And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

~Hebrews 10:11 NKJV

Imagine going into your place of worship to discover that every chair, bench, and pew has been removed, including the fancy seat for the pastor.

That is exactly how the tabernacle was designed. The priest had to stand at his ministering post continually offering sacrifices on behalf of the people to temporarily atone for their sins. He was constantly on his feet. In the three main areas of the temple (outer court, inner court, and the most Holy place), there was no place to sit.

Prior to the coming of the Messiah, the priest had to repeat the same duties for the same people over and over, year after year. Those sacrifices were only a temporary fix to an ongoing problem. The High priest was constantly on his feet in service for the needs of the people, and no doubt he was worn out at the end of the day.

Then the next day, it would all begin again…

Aren’t you glad we do not have to stand the entire time we are in church today? Why do our churches have comfortable places to sit? Oftentimes, our chairs, benches, and pews are even padded. This is because when Christ came into the world, His purpose was to fulfill the requirement of continual sacrifice. He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that appeased the Father’s wrath. In Corinthians, we read, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was torn, signifying that the true High Priest’s atonement for sin was accepted by God. And where is that High Priest now? He is seated at the right hand of Father God. In Hebrews, we read, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12 NKJV). In His High Priestly prayer found in John 17, Jesus tells His disciples that He has finished the work which His Father sent Him to do. He now sits at God’s right hand and is our advocate, interceding on our behalf. His atoning work is done, but His intercessory work continues.

Church seating and pews started showing up in the thirteenth century in England. I, for one, am glad they are there and have become more comfortable than the original stone backless benches. But the comfort they provide pales in comparison to that of which Christ has done and is doing for us still. We can confidently take our seats knowing that our sin-debt has been forever taken care of by the only One capable of fulfilling that work, Jesus Christ.

Have you accepted the fact that Jesus Christ came and died for your sins, and is now seated at the right hand of God? We now have full access to God because of our Savior’s finished work and His all-sufficient atonement for our sins.

Ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior. He is a prayer away.

Father God, thank You for Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for me so that I might be declared righteous through Him. Thank You for giving me this way to come boldly to Your throne of grace. Lord Jesus, I confess my need of You, and ask You to forgive my sins. I invite You to be my Savior.

Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2021: No Place to Sit: Ben Cooper: All Rights Reserved