What does the apostle mean by saying, “Now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24)?

According to St. Cyril the Great , “What does it mean that He appears now before the face of God for our sake? Was He not always in the presence of God before He took flesh? He was definitely so, for He is the exalted wisdom of God by which all things came from nothing to existence that were ‘daily His delight; rejoicing always before Him’ (Prov. 8:30). But now, what is new, is that He appears before God, not any more as the Logos (without flesh) as He was always since the beginning, but now He appears before God in a nature like ours. That is why we say that He appears now for our sake in the presence of God the Father, to offer our nature, which was exiled from before God because of the sin of Adam. Therefore, He brings us to the Father’s presence, in Himself, since He became man that He may draw us near the Father, free us from our old sins, and transform our depths to the new life through the Spirit, that we may be counted worthy to see God the Father, being elevated to the honor of sonship.”

The apostle says, “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: we have a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man … But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Heb. 8:1–6).

Aaron ministered in the wilderness, as befitting the servant of the law. But the dwelling that is fit for Christ is the splendid city from above, namely, heaven itself; the divine and exalted tabernacle not made by man. The goal of His liturgical ministry is to sanctify those believing in Him by His Holy Spirit; and to offer them to the Father, as ones who are dead to the world and living by the Spirit. This is the ministry befitting of Him.