THE inspired author of Hebrews tells Christians that they are involved in a great mystery whenever they are gathered here around Christ. There is an unseen, hidden reality behind what is happening in the Divine Service:
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12.22–24).
In the last two articles, we have covered the first four hidden realities: you are in Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, with the angels as your assisting liturgists and choir, with the great congregation of all believers in Christ of all places, and with the unseen Judge of all who speaks words of grace and good tidings for the sake of His Son.
December 2018