Monday of Holy Week
Read Hebrews 9:11-15
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offeredHimself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
In this passage in Hebrews, the writer uses three Hebrew metaphors to interpret the role of Jesus for Jewish people. These three metaphors are high priesthood, blood offering, and new covenant. All three of these metaphors relate to guilt. This writer understood the guilt Hebrew people were dealing with because of the inability to keep the law.
God doesn’t desire His people to constantly struggle with guilt and all the problems that it causes. Jesus is the answer for our guilt, for everyone’s guilt. As high priest, the blameless sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf makes forgiveness accessible to Hebrews, gentiles, and every believer. He paid the price!
The second metaphor is of cleansing. The blood of Jesus cleanses our sin as an offering to God. This too releases sinners from the struggle with guilt and the awareness of the believer’s sin. No one needs to live with the constant struggle of a guilty conscience. Jesus died on the cross for our sins – once for all of our sin. Therefore, we are a forgiven people.
The third metaphor makes Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. This covenant is not about law and works to experience forgiveness, but rather about receiving grace because of Jesus satisfying the requirements of the law once for all! Through grace, we are saved through faith! This is the new covenant that Jesus provides for us all.
Meditate on these thoughts as you walk through Holy Week together as forgiven people.
Blessings,
Doug
Read Hebrews 9:11-15
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offeredHimself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
In this passage in Hebrews, the writer uses three Hebrew metaphors to interpret the role of Jesus for Jewish people. These three metaphors are high priesthood, blood offering, and new covenant. All three of these metaphors relate to guilt. This writer understood the guilt Hebrew people were dealing with because of the inability to keep the law.
God doesn’t desire His people to constantly struggle with guilt and all the problems that it causes. Jesus is the answer for our guilt, for everyone’s guilt. As high priest, the blameless sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf makes forgiveness accessible to Hebrews, gentiles, and every believer. He paid the price!
The second metaphor is of cleansing. The blood of Jesus cleanses our sin as an offering to God. This too releases sinners from the struggle with guilt and the awareness of the believer’s sin. No one needs to live with the constant struggle of a guilty conscience. Jesus died on the cross for our sins – once for all of our sin. Therefore, we are a forgiven people.
The third metaphor makes Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. This covenant is not about law and works to experience forgiveness, but rather about receiving grace because of Jesus satisfying the requirements of the law once for all! Through grace, we are saved through faith! This is the new covenant that Jesus provides for us all.
Meditate on these thoughts as you walk through Holy Week together as forgiven people.
Blessings,
Doug