2. When, by the sacrifice of Himself, the Son of God came down from heaven, and took upon Him, not the nature of angels, but our nature, that flesh became a revealer of God; in His human nature, which He shares with us — and which we must therefore regard as our human nature — we can see God. Veiled in flesh we can the Godhead see. For nearly forty years He lived our life, and made it a way to God, as He grew in wisdom and in stature under all the limitations of the human being from infancy to manhood. Human nature — our flesh — His flesh is the way to the very presence of God. In that human nature, Jesus Christ entered into the holiest by virtue of the subjection of His own will to the will of the Father. He who came down from heaven went back thither clothed in our nature, having therein been ascending ever upwards in the spiritual plane as He learned obedience and was perfected by the things that He suflered ; and He points out the way to us, how we may likewise ascend to God in and by that human nature which He consecrated for us.
^ How do scientific investigators of natural phenomena obtain their knowledge of the sun with regard to one of its manifestations? The reply is, "Through the veil." It is only when veiled that accurate measurements of the corona of the sun can be taken. We read of expeditions of scientific men bent on studying and measuring the corona of the sun — now to Eussia, now to the West Indies ; they are fulfilling the prophecy inscribed on the portal of science, " Seek and ye shall find." But why do they proceed to these distant spots? Because it has become known to astronomers that there would be visible at these spots,
1 A. B. Bruce, The Ej^istle to the Hebrews, 397.
HEBREWS X. 19-22 399
at a definite time, a total eclipse; and whilst the glory and dazzling effulgence of the sun are veiled, they are enabled to make their observations, to determine doubtful points, to measure the flame of the corona, to become generally acquainted with the character of the luminary, " through the veil, that is to say, his eclipse." It would be hardly unscientific to say, " No man hath seen the corona of the sun at any time, but the eclipse — that doth reveal it." " The Lord our God is a sun." And the adorable mystery of the Incarnation, the Cross and Passion, the precious death and burial are, as it were, an eclipse of His glory, and so a most revealing experience.^
IV.
A Privilege and Its Conditions.
A way into the holiest of all has thus been consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, the flesh, the broken and bruised humanity of Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice we have an unchallengeable right of entrance into the holiest of all, and within that holiest of all have a high priest over the house of God. Now what is the corresponding duty ? To believe, is it, that we have right of access, and there let the matter rest ? that we have a high priest over the house of God, and there let the matter rest ? Undoubtedly not. If the boldness, the free, unchallengeable right to enter in be our privilege, then to enter in is our duty : — " Having boldness ... let us draw near." The term " draw near " in English reads as a mere general term ; but as addressed to the Hebrews it had peculiar significance. It is the term which is applied to the approach of a priest drawing near to offer sacrifice. It is called drawing near because God was to be approached by sacrifice. The nature of the service in the Temple was approach to God, and therefore, when we are called to draw near, we are reminded of the duty of worshippers — ever drawing near. The privilege is right of access unto God, the duty is that of approach unto God ; and no man values the right of access who does not desire to approach.
\ Drawing near to God is one of the characteristic marks of Christianity. In the old days men stood afar off from Him, the
^ Basil Wilberforce.
400 THE WAY OF ACCESS
way into His presence not being manifest. Sin kept man at a distance, and there was a slavish fear and dread of God that nothing could really overcome. Now, however, all this is changed, and because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross we can, " we may, we must draw near."
So near, so very near to God,
Nearer I cannot be, For in the Person of His Son
I am as near as He.
We are to draw near with a true heart, that is, in genuine sincerity, because our hearts have been " sprinkled from an evil conscience." The fear and dread are gone, and now the soul draws near with deepest reverence and yet with genuine gratitude. We are to draw near confidently, " in full assurance of faith." There is nothing now to block the way, and no reason why we should linger outside the presence of God. Our Heavenly Father has done everything possible to make it simple and easy for us to come back to Him, and in drawing near with full confidence we shall find a welcome and fulness of blessing. The original language implies that we should draw near constantly as well as confidently. The Greek may be rendered, " Let us keep draw- ing near." This is the secret of the Christian life — a continual approach to our God and Father. ^