us. He ministers for us based on the “once for all” sacrifice He made on the cross.
A priest has a sanctuary, a designated holy place, where he receives those who seek to come to God. The tabernacle in the wilderness was a copy of the true tabernacle, with its various parts speaking to us of our Lord and the promise of the true tabernacle. The Minister of the sanctuary where we approach God today is both the King on His throne and the Great High Priest who ministers on behalf of His people. He represents us, has opened the way for us to come to God, has brought us in, and puts in our hearts as believers in Him the life and spirit of those who His precious blood has cleansed.
Our consciences have been freed from the guilt of sin, and we can worship the Father in spirit and truth. We are able to live our lives in the presence of God without fear, but instead, with favor. The Minister of the sanctuary understands us, knows us, and is sympathetic toward us because He knows our limitations, and still brings us near to God. “So near, so very near to God, nearer I cannot be; for in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.”
Heaven is not just a state, idea, or concept of the spiritual, but it is a place. There our Lord has made “a prepared place for prepared people.” In our limited human condition, it is difficult for us to picture the place God has prepared for those who love Him. We must be content now with the descriptions we find about heaven in various books of the Bible, especially in the book of Revelation. We know some things about heaven: it is a city with gates and walls that is continually illuminated by the Lamb, who lights it everywhere. It is in this place, heaven—and only heaven— where our Lord Jesus Christ exercises His priesthood.
We lift our eyes and hearts high above the limitations and sights on earth, to where He sits on the throne, and we worship our God. This is where “we touch and handle things unseen” and “grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace.” The power and reality of unseen things become precious to us when we realize our spirits are not limited by our senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. Spiritual and heavenly blessings are real to us because we know “the only true God and Jesus Christ,” whom He sent into the world to bring us to Him. He is there, a touchable, tangible man—a real person. He has brought us with Him into the Holiest of all in heaven. This is the place where His ministry is working constantly on our behalf.