When God Came Down

    The book of Hebrews has always eluded me. I understood the contents, in the sense that humans can, and that, in large part, it is a contrast between the old covenant sacrificial system and the superiority of the new covenant Jesus provided by sacrificing Himself. But I am a big picture person. I approach Bible passages with three main questions:  What is this about?  Why is it in the Bible?  What does it have to do with me? Viewing Hebrews as a Jewish doctrinal equivalent of the book of Romans did not help me answer the last two questions. The answer to question two came through BSF, where I learned the recipients of Hebrews, persecuted by both the Romans and the Jews, were tempted to turn their backs on Christ and return to Judaism. Relating to question three, it would be like me returning to Mormonism. I have never been tempted because Mormonism has nothing to offer me but a vague feeling of elitism. Forsaking Christ for Mormonism would be like trading diamonds for dust. Hebrews teaches that the Jewish sacrificial system and temple worship were only a picture of the reality of what Christ offers. There can be no turning back. This was especially important since Herod's temple and with it, the sacrificial system, would be destroyed a few years after Hebrews was written. Finally, I have the glue that holds Hebrews together in my mind.
     As our pastor was preaching in Hebrews Sunday, I began to see that contrast with a symmetry that is one of my favorite types of poetry.

When God Came Down

When God came down to Mt. Sinai,

smoke hid His presence.

The people feared approaching

the God who shook the mountain,

the thunder of His voice.

Their mediator, Moses, ascended

to receive the Law, descended

to find it already broken.

And Moses stood

 with broken tablets at his feet

and empty hands.

When God came down to Bethlehem,

a helpless, naked baby.

Angels approached the shepherds

who shook with fear to hear

the voices of God's messengers.

Our mediator, Jesus, descended

to fulfill the Law, ascended--

when Satan's power was broken.

And Jesus stands

 with outstretched arms and

nail pierced hands.