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The blood of Christ.
We noted in Heb. 9: 6 and 7, that the high priest entered into the holiest of all once
every year, "not without blood". This therefore is the next item to be developed in the
argument. Verse 12 continues:
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once
into the holy place, having obtained aeonian redemption for us."
Negatively, Christ entered "NOT with blood of goats and calves". Positively, Christ
entered "by His own blood". As to time Christ entered "once", in contrast with the type
of verse 7, "once every year". The "aeonian redemption" finds expansion in the
succeeding verses.
The importance of the Ascension.
While many are aware of the essential character of the death and resurrection of
Christ, all are not so impressed with the importance of His Ascension. Eph. 1: 19-23
stresses the ascension of Christ in connection with His present headship of the church
which is His Body, and Eph. 4: 8-10 sets forth the triumphant character of His
ascension when He led captivity captive. The present dispensation with its fourfold
ministry is also essentially related with the ascended Lord (Eph. 4: 11, 12). The high
privilege of the believer who has been "made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ
Jesus" (Eph. 2: 6), and also the power to walk in newness of life, are related to the fact
that Christ now "sitteth at the right hand of God" (Col. 3: 1).
Not only do the epistles of the Mystery stress the fact of the Lord's ascension, but the
epistle to the Hebrews does also. Let us notice some of the references:
"When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high" (Heb. 1: 3).
"We have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God"
(Heb. 4: 14).
"We have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens" (Heb. 8: 1).
"Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of
the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us"
(Heb. 9: 24).
"But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God" (Heb. 10: 12).
"Looking unto Jesus . . . . . Who . . . . . is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God" (Heb. 12: 2).
These, and all passages which speak of the Lord's heavenly ministry and intercession
necessitate the Ascension. We shall understand our calling the better if we keep this fact
before us.