August 17, 2025 • 29 mins
Have you ever wondered why you still feel distant from God despite your best efforts? Hebrews 9 addresses this profound spiritual disconnect by revealing the beautiful transition from shadow to substance in our relationship with God.
The ancient tabernacle system, with its curtains and carefully orchestrated sacrifices, created a powerful visual metaphor for humanity's separation from God. Only the high priest could enter the inner sanctuary once yearly, carrying blood that temporarily covered sins but never truly cleansed the conscience. This repetitive cycle highlighted an uncomfortable truth – the system was intentionally incomplete, pointing toward something greater to come.
When Christ appeared, everything changed. Unlike earthly priests who entered man-made sanctuaries with animal blood, Jesus entered heaven itself with His own blood. Where they made sacrifices repeatedly, He offered Himself "once for all." This single sacrifice accomplished what centuries of ritual could not – genuine cleansing of the conscience and direct access to God. The veil has been torn. The way stands open. The barrier has fallen.
This truth transforms how we approach our spiritual lives today. Many of us still operate with an old covenant mindset – striving through religious performance, carrying guilt Christ already removed, approaching God hesitantly instead of confidently. What would change if we truly believed it's finished? What burdens would we finally release? The invitation stands to walk in the freedom Christ purchased, to come boldly into God's presence, and to rest in His completed work. You don't need to prove yourself anymore. The way is clear, the Priest remains, and you are already His. Subscribe to discover more profound biblical insights that will transform your understanding of God's Word and deepen your faith journey.
Music Credit: "Make a Way" by Hector Gabriel
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
In the Field Audio Bible (06:37):
In today's episode, we return to
the quiet chamber where thescribe awaits His linen robe
resting softly around him, hishands steady upon the worn edges
of the scroll.
The evening is hushed, the lastthreads of sunlight slipping
(06:57):
beneath the rooftops as lampsbegin to glow in scattered
windows, the faint fragrance ofburning oil mingles in the
earthy scent of dust.
Burning oil mingles in theearthy scent of dust, parchment
and ancient wood.
(07:17):
Outside the village slows tostillness.
A merchant carefully latcheshis door.
A father hums as he carries hischild to bed.
In the distance, the muffledsound of footsteps fades along
the stone path.
Life is ordinary, yet here,beneath the flicker of a single
(07:45):
flame, something sacred stirs.
The scribe gently unrolls thescroll, his fingers tracing the
familiar grooves where ink hasalready dried.
His eyes soften.
He breathes deeply, as thoughthe weight of the words has
settled not just upon the pagebut upon his soul.
(08:06):
What he prepares to write is nomere account.
It is an unveiling, a movementfrom shadow to substance, from
ritual to reality.
He dips his quill, thecandlelight catching the curve
of his focused brow, and hebegins Now.
(08:28):
Even the first covenant hadregulations for worship and an
earthly sanctuary.
His voice is steady, but hisheart stirs with urgency.
He paints the picture carefullya sacred tent divided by
curtains, filled with goldenlamps and fragrant incense,
(08:51):
guarded by priests who walkedcarefully, reverently, year
after year.
He describes the sacrifices,the blood, the endless cycle
that could never truly make thepeople clean.
It was a system designed for atime, but it was not the end of
the story.
(09:13):
The scribe pauses, his gazedrifting to you as if sensing
your silent questions.
You can almost hear the gentlescratch of his quill in the
quiet space between you, you.
(09:36):
His eyes, warm and steady, seemto ask have you built your life
around rituals that can neverreach your heart?
Are you striving to cleanse,while only Christ can make whole
?
The scribe leans in now, hisvoice lowering not with fear but
with reverence, as he writes ofthe one who entered not a tent
made with human hands, but thetrue sanctuary Jesus.
(10:00):
The high priest stepped beyondthe veil, not carrying the blood
of goats or calves, but his ownblood, a sacrifice not repeated
year after year, but offeredonce for all.
Outside, the wind stirs theolive branches, their silvery
(10:23):
leaves trembling beneath thenight sky.
The scribe's candle flickers,casting soft shadows across the
wooden table.
The air seems charged now, notwith the weight of law, but with
the sweetness of mercy.
His words pour out steady andsure.
(10:43):
How much more will the blood ofChrist Cleanse our consciences
from dead works, so that we mayserve the living God?
His hand stills.
