LXVII. Of the high-priest's going into the Holiest alone.
As it was the privilege of the high-priest to go into the holiest alone, so there was something of mystery also, to which I shall speak a little: 'There shall,' says God, 'be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation, when he [Aaron] goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel' (Lev 167:17). The reason is, for that Christ is mediator alone; he trod the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with him to help him there (Isa 63:3; 1 Tim 2:5).
Of the people there was none to help him to bear his cross, or in the management of the first part of his priestly office. Why then should anyone share with him in executing the second part? Besides, he who helps an intercessor must himself be innocent, or in favor, on grounds not depending on the worth of the intercession. But as to the intercession of Christ, who can come in to help upon the account of such innocency or worth? Not the highest angel; for there is none such but one, wherefore he must do that alone. Hence it is said, He went in alone, is there alone, and there intercedes alone. And this is manifest not only in the type Aaron, but in the antitype Christ Jesus (Heb 6:19,20, 9:7-11,21,23,24).
I do not say no one in heaven is but Jesus Christ; I say he is there to intercede for us alone. Yea, the holy text says more. 'I go,' saith Christ, 'to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also' (John 14:1-3).
This text seems to insinuate that Christ is in the holiest, or highest, heavens alone, and that he must remain there until he has finished his work of intercession, for only then does he come again to take us to himself. Let us grant Christ the pre-eminency in this, as also in all other things; for he is intercessor for his church, and makes it for them in the holiest alone. It is said he is the light no man can approach.
LXVIII. Of the high-priest's going in thither but once a year.
As the high priest went into the holiest alone, so he did that work but once a year. Thou shalt not come 'at all times,' said God to him, 'into the holy place, within the veil, before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark, that thou die not' (Lev 16:2).
And as he was to go in thither but 'once a year,' so not then either, unless clothed and adorned, with his Aaronical holy robes (Lev 16:32-34). Then he was to be clothed, as I hinted before, with the holy robes, the frontlet of gold upon his forehead, the names of the twelve tribes upon his breast, and the jingling bells upon the skirts of his garment. Nor would all this do, unless he went in thither with blood (Exo 28; Lev 16).
Now, this once a year the apostle taketh special notice of, and makes great use of it. 'Once a year,' saith he, this high priest went in thither: once a year, that is, to show that Christ should, once at the end of the world, go into heaven itself to make intercession there for us. For by this word 'year,' he shows the term and time of the world is meant; and by 'once' in that year, he means once in the end of the world.
'Not,' saith he, 'that he should offer himself often: as the high-priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others. For then he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world; but now, at the end of the world, he hath appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (Heb 9:25,26).
And having thus once offered his sacrifice without the veil, he is now gone into the holiest, to perfect his work of mediation for us. Not 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.
Now if our Lord Jesus is gone indeed, now to appear in the presence of God for us; and if this now be the once a year that the type speaks of; the once in the end of the world, as our apostle says; then it follows, that the people of God should all stand waiting for his benediction that to them he shall bring with him when he shall return from thence. Wherefore he adds, 'Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation' (v 28).
This, therefore, shows the greatness of the work Christ must do at the right hand of God, for he stays there so long. He accomplished all the first part of his priesthood in less than forty years, if you take in the making of his holy garments and all; but about this second part thereof, he has been above in heaven above sixteen hundred years, and yet has not done.
This therefore calls for faith and patience in saints, and by this he also tries the world; so that they, in a mocking manner, say already, 'Where is the promise of his coming?' (2 Peter 3:4). But I say again, we must look and wait. If the people waited for Zacharias, and wondered that he staid so long, because he staid in the holy place somewhat longer than they expected, no marvel if the faith of the world about Christ's coming is fled and gone long ago, yea, and that the children also are put to it to wait, since a scripture 'little while' doth prove so long. For that which the apostle saith, 'yet a little while,' doth prove to some to be a very long little (John 16:16; Heb 10:37).
True, Zacharias had then to do with angels, and that made him stay so long. O but Jesus is with God, before him, in his presence, talking with him, swallowed up in him, and with his glory, and that is one cause he stays so long. He is also there, pleading his blood for his tempted ones, interceding for all his elect, and waiting there till all his are fitted for and ready to enter into glory. I say, he is there, and there must be till then; and this is another reason why he doth stay the time we count so long.
And, indeed, it is a wonder to me that Jesus Christ our Lord should think now he is there of returning higher again, considering the ill treatment he met here before. But what will not love do? Surely he would never touch the ground again, had he not a people here that only his coming can make perfect. He is also made judge of quick and dead, and will give him glory in the ruin of those who hate him.
His people are to him as himself. Can a loving husband abide always away from a beloved spouse? Besides, as I said, he will pay the wicked off for all their wickedness, and in the very place where they have committed it. Wherefore the day appointed for this is set, and he will, and shall come quickly to do it. For however the time may seem long to us, yet, according to the reckoning of God, it is but a little while since he went into the holiest to intercede. 'A thousand years with the Lord is as one day'; and after this manner of counting, he has not been gone yet full two days into the holiest. 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness'; 'he will come quickly, and will not tarry' (2 Peter 3; Heb 10:37).
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