They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Plato said we only see shadows in the Allegory of the Cave. “These are but shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. C. S. Lewis said we live in the Shadowlands. It seems that all three say there is something coming that will be better. So does the author of Hebrews. He compared the old and new covenants, calling the old with its sacrifices by earthly priests, a shadow of the heavenly things. That implies that the real thing is coming, indeed has already come. Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest who came to mediate a better covenant in Luke 22. His blood was better than any lamb’s and his covenant is better.
That is good news for us because we are beneficiaries of that new and better covenant. We still look at shadows of the world to come because, while Jesus has already come to earth, he has not yet consummated all things. We have that to look forward to, a time without shadows, just the Light.
Dear Lord, thank you for the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Help us to live in this shadowy world with the confidence that a better world is coming. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church