He lifts his eyes searching, asif longing to reach the
shepherd.
Who wonders if he's too stainedto come near the woman?
(11:04):
Who believes her past hasclosed the door forever?
Who believes her past hasclosed the door forever?
The young man by the templesteps uncertain if he belongs.
He writes for them.
He writes for you.
The scribe's heart aches withthe beauty of it, this covenant
sealed not with the blood ofanimals.
(11:25):
No transcript, no more barriers, no more shadows.
The veil has been torn.
He turns to you quietly, thesoft fold of his robe brushing
the floor.
Do you still stand at adistance, as though the way has
(11:48):
not been made open?
Do you still carry burdens thatthe cross has already lifted?
Do you still carry burdens thatthe cross has already lifted?
Hebrews 9 does not merelyrecount the practices of an old
system.
It invites us to step intosomething living, something
finished, a new and better waywhere we no longer chase
(12:08):
cleansing through our ownstriving, but walk boldly into
the presence of God.
Hearts washed, consciences free, souls anchored.
The scribe smiles gently as helays his quill aside.
The ink is fresh, the word isalive and the one it speaks of,
(12:31):
the one who entered the mostholy place, is waiting.
Will you come closer?
Will you live as though theveil is gone?
The candle crackles, theevening deepens and the scribe
is ready to continue.
(12:52):
Now let's take a moment toquiet our hearts and listen to
the word itself.
Let these words sink deep intoyour spirit, bringing comfort,
conviction and encouragement.
Whether you're sitting in aquiet place or out in the world,
allow scripture to meet youright where you are.
(13:14):
I hope you have your favoritecup of tea or coffee.
Sit back, relax and let's stepinto the sacred text of the
epistle to the Hebrews 9.
(13:49):
Now, even the first covenant hadregulations for worship, and an
earthly sanctuary, for a tentwas constructed, the first one
in which were the lampstand, thetable and the bread of the
presence.
This is called the holy place.
Behind the second curtain was atent called the Holy of Holies.
(14:14):
In it stood the golden altar ofincense and the Ark of the
Covenant, overlaid on all sideswith gold, in which there were a
golden urn holding the manna,an Aaron's rod that budded and
the tablets of the covenant.
Above it were the cherubim ofglory overshadowing the mercy
(14:37):
seat.
Of these things, we cannot speaknow in detail.
Such preparations having beenmade, the priests go continually
into the first tent to carryout their ritual duties, but
only the high priest goes intothe second their ritual duties,
but only the high priest goesinto the second, and he but once
(14:59):
a year, and not without takingthe blood that he offers for
himself and for the sinscommitted unintentionally by the
people.
By this, the Holy Spiritindicates that the way into the
sanctuary has not yet beendisclosed as long as the first
tent is still standing.
This is a symbol of the presenttime, during which gifts and
(15:20):
sacrifices are offered thatcannot perfect the conscience of
the worshiper but deal onlywith food and drink and various
baptisms, regulations for thebody imposed until the time
comes to set things right.
But when Christ came as a highpriest of the good things that
(15:40):
have come, then, through thegreater and perfect tent not
made with hands, that is, not ofthis creation, he entered once
for all into the holy place, notwith the blood of goats and
calves, but with his own blood,thus obtaining eternal
redemption.
(16:00):
For if the blood of goats andbulls, with the sprinkling of
the ashes of a heifer,sanctifies those who have been
defiled so that their flesh ispurified, how much more will the
blood of Christ who, throughthe eternal Spirit, offered
himself without blemish to God,purify our conscience from dead
(16:23):
works to worship the living God?
For this reason, he is themediator of a new covenant, so
that those who are called mayreceive the promised eternal
inheritance, because a death hasoccurred that redeems them from
their transgressions.
Under the first covenant, wherea will is involved, the death
(16:45):
of the one who made it must beestablished, for a will takes
effect only at death, since itis not enforced as long as the
one who made it is alive.
Hence, not even the firstcovenant was inaugurated without
blood, for when everycommandment had been told to all
(17:06):
the people by Moses, inaccordance with the law, he took
the blood of calves and goatswith water and scarlet wool and
hyssop and sprinkled both thescroll itself and all the people
, saying this is the blood ofthe covenant that God has
ordained for you.
And in the same way, hesprinkled with the blood both
(17:28):
the tent and all the vesselsused in worship.
