#DailyDevotion We Are Transported To The Heavenly Jerusalem In Worship
Heb. 12 18 You didn’t come to anything you could touch, to a blazing fire, darkness, gloom, a storm, 19the blast of a trumpet, or the speaking of a voice. Those who heard that begged to be told no more, 29because they couldn’t endure the order that was given: “Even an animal, if it touches the mountain, must be stoned.” 21 And the sight was so terrible Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22No, you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Here are tens of thousands of angels, 23the whole festival gathering and church of God’s firstborn people with their names written in heaven. Here is the judge and God of all. Here are the spirits of the righteous who have been perfected. 24And here is Jesus, the Mediator of a new testament, and the sprinkled blood that has better things to tell than Abel.
When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and came to Mt. Sinai, they came to something they could touch, a mountain ablazed with fire. They came to something they could hear, God’s voice and a blast of a trumpet. Lest we think we could do any better, we are told they couldn’t endure order, if anyone touched it, they would die, even an animal. Even Moses who talked with God was terrified and trembled. The Israelites said it was too much for them. They told Moses to go talk with God and then come back and let them know what God had said. The LORD in all His glory is too much for us sinful human beings. When we came to Christ Jesus, this is not what we came to or experienced.
Contrasted with that we have our corporate worship experience when two or three of us gather in the name of Jesus. When we gather in the name of Jesus for worship, we have experienced coming to Mount Zion, the City of God, the Heavenly Jerusalem. Here we have the voice of God through the pastor Christ has called to preach and teach to us His Word. Here we have the Sacrament Christ instituted, His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening and sealing of our faith.
We cannot see it or touch it, but we have tens of thousands of angels gathered with us for worship. The whole festival gathering of all the saints whose names are written in heaven are gathered with us for worship. We are transported from our physical location to this spiritual location, whether it be two or fifty thousand present in the visible gathering, we are gathered with all the saints of God and all His angels. This is true because we are gathered into His presence, the judge and God of all. Before Him, all those who put their hope in Him are present for worship.
As we are gathered into the name of Jesus, Jesus is present also with us as He has promised us in Matt. 18, “20Where two or three have been brought together in My name, there I am among them.” We gather in faith unlike the ancient Israelites. We cannot see the whole congregation nor the Father, nor our LORD Jesus Christ. We are gathered into His merciful presence. Jesus, the Mediator of a New Testament in His blood is present. His sprinkled blood speaks better than the blood of Abel. Abel’s cries out for vengeance. Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy, grace, kindness, forgiveness, love and peace. As we remember our baptism in the invocation, that blood is sprinkled on us. As we hear His word preached, the blood of Jesus purifies our hearts and minds. As we partake of His blood from the altar in the cup, His blood sanctifies our body, heart, soul, and minds for the Father.
Merciful God and Father, help us with the eyes of faith to see the great hosts of believers we are gathered with in worship and so glorify Your name forever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.