Hebrews has always been one of my favorite books in the New Testament. It makes the connection between the Old Testament sacrificial system and Jesus’ sacrificial death in the New Testament very clear, helping me to see the entire Bible as one unified story.
Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. So, the priests had to offer the same sacrifices day after day, again and again. Here Christ tells God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (Hebrews 10:8 NLT). It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). So, Christ says, I have come to do Your will, my God. The Father’s will was for Jesus to die in our place to pay for our sins.
In Hebrews, I learn that Jesus is my merciful and faithful high priest which is the second reason that I love the book of Hebrews. Jesus was totally human and he “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). This is something that it is hard for us humans to imagine. Because Jesus was without sin, He could offer His body as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10 NLT).
Christ cancels the first covenant to establish a new covenant between us and God based on grace and faith. It is so reassuring to know that I can rest in this perfect sacrifice of Jesus for my sins. As a result, I am made holy and set apart for God’s purposes.
For reflection:
- Why was it necessary for Christ to come into this world as a human being?
- What difference has Jesus’s sacrificial death on the Cross meant in your life?
by Bonnie Tesch
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