A Biblical-Narrative Psychological response to Hebrews 9:24-28
Given the highly symbolic language used in this text, it is important to remind ourselves that Biblical-Narrative Theory is interested in hearing a story as story, not ignoring context or history, but concentrating on the relationship of the story to personal and communal identity, as well as the impact of identity on individual and communal relationships.
The writer picks up the theme of priestly interaction with the divine, occurring on a regular basis, advocating for cleansing the sin of the people. Now ritual gives way to personal relationship. Not a priest intervening on behalf of the people with an unknowable divine, but one who incorporates the divine into the ordinariness of human life. Inevitably, history teaches us that anything representing the divine, whether it be truth, love, compassion or justice, will come into conflict with evil. At this point, evil will do whatever it takes to crush the divine. In the short-term, this appears to be a victory; however, in the long-term history teaches us that the divine conquers evil. Jesus picks up this prophetic role and acts out the human/divine drama to its inevitable conclusion, suffering and death. This is not the end of the story as the writer of Hebrews points to the coming of hope. No longer is evil the victor, not even death. No longer do laws, rules and regulations impossible to follow dominate our lives. Now there is grace, love and forgiveness. Now there is hope, no matter what evil tries to achieve.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
If you listen to that text as story and translate it into our own language system, it might sound something like:
I know I am going to die at some stage; however, that really is not the total meaning of life. The more important issue is how I live my life before I die. Whether I have a long life on this earth or a short one, this story reminds me, that evil is much more to be feared than death; consequently, I will live my life committed to love and forgiveness. Even in my death, love will be victorious.
psychology and hope 