Indeed, under the law, almosteverything is purified with
blood, and without the sheddingof blood there is no forgiveness
of sins.
Thus, it was necessary for thesketches of the heavenly things
to be purified with these rites,but the heavenly things
(17:49):
themselves need bettersacrifices than these, for
Christ did not enter a sanctuarymade by human hands, a mere
copy of the true one, but heentered into heaven itself, now
to appear in the presence of Godon our behalf.
Nor was it to offer himselfagain and again, as the high
(18:11):
priest enters the holy place,year after year, with blood that
is not his own, for then hewould have had to suffer again
and again since the foundationof the world.
But as it is, he has appearedonce for all, at the end of the
age, to remove sin by thesacrifice of himself, and just
(18:32):
as it is appointed for mortalsto die once and after that the
judgment, so Christ, having beenoffered once to bear the sins
of many, will appear a secondtime, not to deal with sin, but
to save those who are eagerlywaiting for him.
So, as we close today, I don'twant to leave you with a task or
(19:09):
a checklist, or even aconclusion.
I want to leave you with a walk.
The scribe and I rise from thestone bench where we last sat.
His scroll, now rolled tight,secured with a leather cord.
The scribe and I rise from thestone bench where we last sat.
His scroll, now rolled tight,secured with a leather cord.
The air has cooled, but thereis a warmth in his steps, as if
(19:32):
the words he just finishedwriting about the new covenant,
the torn veil, the nearness ofGod, are still burning within
him the torn veil.
The nearness of God are stillburning within him.
I follow him closely each step,stirring the soft dust beneath
our feet.
We walk in silence, weavingthrough quiet streets where the
(19:53):
shadows stretch long and thinlike ribbons across the stone.
The market's sounds have allbut faded now just a faint
clatter of pots being stacked, alow murmur from homes where oil
lamps flicker against claywalls.
The sky, streaked with violet,leans toward night.
(20:16):
The scribe's pace is slow,thoughtful, like a man searching
for something not yet fullyseen.
He runs his fingers along therough edges of the walls as we
pass, as if the stonesthemselves remember the weight
of sacrifices long ago.
We arrive at a small archway,its entrance cracked and worn.
(20:42):
The scribe steps inside and Ifollow.
It's quiet here, sacred butsimple.
He kneels, unrolls his scrollagain and motions for me to sit
beside him on the cold earth.
His hands are steady now, hisbreathing calm, but his eyes,
(21:09):
his eyes carry something heaviertonight Not sorrow but depth, a
deep reverence, as though weare about to trace the very
steps where heaven met earth.
He begins to write the firstcovenant had its sanctuary.
(21:30):
His quill scratches softlyagainst the parchment as he
speaks, painting the scene ofthe ancient tabernacle.
Layer by layer, veil by veil,he describes the sacred rooms,
the golden lampstands, the table, the bread, the places where
(21:52):
priests would go and where, theholiest place where they could
not, the curtain, the barrier,the hush of separation.
I can almost see it now thepriests moving carefully, their
robes brushing the ground, theirhands steady as they carry
(22:19):
blood from sacrificed animals,year after year After year.
But still it was never enough.
The scribe's voice drops lower,as if remembering the weariness
of that system, all thosesacrifices, all that striving,
and yet the heart remaineduntouched.
(22:41):
He turns to me and his eyesglimmer in the faint light.
It was necessary.
Then he says, but it was neverfinal, it was a shadow of what
was coming.
His quill hovers for a breath,then he writes with boldness but
(23:06):
when Christ appeared as highpriest of the good things that
have come, he entered throughthe greater, more perfect tent,
not made by hands, not of thiscreation.
His words settled between usand I feel it that shift the
(23:29):
moment from what was to what nowis.
The scribe looks past me now, asif seeing beyond the walls,
beyond time itself, to themoment when Jesus stepped into
the true sanctuary, not carryingthe blood of animals, but
offering his own, not just for ayear, not just for a moment,
(23:54):
but once for all, forever, forall, forever.
The scribe leans forward,almost whispering.
Now, once that's all it took,his blood speaks a better word.
His hand presses over his chest, as though he feels the weight
(24:19):
lifting from his own heart, theweight of old rituals, the
weight of never quite beingclean.
And I begin to wonder what am Istill carrying that he has
already taken?
What sacrifices am I stillchasing when he was enough?
