Our passage today from the Lectionary continues with readings from the Book of Hebrews, continuing with the theme of how Jesus is superior to the Old Testament Jewish religious system. Today's passage focuses on how Jesus is superior to any Old Testament sacrifice.
After Moses led the Israelite people out from slavery in Egypt, he led them to the base of Mt. Sinai, where he received the law from God. In addition to giving him the Law, God also gave Moses copies or blueprints of how he was supposed to construct the tabernacle, where sacrifices for sin were to be made, and where the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies would be. This was a copy of what is in heaven. This was where the priests would go to make sacrifices for the people's sins. Here at the tabernacle, and later the Temple, (which followed the same blueprint), the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement to make sacrifices for sin.
Jesus became our sacrifice for sin when He died on the cross to make atonement for our sins. Just as the High Priest brought the blood of the sacrificed animals into the Holy of Holies, to the Ark of the Covenant, so Jesus entered heaven with His own Blood to atone for our sins (vs 24). He didn't enter a man made place, which was a copy of the original, He entered heaven itself. The tabernacle, and later the Temple, were only copies of the true one in heaven. God did not always dwell in them or have His presence there always. His glory came and went on occasion. After Jesus died, He went to His true dwelling place in heaven and into the real presence of God for us.
We don't need a high priest to make atonement for our sins, year after year. Jesus's substitutionary death on our behalf for our sins lifts the burden we bear for our sins. His Blood was all-sufficient to atone for our sins, and only needed to be done once, not year after year (vs 25-26). The animal sacrifices were not all-sufficient, and thus they were repeated over and over again. It is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away our sins (Hebrews 10:4). However, the Blood of Jesus can wash away every spot and stain of sin!
As our author continues, in verse 27 we read that everyone must one day die (unless we are alive when Jesus returns). We will all have to answer to God for how we lived. There will be nothing we can say in our own defense. The only question will be whether we trusted Jesus to be our Savior and forgive our sins, or whether we have chosen to pay our sin debt on our own, to our eternal condemnation. No man is capable of atoning for their sins. No amount of good deeds is capable. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6).
We need a mediator, someone who will come to God on our behalf, since there is no way we can appear before His all-holy presence on our own. Every other person has their own sins to deal with, including the high priests. We do have a Mediator, though, one who can be the go-between, and that is Jesus (I Timothy 2:5). Jesus is our Mediator, appearing in God's presence on our behalf (vs 24).
Have you accepted Jesus as your Mediator, as your Savior? We will all stand before God in judgment, and we need His Blood to wash away our sins. Be sure that on that day you are washed in the Blood of the Lamb, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Sarah,, for your thoughtful meditation. Your comments are so appreciated. I receive more understanding as I contemplate the words.
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