Cross as Covering

Monday Holy Week

Hebrews 2.17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

The Greek Word for this atonement is hilaskomai which means "propitiation, to appease". Between God and man is this barrier of sin. Though once man enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God now, the result of Adam's transgression, there is enmity. It is important to know that the barrier is on man's part. The unchanging God remains constant and uneffected in his attitude and affection for sinful man. Christ's work, as a faithful high priest is to remove the barrier of sin that prohibits the free flow of grace to sinful man.

The word is linked with the kopher in Hebrew which means "covering". The High Priest under the old covenant would sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the altar and covering (lid) of the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies in the temple. This was known as the mercy seat. This act was repeated each year as it had no enduring power. These symbols of the old covenant point to heavenly realities that we believers in Jesus have experienced.

The NT confirms that the effect of the sinless blood of the Son of God was a permenant solution to the problem of our sin. That that sacrifice, applied to each heart by faith, has irradicated enmity and torn down our hostility toward God and has set us free from condemnation and the fear of death. And all this because he was made like us in every way to demonstrate mercy and faithful love.

Today we look at the cross and see faithful love, tender mercies, and permanent covering for our sin. Rejoice in the One who covered our sin!