Good morning. When the time was right God made His covenant with Abraham and established His people, the Jews, who were his ancestors. This was tricky by human standards because Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was infertile. Being unable to bear children was a burden for her, a humiliation by the standards of the world in which they lived. But when the time was right, God intervened, and an elderly woman became pregnant. Isaac was the name given to the son who was born, and he would be the first of millions to be known as descendants of Abraham.
Again, when the time was right, God established His Law with Abraham’s descendants. By that time, they were known as the Israelites, the people of God. They were difficult, stubborn, and rebellious people. But God loved them through all of that and established for them His Law which included absolute rules for behavior and worship. There was nothing wrong with that “religion”. It served its purpose well, guiding the Israelites in their relationship with God. The Law of God, given to His people through His servant Moses, was all He intended for it to be. Every principle, rule, and ritual had a wealth of meaning. The Law, joined by God inspired poetry, music, and prophecy was at first shared by careful memorization, and then was written down onto scrolls. Together, it is what we know as the Old Testament of God’s Word. This Older Testament served as a faithful guide to millions of God’s people over thousands of years. It was the best of God offered to man.
But then came Jesus, and the best became better. In fact, the best took a huge leap forward!
We read of this transition from best to better than best in the 9th chapter of the Book of Hebrews. But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:11-15
As the Body of Christ today we enjoy a better relationship with God through the person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He made the best better, a truth we should consider and for which we should offer grateful praise.
Vern