What distance am I imaginingwhen the way has been made clear
?
(24:48):
The scribe's words keepunfolding like a pathway,
guiding me closer.
How much more will the blood ofChrist cleanse our consciences
from dead works so that we mayserve the living God?
Dead works?
The scribe lingers on thesewords.
He knows them well.
The scribe lingers on thesewords, he knows them well.
The empty striving, the motionswe go through to try to earn
what's already been given, theweight we carry trying to fix
(25:13):
ourselves.
He knows, and maybe so do you.
The scribe's eyes meet mine asif to ask me gently why do you
still walk as though you mustprove yourself?
Why do you live as though thecurtain has not been torn.
His voice steadies, his finalwords of the day, wrapping
(25:38):
around me like the quiet nightair.
He has appeared once for all toput away sin by the sacrifice
of himself.
I close my eyes.
I can almost see it the curtainfalling, the door swinging open
(26:01):
, the way made clear.
So I ask you, what would youchange in your life if you truly
believed it is finished?
What would you stop carrying?
What would you finally release?
What would you dare to rest in?
The scribe rolls the scroll,slowly tying it with care.
(26:26):
He rises, brushing the dustfrom his robe.
He steps unhurried as we beginto walk again, as we move
beneath the darkening sky, Irealize Hebrews 9 isn't simply
about a new system.
It's about a new way to live, anew way where you don't have to
(26:51):
repeat what Jesus has alreadycompleted, a way where you don't
have to stand outside thesanctuary because now you are
welcomed in this week.
As you walk your own streets, asyou sit in your quiet places,
when you feel the weight ofguilt, when you feel the urge to
strive, when you wonder if youstill need to prove something,
(27:12):
remember Hebrews 9.
When you feel far away,remember he has drawn near.
When you feel unworthy,remember his blood has made you
clean.
When you feel the pull to hide,remember the door is open.
Walk with this truth.
Let it soften you, let it freeyou, let it lead you into the
(27:37):
kind of life that says the wayis clear, the priest remains,
the work is done.
Be the kind of person whoreminds others.
You can come closer, you canlay it down.
You are already his.
So, this week, release what nolonger belongs to you.
(27:59):
Rest in the one who does.
You have a high priest wholives to intercede with you, for
you, forever, and he is notgoing anywhere.
He is faithful always.
Thank you for joining me todayas we journey through the
(28:21):
epistle to the Hebrews 9.
I pray that you carry thesereflections with you into your
day, into your week, and thatyou find strength in knowing God
is with you in every trial,every temptation and every step
of obedience.
Every temptation and every stepof obedience.
If this time in God's word hasencouraged you, take a moment to
(28:45):
share it with someone who mightneed it.
And be sure to join me nexttime as we continue walking
through the scriptures, learning, growing and staying faithful
in the field of life.
Until next time.
May you find peace in the quiettrust, in God's call, and rest
(29:06):
in His unchanging love.
This is In the Field AudioBible, where we Listen to the
Bible One Chapter at a Time.
In today's episode, we return to
the quiet chamber where thescribe awaits His linen robe
resting softly around him, hishands steady upon the worn edges
of the scroll.
The evening is hushed, the lastthreads of sunlight slipping
(06:57):
beneath the rooftops as lampsbegin to glow in scattered
windows, the faint fragrance ofburning oil mingles in the
earthy scent of dust.
Burning oil mingles in theearthy scent of dust, parchment
and ancient wood.
(07:17):
Outside the village slows tostillness.
A merchant carefully latcheshis door.
A father hums as he carries hischild to bed.
In the distance, the muffledsound of footsteps fades along
the stone path.
Life is ordinary, yet here,beneath the flicker of a single
(07:45):
flame, something sacred stirs.
The scribe gently unrolls thescroll, his fingers tracing the
familiar grooves where ink hasalready dried.
His eyes soften.
He breathes deeply, as thoughthe weight of the words has
settled not just upon the pagebut upon his soul.
(08:06):
What he prepares to write is nomere account.
It is an unveiling, a movementfrom shadow to substance, from
ritual to reality.
He dips his quill, thecandlelight catching the curve
of his focused brow, and hebegins Now.
(08:28):
Even the first covenant hadregulations for worship and an
earthly sanctuary.
His voice is steady, but hisheart stirs with urgency.
