Hebrews 9:23-28
"...so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time,
not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the great high priest, but it is obvious in his description that he views Jesus differently than those men who have served in earthly temples. These who have followed a family lineage of religious ritual had to enter the temple again and again to make sacrifice and seek forgiveness for the people. Jesus, however, came once for all. "...he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself." (vs.26)
We celebrate his coming in human form as the baby of Bethlehem, but we also anticipate his return, not as one to be feared, but welcomed. Webster defines anticipation as "a prior action that takes into account a later action." The prior action...Christ has come! The later action...Christ will return! Let him find us eagerly waiting for Him!
Prayer: Eternal God, with gratitude for the Word that has become flesh, let us live in great hope and anticipation of his return. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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