The author of Hebrews firmly believed that everything before the coming of Christ was temporary and imperfect. With the coming of Jesus, the temporary had given way to the permanent. This included the temple and the practice of sacrifice. Jesus himself was now the temple, and his sacrifice put an end to all bloody sacrifice. It is a signal to us not to allow our image of God to be defined by ancient concepts that are no longer helpful. God's revelation is always unfolding - we should not cling to past understandings but allow ourselves to be stretched and surprised by the perpetual ‘newness’ of God.

Not everyone is ready for God’s activity! Jesus was not always understood or appreciated, even sometimes by family and friends. His teaching and the miracles he performed gave hope to many, but their excitement was disturbing and threatening to some. We should not think that witnessing to our faith or even for standing up for what is fundamentally right and decent will always be applauded. It is not always easy - fear of ridicule, rejection, or persecution can seem overwhelming. We may face opposition, but that should not disturb us. God’s activity in the world always provokes reaction - the only question we should ask ourselves is whether we are marching with God or resisting God.