Hebrews 9:24-28
“A Great High Priest”
Some people seem to think that sin and forgiveness are just words. That they are ideas or concepts which are hopelessly outdated and irrelevant, even if they ever applied. For the unbeliever, God's law doesn't matter – each is a law unto himself. And so forgiveness of sins doesn't matter, because sin's not a problem.
And let's face it, even we Christians sometimes act as if we feel the same way. We act like sin's not something that matters, at least not all that much. Sure nobody's perfect, but no big deal right? We may acknowledge it when pressed, but does this inform our daily lives? Our reading from Hebrews today might make us think differently.
We don't know exactly who wrote the New Testament book of Hebrews. But we do know it was a letter written to Christians of a Jewish background. They would have been familiar with the priesthood of the Levites, the sacrificial system from the time of Moses, and all that went along with it.
Once a year, the High Priest would enter the holiest part of the Tabernacle. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year. And as he brought the blood of an animal which had been sacrificed, he would sprinkle some of it on the Ark of the Covenant. All this he did as a representative, on behalf of the people. And all this was according to God's explicit instructions.
So what was the point of all this? And what does this all have to do with you and me, who aren't ancient Israelites? Nor are we Jewish Christians from the first century. But we have one thing in common with them – the need for forgiveness, atonement, someone to make satisfaction for our sin.
None of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was by accident. God was very specific in his instructions on what was to be done, and when, and how. It was, first of all, a way he provided the people to deal with their sins – to have the assurance that their sins were atoned for. Those sacrifices and rituals weren't just for show – they really counted! God so promised.
But they were more. They pointed to more. Hebrews says these earthly holy places are “copies of the true things”. That is to say, they drive us toward a greater and deeper reality. They are earthly copies of heavenly things. In and of themselves, the tabernacle and temple, the rituals and sacrifices, the priests and all the adornments provided – they are nothing. But they are not in and of themselves.
“A Great High Priest”
Some people seem to think that sin and forgiveness are just words. That they are ideas or concepts which are hopelessly outdated and irrelevant, even if they ever applied. For the unbeliever, God's law doesn't matter – each is a law unto himself. And so forgiveness of sins doesn't matter, because sin's not a problem.
And let's face it, even we Christians sometimes act as if we feel the same way. We act like sin's not something that matters, at least not all that much. Sure nobody's perfect, but no big deal right? We may acknowledge it when pressed, but does this inform our daily lives? Our reading from Hebrews today might make us think differently.
We don't know exactly who wrote the New Testament book of Hebrews. But we do know it was a letter written to Christians of a Jewish background. They would have been familiar with the priesthood of the Levites, the sacrificial system from the time of Moses, and all that went along with it.
Once a year, the High Priest would enter the holiest part of the Tabernacle. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year. And as he brought the blood of an animal which had been sacrificed, he would sprinkle some of it on the Ark of the Covenant. All this he did as a representative, on behalf of the people. And all this was according to God's explicit instructions.
So what was the point of all this? And what does this all have to do with you and me, who aren't ancient Israelites? Nor are we Jewish Christians from the first century. But we have one thing in common with them – the need for forgiveness, atonement, someone to make satisfaction for our sin.
None of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was by accident. God was very specific in his instructions on what was to be done, and when, and how. It was, first of all, a way he provided the people to deal with their sins – to have the assurance that their sins were atoned for. Those sacrifices and rituals weren't just for show – they really counted! God so promised.
But they were more. They pointed to more. Hebrews says these earthly holy places are “copies of the true things”. That is to say, they drive us toward a greater and deeper reality. They are earthly copies of heavenly things. In and of themselves, the tabernacle and temple, the rituals and sacrifices, the priests and all the adornments provided – they are nothing. But they are not in and of themselves.
They were a foreshadowing of something
and someone greater which was to come. Something more perfect and
fulfilled. The priests, the sacrifices, the Tabernacle, the Day of
Atonement... all of these were shadows of the salvation of God that
came in Jesus Christ. The salvation that God had promised to Adam
and Eve. The salvation he had prepared even from the foundation of
the world, in his beloved Son Jesus Christ.
The Book of Hebrews goes to great lengths to show us that Christ is the great High Priest. He is the fulfillment and apex of all priesthoods. He makes the best and the most perfect sacrifice. A once-and-for-all-time shedding of his blood, a laying down of his life, for all the sins that ever were or would be. Christ the victim, Christ the priest, as the hymn puts it.
That Day of Atonement was a shadow of what was to come. When the REAL High Priest would enter the true heaven (as Jesus is now ascended there for us). And before God, he makes his case for us – he shows God the basis for our salvation. It's not the blood of a goat or a bull, but his own blood. “A sacrifice of nobler birth and richer blood than they”
No we're not ancient Israelites or early Jewish Christians, but we have the same problem of sin, and the same solution in Jesus. They could no more approach God without a mediator than we can. They needed a go-between, an intercessor. But even the High Priest could only do what he did on the basis of the coming Christ. All the blood of beasts, all the rites of priests, it all pointed forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Any forgiveness they enjoyed was won at the cross of Christ, and so too for us.