He paints the picture carefullya sacred tent divided by
curtains, filled with goldenlamps and fragrant incense,
(08:51):
guarded by priests who walkedcarefully, reverently, year
after year.
He describes the sacrifices,the blood, the endless cycle
that could never truly make thepeople clean.
It was a system designed for atime, but it was not the end of
the story.
(09:13):
The scribe pauses, his gazedrifting to you as if sensing
your silent questions.
You can almost hear the gentlescratch of his quill in the
quiet space between you, you.
(09:36):
His eyes, warm and steady, seemto ask have you built your life
around rituals that can neverreach your heart?
Are you striving to cleanse,while only Christ can make whole
?
The scribe leans in now, hisvoice lowering not with fear but
with reverence, as he writes ofthe one who entered not a tent
made with human hands, but thetrue sanctuary Jesus.
(10:00):
The high priest stepped beyondthe veil, not carrying the blood
of goats or calves, but his ownblood, a sacrifice not repeated
year after year, but offeredonce for all.
Outside, the wind stirs theolive branches, their silvery
(10:23):
leaves trembling beneath thenight sky.
The scribe's candle flickers,casting soft shadows across the
wooden table.
The air seems charged now, notwith the weight of law, but with
the sweetness of mercy.
His words pour out steady andsure.
(10:43):
How much more will the blood ofChrist Cleanse our consciences
from dead works, so that we mayserve the living God?
His hand stills.
He lifts his eyes searching, asif longing to reach the
shepherd.
Who wonders if he's too stainedto come near the woman?
(11:04):
Who believes her past hasclosed the door forever?
Who believes her past hasclosed the door forever?
The young man by the templesteps uncertain if he belongs.
He writes for them.
He writes for you.
The scribe's heart aches withthe beauty of it, this covenant
sealed not with the blood ofanimals.
(11:25):
No transcript, no more barriers, no more shadows.
The veil has been torn.
He turns to you quietly, thesoft fold of his robe brushing
the floor.
Do you still stand at adistance, as though the way has
(11:48):
not been made open?
Do you still carry burdens thatthe cross has already lifted?
Do you still carry burdens thatthe cross has already lifted?
Hebrews 9 does not merelyrecount the practices of an old
system.
It invites us to step intosomething living, something
finished, a new and better waywhere we no longer chase
(12:08):
cleansing through our ownstriving, but walk boldly into
the presence of God.
Hearts washed, consciences free, souls anchored.
The scribe smiles gently as helays his quill aside.
The ink is fresh, the word isalive and the one it speaks of,
(12:31):
the one who entered the mostholy place, is waiting.
Will you come closer?
Will you live as though theveil is gone?
The candle crackles, theevening deepens and the scribe
is ready to continue.
(12:52):
Now let's take a moment toquiet our hearts and listen to
the word itself.
Let these words sink deep intoyour spirit, bringing comfort,
conviction and encouragement.
Whether you're sitting in aquiet place or out in the world,
allow scripture to meet youright where you are.
(13:14):
I hope you have your favoritecup of tea or coffee.
Sit back, relax and let's stepinto the sacred text of the
epistle to the Hebrews 9.
(13:49):
Now, even the first covenant hadregulations for worship, and an
earthly sanctuary, for a tentwas constructed, the first one
in which were the lampstand, thetable and the bread of the
presence.
This is called the holy place.
Behind the second curtain was atent called the Holy of Holies.
(14:14):
In it stood the golden altar ofincense and the Ark of the
Covenant, overlaid on all sideswith gold, in which there were a
golden urn holding the manna,an Aaron's rod that budded and
the tablets of the covenant.
Above it were the cherubim ofglory overshadowing the mercy
(14:37):
seat.
Of these things, we cannot speaknow in detail.
Such preparations having beenmade, the priests go continually
into the first tent to carryout their ritual duties, but
only the high priest goes intothe second their ritual duties,
but only the high priest goesinto the second, and he but once
(14:59):
a year, and not without takingthe blood that he offers for
himself and for the sinscommitted unintentionally by the
people.
By this, the Holy Spiritindicates that the way into the
sanctuary has not yet beendisclosed as long as the first
tent is still standing.
This is a symbol of the presenttime, during which gifts and
(15:20):
sacrifices are offered thatcannot perfect the conscience of
the worshiper but deal onlywith food and drink and various
baptisms, regulations for thebody imposed until the time
comes to set things right.
