SERIES
Sojourn: Toward an Enduring City
2016-10-16T11:00:00-05:00
10:1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright (c)2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org
This week’s sermon referenced the painting above, “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” by Rembrandt. It is a masterful portrayal of the dramatic climax of Jesus’ parable, as told in Luke 15:11-32. There are many interpretive layers to this painting, but one of the most obvious is how Rembrandt used the three main characters’ posture to convey their emotions. The tender love of the father is seen in his tender embrace the younger son. The deep contrition of the now impoverished younger son is seen in his kneeling and in his head laid on his father. And the self-righteousness of the older son is seen in his towering stiffness.
Consider for a moment how those emotions might have influenced lives of these two sons the next day. Both sons probably woke up still in shock that their father threw a party to celebrate the occasion. As he resumed his daily responsibilities, the older son likely did so with an all-too-familiar attitude of bitterness. But the younger son probably experienced a new attitude. As he reacquainted himself with life in his father’s house, the younger son was likely filled gratitude. Not long ago, he felt such strong entitlement that he asked for an advance on his inheritance. Now, he felt such profound gratitude for his father’s forgiveness and welcome that he was glad to take on whatever duties his father entrusted to him.
Peter too was a prodigal, and knew what it was to be welcomed home after time in the “far country” of sin (John 18:17; 25-27). So for him, the topic of holiness can never be divorced from the remembrance of our guilt and God’s grace (1 Peter 1:14-18). The remembrance of our rescue from "the passions of our former ignorance" and our "futile ways" rekindles our gratitude. And that gratitude propels us to pursue holiness with gladness.