Having reminded the community of what they have not signed up for (Mount Sinai) which was an experience that separated them from God, being so afraid of His voice and unable to approach His presence.
Now in what is in the original one long sentence the Pastor/author tells the community of believers that they have such a lot to walk away from. Judaism has nothing compared to Christianity. Holding on to the faith and not going letting go is hugely important.
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 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 v22-24)
Mount Zion – Yes we also have a mountain! It is not Sinai but it is Zion. We don’t have a place where God came down with the Law but we have a place where God came down with Grace.
The city of the living God – We have a city which the ancestors didn’t. They had the mountain but no city. Theirs was the wilderness. We have the living God who we draw near to not away from. He is living in us!
The heavenly Jerusalem – They wandered looking forward to a heavenly city of which their ancestors and the prophets after them longed for. Through Christ we understand that we are already citizens of this heavenly city.
Thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly – We know there are not just a few angels (beings used by God in previous Old Testament stories) but rather myriads of angels gathered around the throne and at work on this earth.
The church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven – this is not a denomination or a non-denominational church, but the church being the community of Christ followers throughout the world who are the chosen of God, the inheritance of God and loved by Him whose names are in heaven’s book of life.
God the judge of all – but more than what they think for He is the God who has satisfied His judgment because of Christ on the cross.
To the spirits of the righteous made perfect – Not in the sense that we are without sin but we are justified and our eternity secured.
To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant – there is only one way and that is Jesus and that is the way we are following.
To the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel – Not all blood that has been shed is righteous blood, Abel’s wasn’t. We are people of the blood, Jesus’ blood!
Now that’s a lot to walk away from!
Missions Paul 