Burn Your White Flags (Hebrews)Sýnishorn

Have you ever wondered why marketers, club promoters, salespersons, use the word 'exclusive'? 

"Buy now for this exclusive deal just for you!" 

"Become a member to get exclusive deals!"

"Line up for hours to get into this exclusive club or restaurant (and make sure it gets on the gram!)." 

When something is exclusive and you become associated with said thing, that experience infuses your life with meaning, purpose and validation—not bad things in and of themselves and, in fact, things which we desperately need to live full flourishing human and humane lives. And yet we sense something is up.

There was another uber-exclusive place located in the theological centre of Jerusalem thousands of years ago. So exclusive that only one man—the High Priest (not just any priest ok?!)—would venture in once a year to offer sacrifices. 

This place was the Holy of Holies. This is where the Ark of the Covenant rested with Aaron’s staff and the physical copy of the Ten Commandments (edition 2.0; remember when Moses got upset and smashed the original to pieces!?). 

Our text today goes through what this place looked like and why it’s so important: it represented the core of why God created anything in the first place, to create a space where He would dwell with and rule through His people. 

But the bouncers couldn’t let just anyone in. This created a problem of access; one that Jesus Himself would come to fix.