Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Pt. 1

 

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” (Hebrews 10:1-7 ESV).

 

As we start a new section in our journey through Hebrews, I would like to turn our eyes upon Jesus especially in the first few verses of the passage. Our reading today draws this stark contrast between the sacrifices of the old covenant and the one sacrifice Jesus made to begin the new covenant. Our starting place needs to be when Peter turned his eyes on the power and grace of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke records it:

 

"When Simon Peter saw [the power of Jesus in the great catch of fish], he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" (Luke 5:8).

 

When Peter sees Jesus clearly it causes him to be deeply conscious of his sinfulness and unworthiness. It ought to do the same to us today. While this sounds disturbing and shakes us at our core, it is a wonderful thing. Most of us are in a deadly dream world most of the time when it comes to how seriously we are in trouble with God because of our sin. We worry more about being stopped by a policeman for speeding than we do about the seriousness of sin. But sin is infinitely serious. And God's anger at sinners is the biggest problem in everyone's life, whether we recognize it or not.

 

Several times in the book of Hebrews we are warned about the anger of God against those who turn from him in sin. To be blind or oblivious to this wrath of God against sinners is incredibly dangerous, like not being able to smell the gas leak gathering around the pilot light of your water heater, ready to your house to the ground. It is so dangerous not be aware of the anger of God against those who turn from him in sin.

And the reason it is so dangerous is that, if you are blind to this reality of God's wrath, you won't take steps to find a remedy for sin and an escape from God's anger. So I say again, this is wonderful what happened to Peter when he fell at Jesus' feet and said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O, Lord." This is not an experience to be avoided, but to be cherished. O that God would do it to us in the coming days, as we turn our eyes on Jesus! Because when it happens, the Lord gives relief!