The podcast dives into Jesus' role as the ultimate high priest, bridging the divine and humanity. It explores the significance of mountains as sacred spaces, highlighting the connections between Moses and ancient sacrificial practices. The discussion emphasizes the profound act of purification and mediation through Jesus' blood, opening pathways for believers to access grace. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the transformative journey and the importance of personal and communal faith in understanding these connections.
Jesus' ascension as the eternal high priest reopens access to divine life, bridging the gap caused by human disobedience.
The letter to the Hebrews emphasizes Jesus' sacrificial role, highlighting His ascension as the culmination of His redemptive work.
Believers are called to confidently draw near to God, fostering community worship that reinforces their identity as part of the heavenly family.
Deep dives
The Symbolism of Mountains in the Bible
Mountains represent transcendent spaces in the ancient world, serving as connections between heaven and earth. In the biblical narrative, the Garden of Eden is described as situated on a mountain, symbolizing a place where humanity can connect with God’s life and spread blessings throughout the land. However, humanity's failure to trust in God's wisdom leads to their exile from this elevated state, a recurring theme that underscores the biblical storyline. The yearning for reconnection is evident as the narrative unfolds, highlighting God's desire for His people to return to the mountain and reignite the lost communication with divine life.
Jesus as the Ultimate Intercessor
Jesus is portrayed as the final intercessor who ascends a cosmic mountain, ultimately bridging the gap created by human disobedience. His ascension offers His body as a sacrifice of atonement, providing a pathway for those at the bottom of the mountain to reconnect with God. This act signifies a restoration of access to divine life, with the message that believers can ascend the mountain confidently, with Jesus interceding for them at the right hand of the Father. The narrative emphasizes that through Jesus, the portal to Eden is reopened, allowing believers to partake in the blessings of the divine.
The Significance of Jesus' Ascension
The letter to the Hebrews highlights the importance of Jesus' ascension into heaven as the ultimate culmination of His redemptive work. His ascent is not limited to His physical march to the cross but extends to His resurrection and ultimate entry into the heavenly temple. By offering His life and blood, Jesus makes purification for sin at the heavenly throne, thereby securing a permanent high priesthood that allows ongoing intercession for believers. This ascension underscores the belief that Jesus is not merely a historical figure but a current and active presence facilitating access to God’s grace.
Drawing Near with Confidence
Believers are encouraged to draw near to God with confidence because of the open access provided by Jesus' sacrifice and ascension. Emphasizing that this invitation comes from a place of grace, the text highlights the pivotal role of community in fostering this connection with God. The concept of assembly is presented as essential, reiterating the belief that coming together as a community reinforces the understanding of their identity as part of the heavenly family. This communal worship enriches the individual experience, reminding them of their lofty spiritual position and encouraging them on their journeys of faith.
The Duality of Ascent and Arrival
The discussion explores the duality of being both on a journey up the mountain and having already arrived at the mountain of grace. While believers strive to surrender their earthly desires, they are reminded that their ultimate identity is secure in Jesus, who sits at God’s right hand. This paradox of existing in both the now and the not yet reflects the tension of spiritual life; believers live out their earthly journey while anchoring themselves in their heavenly reality. By recognizing their status in Christ, they can engage more fully with their spiritual calling and the abundant life offered by God.
The Mountain E12 — If Jesus’ role as the promised mountaintop intercessor was unclear from the mountain stories in the Gospels, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wants to make it explicit. Drawing together imagery of Moses on Mount Sinai, the levitical priesthood, and the Old Testament sacrificial system, Hebrews declares that Jesus is the eternal high priest who can ascend to the holy mountain for the people through the blood of his own sacrifice. In this episode, Jon and Tim wrap up our series on The Mountain by exploring Jesus' ascension to the heavenly cosmic mountain, thereby opening the door for humanity.
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Show Music
“Lozari” by L’indécis
“The String That Ties Us” by Beautiful Eulogy
BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits
Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode, and Aaron Olsen also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.
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