The Book of Hebrews goes to great lengths to show us that Christ is the great High Priest. He is the fulfillment and apex of all priesthoods. He makes the best and the most perfect sacrifice. A once-and-for-all-time shedding of his blood, a laying down of his life, for all the sins that ever were or would be. Christ the victim, Christ the priest, as the hymn puts it.
That Day of Atonement was a shadow of what was to come. When the REAL High Priest would enter the true heaven (as Jesus is now ascended there for us). And before God, he makes his case for us – he shows God the basis for our salvation. It's not the blood of a goat or a bull, but his own blood. “A sacrifice of nobler birth and richer blood than they”
No we're not ancient Israelites or early Jewish Christians, but we have the same problem of sin, and the same solution in Jesus. They could no more approach God without a mediator than we can. They needed a go-between, an intercessor. But even the High Priest could only do what he did on the basis of the coming Christ. All the blood of beasts, all the rites of priests, it all pointed forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Any forgiveness they enjoyed was won at the cross of Christ, and so too for us.
And Christ is far above the high
priest. He is the true, the ultimate high priest. He is not a
Levite, following in the footsteps of Aaron. He is a priest of the
order of Melchizedek, of an entirely higher order altogether. The
earthly high priest conducted his rituals again and again, year in,
year out. But Christ died once, for all. Once, to deal with sin and
death. Once for the sins of all people – not just the Jews, but
the world.
You see, Jesus is the center of all history, of all Holy Scripture, and of God's perfect plan for our salvation. The creation was made through him, redeemed by him, and will one day answer to him. We confess in the creeds that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
It's why all this business of sin and forgiveness really matters. There will be a final judgment day, and woe to those whose sins are counted against them! God doesn't simply look the other way when it comes to sin. There is blood to be paid in this serious business. And for those that reject the free gift of Christ's blood, they have only their own to pay – eternal punishment and separation from God awaits. God does not mess around with sin, he is deadly serious about it.
But, we read here in Hebrews that, “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” There are no second chances on that judgment day. Jesus has already dealt with sin. But for us who receive his gifts in faith, for the believer, his day of return is a day to eagerly anticipate. There is no fear for us whose debts have been paid, whose sins have been forgiven, for whom only life and victory await.
Sin brings death. And death comes once. For Christ, and for us. He died once for all, and we will die once in him. But just as he lives and reigns to all eternity, so too is our day of resurrection on its way, and our eternal life in him assured.
What a comfort to know that our great High Priest has shed his own blood to make us right before God. What a blessing to know that our Great High Priest has fulfilled all requirements of sacrifice by his own perfect death on Calvary. What a hope we have in his resurrection – that we too will conquer death through him, and live and reign with him for eternity. And what a promise that he will return at the appointed time to make it so, when his day of final salvation arrives, when he comes again in glory, and brings us home.
You see, Jesus is the center of all history, of all Holy Scripture, and of God's perfect plan for our salvation. The creation was made through him, redeemed by him, and will one day answer to him. We confess in the creeds that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
It's why all this business of sin and forgiveness really matters. There will be a final judgment day, and woe to those whose sins are counted against them! God doesn't simply look the other way when it comes to sin. There is blood to be paid in this serious business. And for those that reject the free gift of Christ's blood, they have only their own to pay – eternal punishment and separation from God awaits. God does not mess around with sin, he is deadly serious about it.
But, we read here in Hebrews that, “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” There are no second chances on that judgment day. Jesus has already dealt with sin. But for us who receive his gifts in faith, for the believer, his day of return is a day to eagerly anticipate. There is no fear for us whose debts have been paid, whose sins have been forgiven, for whom only life and victory await.
Sin brings death. And death comes once. For Christ, and for us. He died once for all, and we will die once in him. But just as he lives and reigns to all eternity, so too is our day of resurrection on its way, and our eternal life in him assured.
What a comfort to know that our great High Priest has shed his own blood to make us right before God. What a blessing to know that our Great High Priest has fulfilled all requirements of sacrifice by his own perfect death on Calvary. What a hope we have in his resurrection – that we too will conquer death through him, and live and reign with him for eternity. And what a promise that he will return at the appointed time to make it so, when his day of final salvation arrives, when he comes again in glory, and brings us home.
And while we wait for that day, we are
not without help. He leaves us, but he does not. He ascends into
heaven, but he promises “I am with you always”. It's true, by
his word and Spirit. But it's also true in a very concrete way here
today, at his altar.
Here, the sacrifice that was once given
at the cross, namely the body and blood of Christ – is now given
for you. The blessings were won and procured there, but here they
are distributed to you. There, he suffered and died, completed our
redemption and declared, “It is finished”. Here, he sustains you
with himself, until that day when he returns to bring all things to
fulfillment. So, no, this meal is not a sacrifice, as our Roman
Catholic friends would say – we offer nothing to God. Jesus has
already done it all. But it is a sacrament, a holy and blessed gift
– that the Great High Priest keeps on giving, and that we receive
according to his words – often, in remembrance of him, and for the
forgiveness of our sins.
And now we're full circle. Back to the
forgiveness of sins. The chief blessing of God given to his people,
from which flows life and salvation. Forgiveness of sins, that great
balm for the troubled conscience, that great source of joy and peace.
Forgiveness, which we enjoy even as we forgive those who trespass
against us. And all of this, from our Great High Priest, Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory forever and ever, Amen.
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