ALONE
SHORTLY after leaving school I worked in a local cinema, as a
ticket checker, working six nights each week, and at matinees on
Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We usually had four different
films showing each week, but sometimes one would be retained for
a full week, including matinees. This meant that I would see the
same film eight times in one week. I remember when 'South
Pacific' was showing for seven days. By the end of the week I had
memorised most of the songs in it.
Some of the films made a great impression on me, and one of these
was Cecil B. de Mille's 'The Ten Commandments'. The night of the
Passover; the opening of the Red Sea; the making of the golden
calf; the tabernacle, etc., all so vividly portrayed in this
highly acclaimed film, certainly helped to make me aware of the
great interest God had in leading His people out of bondage, out
of slavery. Now, many years later, I was reading in God's Word
the actual account of His dealings with His people. As I read the
account of the tabernacle and the priesthood, the word 'alone'
was of great significance.
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went
always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of
God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every
year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for
the errors of the people." 1
The ordinary priests, though they were representatives of the
people, only ministered in the outer room in the tabernacle. They
could play no part at all in the ministry in the inner room,
which was called the 'Holy of Holies'. The high priest alone
entered there. When it came to the matter of atonement being made
for the sins of the people, the priests had to stay outside. Only
one, the high priest, was actually allowed to enter the Holy of
Holies. Only he was allowed to approach God, as mediator and
representative of the people, on the Day of Atonement.
Now, I had already seen in the Scriptures that this high priest
was a 'copy,' or 'type' of Jesus Christ. Jesus alone, as our
great High Priest, can approach the Father in Heaven, when it
comes to the matter of atonement being made for the sins of the
people. In the tabernacle, the other priests were not even
allowed into the presence of God, when atonement was to be made
for sin. This was a 'copy' of what happens in heaven. Nobody in
heaven is even allowed to approach the Father concerning
atonement for the sins of the people, but Jesus Christ alone.
Nobody else is allowed to stand before the Father and minister as
mediator, but Christ alone, the only mediator between God and
man. He alone stands as mediator between a Holy God and sinners.
Coming from a Roman Catholic background, I was amazed to read
this in God's Word, as I had been taught that the Blessed Virgin
Mary and the saints could intercede for me. I believed that they
could actually approach God on my behalf. I was convinced, as a
result of what I had been taught, that Mary could approach Jesus
and greatly influence Him concerning me, even going so far as to
ask Him to forgive my sin.
The Intercession of Mary and the saints was certainly encouraged
in some of the prayers said at mass. For example: "Receive,
O Holy Trinity, this offering, . . . . and in honour of Blessed
Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the saints; that it may avail to their
honour and our salvation; may THEY vouchsafe to INTERCEDE FOR US
IN HEAVEN. . . .The glorious and ever-virgin Mary, . . . Thy
blessed Apostles and Martyrs, and all Thy saints; BY WHOSE MERITS
AND PRAYERS grant that we may be . . . strengthened by Thy
protecting help." ‡
Once again, I could see such a vast difference between man's
traditions and God's Word. Concerning atonement being made for my
sins, it was now very clear to me that Christ ALONE could
approach the Father on my behalf. He ALONE is the High Priest and
Mediator in Heaven. Yes, that word ' ALONE ' is so significant!
1. Hebrews 9:6-7.
‡ "A Simple Prayer Book," pp. 30 & 34.
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