Living in the Spirit

October 22, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 7:23-28

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. –Hebrews 7:26-28

What is meant by the high priest being separated from sinners? The very human Jesus was criticized for interacting with sinners by the religious leaders of the day. Yet, this One who gave his life for those same sinners would, I think, desire their presence even in the exaltation of the heavens. So what does this phrase mean?

I was a sickly child routinely having strep or tonsilitis, along with spring and fall reaction to whatever pollen was riled by the changing of the seasons. Because of that, I missed a lot of school, causing me great distress. As I lay in my bed unhealthy and unhappy, I would envision a magic machine that started at the top of my head and scanned down my whole body erasing my symptoms and curing my illnesses. I even imagined it repairing my eyes so that I did not need to wear glasses. Such a machine has yet to be invented, but the daydream may have lulled me to sleep, which was a Godsend after coughing all night long.

My first reaction to the phrase separated from sinners, was negative because I could not believe that the Jesus I know and love would ever give up on me or anyone else since we are all sinners. However, remembering my longed-for magic machine, I realized that Jesus’ death on the cross resulted in his gift of grace that makes all sinners complete or whole. His subsequent resurrection as the Christ, the high priest Hebrews describes above, reminds us that we are made whole through his presence. I cannot tell you how it works, but I can tell you it does. Now some of you inventors God gifted with the skills to create solutions to problems need to be working on my magic machine.

Prayer: Dear Lord of all, thank you for your gift of grace and your patience with your children still striving toward wholeness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.