But when Christ came as a highpriest of the good things that
(15:40):
have come, then, through thegreater and perfect tent not
made with hands, that is, not ofthis creation, he entered once
for all into the holy place, notwith the blood of goats and
calves, but with his own blood,thus obtaining eternal
redemption.
(16:00):
For if the blood of goats andbulls, with the sprinkling of
the ashes of a heifer,sanctifies those who have been
defiled so that their flesh ispurified, how much more will the
blood of Christ who, throughthe eternal Spirit, offered
himself without blemish to God,purify our conscience from dead
(16:23):
works to worship the living God?
For this reason, he is themediator of a new covenant, so
that those who are called mayreceive the promised eternal
inheritance, because a death hasoccurred that redeems them from
their transgressions.
Under the first covenant, wherea will is involved, the death
(16:45):
of the one who made it must beestablished, for a will takes
effect only at death, since itis not enforced as long as the
one who made it is alive.
Hence, not even the firstcovenant was inaugurated without
blood, for when everycommandment had been told to all
(17:06):
the people by Moses, inaccordance with the law, he took
the blood of calves and goatswith water and scarlet wool and
hyssop and sprinkled both thescroll itself and all the people
, saying this is the blood ofthe covenant that God has
ordained for you.
And in the same way, hesprinkled with the blood both
(17:28):
the tent and all the vesselsused in worship.
Indeed, under the law, almosteverything is purified with
blood, and without the sheddingof blood there is no forgiveness
of sins.
Thus, it was necessary for thesketches of the heavenly things
to be purified with these rites,but the heavenly things
(17:49):
themselves need bettersacrifices than these, for
Christ did not enter a sanctuarymade by human hands, a mere
copy of the true one, but heentered into heaven itself, now
to appear in the presence of Godon our behalf.
Nor was it to offer himselfagain and again, as the high
(18:11):
priest enters the holy place,year after year, with blood that
is not his own, for then hewould have had to suffer again
and again since the foundationof the world.
But as it is, he has appearedonce for all, at the end of the
age, to remove sin by thesacrifice of himself, and just
(18:32):
as it is appointed for mortalsto die once and after that the
judgment, so Christ, having beenoffered once to bear the sins
of many, will appear a secondtime, not to deal with sin, but
to save those who are eagerlywaiting for him.
So, as we close today, I don'twant to leave you with a task or
(19:09):
a checklist, or even aconclusion.
I want to leave you with a walk.
The scribe and I rise from thestone bench where we last sat.
His scroll, now rolled tight,secured with a leather cord.
The scribe and I rise from thestone bench where we last sat.
His scroll, now rolled tight,secured with a leather cord.
The air has cooled, but thereis a warmth in his steps, as if
(19:32):
the words he just finishedwriting about the new covenant,
the torn veil, the nearness ofGod, are still burning within
him the torn veil.
The nearness of God are stillburning within him.
I follow him closely each step,stirring the soft dust beneath
our feet.
We walk in silence, weavingthrough quiet streets where the
(19:53):
shadows stretch long and thinlike ribbons across the stone.
The market's sounds have allbut faded now just a faint
clatter of pots being stacked, alow murmur from homes where oil
lamps flicker against claywalls.
The sky, streaked with violet,leans toward night.
(20:16):
The scribe's pace is slow,thoughtful, like a man searching
for something not yet fullyseen.
He runs his fingers along therough edges of the walls as we
pass, as if the stonesthemselves remember the weight
of sacrifices long ago.
We arrive at a small archway,its entrance cracked and worn.
(20:42):
The scribe steps inside and Ifollow.
It's quiet here, sacred butsimple.
He kneels, unrolls his scrollagain and motions for me to sit
beside him on the cold earth.
His hands are steady now, hisbreathing calm, but his eyes,
(21:09):
his eyes carry something heaviertonight Not sorrow but depth, a
deep reverence, as though weare about to trace the very
steps where heaven met earth.
He begins to write the firstcovenant had its sanctuary.
(21:30):
His quill scratches softlyagainst the parchment as he
speaks, painting the scene ofthe ancient tabernacle.
Layer by layer, veil by veil,he describes the sacred rooms,
the golden lampstands, the table, the bread, the places where
(21:52):
priests would go and where, theholiest place where they could
not, the curtain, the barrier,the hush of separation.
