JC Blog

“But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” ( Hebrews 10:3-4 )

One thing about the law was that it was great about building anticipation to the time of Christ. I imagine that every time a bull or goat was brought as a sacrifice, the people would stop and think about the promised Messiah, longing for Him to come; knowing that when He came there would no longer be the need for these endless sacrifices.

The previous verses state the entire sacrificial system was a foreshadowing to the good things that were coming ( Hebrews 10:1-2 ). They couldn’t clear the conscience of the worshipper but rather served as a reminder of sin. This is why these sacrifices were brought time and time again. The blood of these animals only served as a covering for the body and could never cleanse the entire person. In other words, the blood of bulls and goats were powerless to take away sin.

The Messiah on the other hand would be able to cleanse the entirety of mankind by the sacrifice of Himself. This is why the endless sacrifices served to bring a fresh remembrance of sin. It would prepare the people for Christ. In contrast to the blood of bulls and goats, His blood would take away sin.

When Jesus appeared, He did away with sin by the sacrifice of himself ( Hebrews 9:26 ). His blood was more than enough to cleanse the worshipper and bring each one into perfect fellowship with God the Father ( Hebrews 10:19-22 ). This was what the sacrificial system under the law portrayed and looked forward to in Christ. Now that it is here, there is no longer a need for any other type of atonement. Jesus’ blood worked to cleanse us of sin, the first and only time it was given.

Just as the Israelites looked forward to Christ in anticipation, we can look to Christ, trusting in the perfect redemption He provided. We can rest assured that we are forgiven and accepted through Him alone and that His blood was more than enough to justify us in God’s eyes. Just as the blood of bulls and goats was an annual reminder of sin, the blood of Jesus reminds us that we are forgiven and free through faith in Him. What an amazing truth!

“When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” ( Hebrews 9:19-22 )

Both the Old and New Covenants were put into effect by blood. The blood proved the death, thereby enforcing and enacting the will of the one who died ( Hebrews 9:17 ). Leviticus 17:11 explains why the blood was used, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” ( Leviticus 17:11 ). So it was necessary for both Covenants to be ushered in by blood, because first it proved the death because the blood is the life force. And secondly, it was given for atonement. So without it, there could be no forgiveness for sins.

Jesus’ blood was shed to usher in the New Covenant. His blood proved that a death had occurred thereby enacting His last will and testament. His blood was the price necessary for this will to come to pass, in other words, it put this covenant into effect. The New Covenant is not only the will of Jesus, whose blood ushered it in, it is also the will of God. Throughout Jesus’ time on earth He said over and over that His will was to do the will of the Father ( John 6:38 ). He stressed that what He said was only what the Father told Him to say ( John 8:28 ) and He did only what He saw the Father do ( John 5:19 ). His words and teachings were not His own but from the One who sent Him ( John 7:16 ). In fact John 6:38 summarizes this very nicely, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” ( John 6:38 ). The writer of Hebrews starts chapter 1 by declaring that Jesus is the exact representation of God the Father ( Hebrews 1:3 ). Since they are one and the same, we can see that Jesus’ blood was the life force that was able to usher in the will of God, which was the New Covenant.

Not only did Jesus’ blood prove the death and put the Covenant into effect. Part of the New Covenant that God spoke of through the prophets included the forgiveness of sins ( Jeremiah 31:31-34, Isaiah 54:13, Hebrews 8:8-12, Hebrews 10:16-18 ). Leviticus 17:11 says the life force is in the blood and this is used as a means for atonement. So Jesus’ blood served multiple purposes, it enacted the Will of the Covenant and it was the cleansing agent for sin. If no blood was shed, there couldn’t be any forgiveness for sins.

The Vines Dictionary of New Testament Words brings clarification to this point. There are two words used for blood in Hebrews 9. The first one is haima, which has many meanings, but in this case it denotes the blood of sacrificial victims ( Hebrews 9:7 ). “The "blood" of Christ, which betokens His death by the shedding of His "blood" in expiatory sacrifice; to drink His "blood" is to appropriate the saving effects of His expiatory death, John 6:53. As "the life of the flesh is in the blood," Lev 17:11, and was forfeited by sin, life eternal can be imparted only by the expiation made, in the giving up of the life by the sinless Savior” (Vines Dictionary). In other words, life had been forfeited because of sin, which is why Jesus’ life was given so that He, as a sinless man, could impart eternal life through this sacrifice. Jesus himself said this, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” ( John 6:53-54 ). Our life was forfeited because of sin, but Jesus’ blood was shed to forgive and restore us to a state as if we had never sinned in the first place ( II Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:18 ). What an amazing truth!

