I have been doing a series of posts that respond to an article written by Raphael Lataster. This post is not officially a part of that series but is more of an aside.
Lataster suggests that Hebrews 8:4 teaches that Jesus never appeared on earth. Here is the passage:
If he (Jesus) were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. (Hebrews 8:4)
Is this saying that Jesus was never on earth? If you only looked at this verse, one might be able to think that. That is why it is important for us to read every verse in its larger context.
The author of Hebrews is contrasting what takes place in the heavenly tabernacle with what took place in the earthly tabernacle. The earthly tabernacle was “a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.” (Hebrews 8:5)
The tabernacle that was built during the time of Moses, where Aaron and his descendants sacrificed animals was a picture a heavenly reality. This is similar but different from Jesus, who was a high priest (although not from Levi) who, instead of sacrificing animals, sacrificed himself. The sacrifice of Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that was only sketched out before.
None of this suggests that Jesus never appeared on earth. It is about the nature of his sacrifice and how it contrasts with the levitical sacrificial system. Donald Hagner makes a good point:
This is no denial of the death of Christ in history, but rather a way of saying that this work of atonement is of eschatological or ultimate meaning and hence “heavenly” in contrast to the “earthly” work of the levitical priesthood.
Hebrews, p. 117
How do we know the author of Hebrews believed that the heavenly sacrifice was not limited to a heavenly Christ with no earthly existence? Earlier in the book, we read:
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)
From this passage, it is pretty obvious that the author understands Jesus to have been an actual person who lived on earth, whose sacrifice transformed things in the heavenly realms.
