In the book of Hebrews, chapter 9, we learn more about the role of the high priests. These were men who served in the tabernacle of God during the times of the Old Testament. The writer of this book speaks like this… “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.” (Hebrews 9:6,7) So we are taught that there were priests and high priests, but only the high priests could go into the holy of holies, in order to sacrifice a spotless lamb, bull, or goat for the sins of the people. This was important for the time and space they were living in. However, it was only going to last this way for so long until the Messiah would finally come into the world. Where through Him, these animal sacrifices would end through His blood being shed. Speaking of Jesus, it reads, “but Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:11,12) Amen.
Jesus is a far better high priest than we ever had before. Through Jesus, our Lord, and our God, His sacrifice on the cross never ends and continues to cleanse us of all our sins when we repent. Speaking of the old covenant, the sprinkling of the blood of the animal was for the purifying of the flesh. However, it had to be done continually, for this sacrifice was never final. To put it this way, the writer of Hebrews said, “for if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:13-15) There is so much more that Jesus can do for your life now, being our high priest. He is able to conform us and shape us into the person we ought to be. Even performing His good works on earth through us. We are redeemed through His blood atonement and have the promise of eternal life if we continue to have faith in Him.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, You are God and I worship You. Thank You, Jesus, for coming down to this earth, in order to redeem Your people and the gentiles from their sins. Some people may have a hard time believing that You ended the importance of high priests through Your blood, but the book of Hebrews makes this clearly evident. As the writer suggests, I agree that You are far better than any high priest ever was on earth. Because You brought into the world the new covenant, I don’t have to worry about coming to a priest for confession or for my sins to be forgiven anymore, but You alone. You are our mediator between the Father and us, and I am grateful to come to You now. Do a work in me that You deme important, not myself. Cleanse me of all my sins through Your blood. Remove every dead work from my life, that Your good works will spring forth. I only wish to do Your will, not the desires of the flesh. And God, keep me and my family from harm’s way. Do not let the enemy take us down, but keep us on Your holy and righteous path. Only You are capable of leading me and others from temptation. I need You, Lord, every day of my life. Come and rest awhile with me. Feed me with Your bread that never goes dry. I need a drink from the wells of living water that only You can give me. I love You, Lord. I give You praise and honor, this day and forever. I trust in You, God. Amen.