The second word for blood used in Hebrews 9:22 is haimatekchysia, which means the “shedding of blood”, to pour out. Jesus didn’t just give His blood, He let it flow freely. In fact, it didn’t stop until every last drop had been given. He was poured out unto death, which is what Isaiah prophesied about Him, “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” ( Isaiah 5:3:12 ). His life force completely covered, cleansed and annulled sin. Our lives had been forfeited because of sin, however His blood completely reversed  the effect of sin so that we could experience eternal life.

Jesus understood this which is why He spoke these words while reclining at the table with His disciples at the last supper. “Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” ( Matthew 226:27-28 ). He knew the price to bring us to the Father and His own words testify to the fact that He would let the blood flow freely. He knew His blood would usher in the covenant and it would completely and utterly blot out and destroy the effects and stains of sins.

His perfect blood was shed to usher in both the New Covenant and the forgiveness of sins. Neither one could be accomplished without it which is why He freely gave himself to the will of God. Jesus accomplished what we could not and because of His sacrifice we have been forgiven, freed and offered eternal life through the person of Jesus Christ.

“Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now” ( Hebrews 9:1-5 )

Worship as directed under the first covenant was very detailed. Everything was laid out according to the pattern Moses was shone on the mountain. Everything included in the temple worship had special meanings and significance. Even the items themselves which were placed within the Most Holy Place represented God’s supernatural ability to care for and lead the Israelites.

Behind the second curtain was the Ark of the Covenant, where God dwelt with the people. Inside the Ark was the gold jar of manna, a reminder of the bread that fed the Israelites for years while wandering through the desert in disobedience, Aaron’s staff, which God used after a rebellion to show that Aaron and the Levites were His chosen priests ( Numbers 17 ). And lastly, the Ark contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments to remind the Israelites of their Covenant.

Guarding the ark and the Most Holy Place were cherubim of glory. The Israelites could not enter because these creatures protected this area. In fact, only the High Priest could enter this room, and only once a year with blood which He poured on the mercy seat making atonement for the sins of the people. The priest made this offering directly before God. We know this from Moses’ account inside the tent, “When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him” ( Numbers 7:89 ).

The writer of Hebrews is drawing attention to all of these details, but notice the last statement in verse 5 declaring that these things cannot be discussed any longer. Why? Because the creatures guarding the way into the Most Holy Place where God dwelt among His people are no longer there. This is an amazing truth! After Jesus entered into the more perfect tabernacle in heaven to make perfect atonement for us, there was no longer a need for warrior angels to protect the way to God. Jesus opened this up so that we could have direct access to God the Father ( Hebrews 10:19-22 ). In fact, we are now to approach the throne of grace in confidence ( Hebrews 4:16 ) in a way the Israelites never could.

This makes perfect sense considering the last verse of chapter 8, “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” ( Hebrews 8:13 ). Jesus brought with Him a new way of approaching God. We can approach Him in faith washed clean by the body of Christ, unafraid of anything standing in our way because anything that could condemn or harm us has been removed by the blood of Jesus. Our covenant of grace is vastly superior and Jesus is the one who will forever protect and guarantee the way into the presence of the Father Himself.

"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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.” ( Hebrews 2:17 )

It is not trivial that Jesus entered into humanity as a man. Nor is it something He did lightly. Colossians 2:7 says that He emptied Himself of all divine privileges, born under the kingdom of darkness as a slave. He did this to give us a helping hand. He saw we were powerless to help ourselves because sin and its effect had completely destroyed us. For this reason he became a man, being made like us in every way to destroy the power that held us captive and in bondage to Satan's kingdom.

In doing this He accomplished two things, first He was able to empathize with us which is very important when you hold the title of High Priest and secondly He was able to make atonement for our sins.