I can almost see it now thepriests moving carefully, their
robes brushing the ground, theirhands steady as they carry
(22:19):
blood from sacrificed animals,year after year After year.
But still it was never enough.
The scribe's voice drops lower,as if remembering the weariness
of that system, all thosesacrifices, all that striving,
and yet the heart remaineduntouched.
(22:41):
He turns to me and his eyesglimmer in the faint light.
It was necessary.
Then he says, but it was neverfinal, it was a shadow of what
was coming.
His quill hovers for a breath,then he writes with boldness but
(23:06):
when Christ appeared as highpriest of the good things that
have come, he entered throughthe greater, more perfect tent,
not made by hands, not of thiscreation.
His words settled between usand I feel it that shift the
(23:29):
moment from what was to what nowis.
The scribe looks past me now, asif seeing beyond the walls,
beyond time itself, to themoment when Jesus stepped into
the true sanctuary, not carryingthe blood of animals, but
offering his own, not just for ayear, not just for a moment,
(23:54):
but once for all, forever, forall, forever.
The scribe leans forward,almost whispering.
Now, once that's all it took,his blood speaks a better word.
His hand presses over his chest, as though he feels the weight
(24:19):
lifting from his own heart, theweight of old rituals, the
weight of never quite beingclean.
And I begin to wonder what am Istill carrying that he has
already taken?
What sacrifices am I stillchasing when he was enough?
What distance am I imaginingwhen the way has been made clear
?
(24:48):
The scribe's words keepunfolding like a pathway,
guiding me closer.
How much more will the blood ofChrist cleanse our consciences
from dead works so that we mayserve the living God?
Dead works?
The scribe lingers on thesewords.
He knows them well.
The scribe lingers on thesewords, he knows them well.
The empty striving, the motionswe go through to try to earn
what's already been given, theweight we carry trying to fix
(25:13):
ourselves.
He knows, and maybe so do you.
The scribe's eyes meet mine asif to ask me gently why do you
still walk as though you mustprove yourself?
Why do you live as though thecurtain has not been torn.
His voice steadies, his finalwords of the day, wrapping
(25:38):
around me like the quiet nightair.
He has appeared once for all toput away sin by the sacrifice
of himself.
I close my eyes.
I can almost see it the curtainfalling, the door swinging open
(26:01):
, the way made clear.
So I ask you, what would youchange in your life if you truly
believed it is finished?
What would you stop carrying?
What would you finally release?
What would you dare to rest in?
The scribe rolls the scroll,slowly tying it with care.
(26:26):
He rises, brushing the dustfrom his robe.
He steps unhurried as we beginto walk again, as we move
beneath the darkening sky, Irealize Hebrews 9 isn't simply
about a new system.
It's about a new way to live, anew way where you don't have to
(26:51):
repeat what Jesus has alreadycompleted, a way where you don't
have to stand outside thesanctuary because now you are
welcomed in this week.
As you walk your own streets, asyou sit in your quiet places,
when you feel the weight ofguilt, when you feel the urge to
strive, when you wonder if youstill need to prove something,
(27:12):
remember Hebrews 9.
When you feel far away,remember he has drawn near.
When you feel unworthy,remember his blood has made you
clean.
When you feel the pull to hide,remember the door is open.
Walk with this truth.
Let it soften you, let it freeyou, let it lead you into the
(27:37):
kind of life that says the wayis clear, the priest remains,
the work is done.
Be the kind of person whoreminds others.
You can come closer, you canlay it down.
You are already his.
So, this week, release what nolonger belongs to you.
(27:59):
Rest in the one who does.
You have a high priest wholives to intercede with you, for
you, forever, and he is notgoing anywhere.
He is faithful always.
Thank you for joining me todayas we journey through the
(28:21):
epistle to the Hebrews 9.
I pray that you carry thesereflections with you into your
day, into your week, and thatyou find strength in knowing God
is with you in every trial,every temptation and every step
of obedience.
Every temptation and every stepof obedience.
If this time in God's word hasencouraged you, take a moment to
(28:45):
share it with someone who mightneed it.
And be sure to join me nexttime as we continue walking
through the scriptures, learning, growing and staying faithful
in the field of life.
Until next time.
May you find peace in the quiettrust, in God's call, and rest
(29:06):
in His unchanging love.
This is In the Field AudioBible, where we Listen to the
Bible One Chapter at a Time.
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