Hebrews 9:26-28 (NIVUK)
26 …[Christ] has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Reading this, it was of course wonderful to read of the forgiveness that Jesus has achieved for us, and the secure salvation we have in him when he returns to usher in God’s Kingdom in all its fullness, but what struck me today was the phrase ‘culmination of the ages’ in verse 26. Didn’t Jesus die two thousand years ago? How can that be the culmination of ages, when it’s hardly the end of time. Perhaps the culmination here means something more like focal point than end? Perhaps the incarnation, Cross and resurrection are so pivotal that everything revolves around them? Perhaps they are the culmination, because it is in these events that God keeps his promises made to his people throughout time before and after the event. Like water pouring down a plughole, everything revolves around and is caught up in this moment.
Father, like these verses, like history itself, may my life be centred on Christ in all his humility and all his glory!
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