From “Feast of Tabernacles,” Chapter 7- The Day of Atonement, continued
No amount of fleshly striving can produce this Death experience within us. All we have to do to share His rejection, His betrayal, and His death, is to recognize the Body, identify ourselves with the Body, minister in the Body according to our God-given ability, and refuse to associate ourselves with anything that will injure another member of that Body. If we do this we will automatically partake of Christ’s sufferings and death in this hour of His betrayal. And we will be doing it for the sake of the brethren. Then the resurrection follows: the hour of the Church’s triumph, the spiritual resurrection of those who share the betrayal of the Body. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:5).
These truths, we realize, are difficult for us to grasp. Of necessity this must be so; for as yet we see “as through a glass darkly.” But as truly as Jesus said, “Father, the hour is come…” the time is at hand when the Body shall be able to say, “Lord Jesus, the hour is come…” Identification with Christ is a truth of infinite and eternal significance. It means much more than the fact that we are justified by His blood and saved from wrath through Him. It goes on to embrace not only the work of Redemption, but the Person of the Redeemer Himself: so that the Body becomes thoroughly one with Him in the “eternal purpose” which God hath purposed “in Christ Jesus.” Does not the apostle Paul affirm, “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (a life-giving) spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45)? A life-giving spirit! Creative power! Such is the heritage and the attributes of the Last Adamic race. And should some insist that this refers only to Christ, the Last Adam, let us continue: “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly” (vs. 48). So thorough and real and vital is our identification with the Last Adam, that in all respects–His work, His ministry, His death, His life–we are to become like unto Him.
ENTRANCE BEHIND THE VEIL
It was on the Day of Atonement that the high priest was granted access into the Holy of Holies behind the veil. After the sacrifices, after the slaying of the sin-offering, once in the year, the high priest was permitted to go behind the veil and there commune with the Lord who dwelt above and upon the mercy seat. (Lev. 16:2). True picture, indeed, of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and His entrance “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24). But here again, there is a glorious contrast, as well as a true parallel. Israel’s high priest entered the Holy of Holies only once a year; but Christ has entered the Holy of Holies, not just for a few moments, but to abide there forever. “By his own blood he entered in once (for all) into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12). And again, Aaron alone went in, while all the rest of Israel were excluded. But Christ went in as the “forerunner”–one who runs on ahead of others who shall follow later. (Heb. 6:20). “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…” (Heb. 10:19, 20). It is this unveiling for which all creation is longing and looking forward to with great anticipation, even “the unveiling of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). It is having the veil removed, even the veil of His flesh, the veil of the flesh of His Body, the rending asunder of our carnal nature that the glory of Christ might be revealed. Some fear to enter… fear that this would be intruding into spheres of holiness and life and glory and power that God has not intended for us. But let us assure you, child of God, that God invites us to enter into this realm with all confidence: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest…” And why may we enter with such boldness, we who are but worms of the dust? Because of the precious “Blood of Jesus!” Let us not depreciate the glory and the power and the efficacy of the Blood. We have no right of our own to enter this wonderful sphere, this holy place, this Holy of Holies. But the Blood of Jesus has made us worthy. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Furthermore, God will never be truly glorified until His Sons believe what He has said, and reach out and appropriate this “new and living way,” this holy life behind the veil “whither the forerunner is for us entered…” God will be glorified in this wonderful experience; and God alone will be glorified. For His blood alone has made us worthy, and His Name alone shall be exalted.
This brings us now to the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of the seventh month–the culmination of the Blowing of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These two events, in fact, are really part of the Feast of Tabernacles in that they prepare and open up the way for the glory that is to be revealed. GHW
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