In the Old Testament, the high priest made atonement for the people. He could empathize with them because he too was a man and sinned. In fact he first had to make a sacrifice for himself and then for the people ( Leviticus 9:7, Hebrews 5:3 ). This would go on year after year to serve as an annual reminder of sin. The blood of these animals would cover the person looking forward to the time of Christ.

When Christ came, His blood didn't cover us, it washed us clean. There is a huge difference. As our High Priest He was able to completely cleanse us from the effects of sin and free us from its grasp. In fact He did something completely amazing, He became sin in our stead so that we could become righteous and stand before God completely justified ( II Corinthians 5:21 ).

If this wasn't enough Jesus is able to identify with us because He too participated in the human experience. He was tested and tried while he was on earth yet was never defeated by sin. "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ( Hebrews 4:14-15 ). This is marvelous news for us because the writer goes on to say, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" ( Hebrews 4:16 ).

Jesus' role as our high priest is to make intercession for us and give us access to God. Since he both cleanses and empathizes with us we know that we can approach God with confidence. What we will find is mercy and grace no matter what the circumstances are. Jesus makes this possible. And since He has risen from the dead, conquering death, we know that this promise is secure. "But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself" ( Hebrews 7:24-27 ).

This is why Jesus came as a man. It was essential that He be made like us in every way so that he could become a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things related to God.

Tomorrow we look at Hebrews 2:18: Jesus is Able to Help Those Who Are Tempted

I have heard many people say, that the God of the Old Testament was a God of wrath and anger, vastly different then the God portrayed in the New Testament. However this is not true and this passage of scripture supports that. God dealt with the people who lived before Christ in restraint, patience and tolerance looking forward to the time when Jesus would do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

God presented Jesus as the propitiation for our sins. Another way to put that is that God showed His mercy to the sinner by atoning for our sins with His blood shed on the cross. The Jew was familiar with the sacrificial system because the Law required that nearly everything be cleansed in blood. ( Hebrews 9:22 ) But the reality was, that the blood of animals was never able to take away sin. ( Hebrews 10:4 )

Why was there a need for a different sacrifice other than animals? First because the sacrifices prescribed in the Law was a type and a shadow of the things to come ( Colossians 2:17 ). One way to look at this is like writing a check to pay for groceries. The check itself isn't worth anything, but when the amount is filled out and the check is signed, then the check is the promise of payment. The check can be cashed in for the value assigned to it. However, it is only good if there is money in the bank to cover it. In the same way, the sacrificial system was like the check in this example. It was only as valuable as the reality was to back it up. Jesus was that reality and the real sacrifice for sin. The blood of the bulls and goats served as a token for the real sacrifice that Jesus would pay. It was the type and shadow and vague representation of what was to come.

If the blood of animals wasn't able to pay for sin, why was Jesus' blood able to do it? First because Jesus was sinless His blood was able to justify us ( Romans 5:9 ). Justified means, just as if I'd never sinned. So Jesus' blood restores us to a state before sin corrupted it. Secondly because Jesus' blood made peace between us and God ( Colossians 1:20 ). By His blood He reconciled all things back to Himself thus making peace. And lastly, Jesus' blood brings about the forgiveness of sin ( Hebrews 10:18 ). So since there was peace between us and God, we were restored to a state before sin corrupted us and we were completely forgiven once for all, The blood literally appeased God and reconciled us to Him through Faith. Animal blood was never able to do this.

By sending Jesus as our sacrifice of atonement or propitiation for sin, God demonstrated his justice and righteousness. Because by His forbearance he left the sins committed before Jesus' sacrifice unpunished. There was complete remission of sin for all of those people who lived before Christ. The Greek work for remission is 'aphesis' which literally means, deliverance, freedom; liberty; release from bondage; forgiveness; pardon of sins, letting them go as if they had not been committed; remission of penalty. So even though these sins were an offense to Him, in his restraint and in the face of provocation he completely passed over and ignored these sins without punishment looking forward to the time when Jesus would pay for them.

To me, this sounds exactly like the God written about in the New Testament. Forgiving, loving, patient and willing to do whatever it takes to bridge the gap between us. Today I praise God that He sent Jesus to be my Savior. I thank God for the Bible, so we have the means to read, understand and know Him. And I thank Him for redeeming me fully, completely and eternally!