A Better Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:11-28
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 offered Himself 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. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Once a year in the Old Testament, the High Priest would enter the Tabernacle and sacrifice a spotless animal to cover sins. But now, Christ as the ultimate High Priest, does not enter an earthly tabernacle but a spiritual and heavenly tabernacle. He does not offer a perfect and spotless animal to sacrifice. Jesus offers himself. The eternal and perfect High Priest as our meditator, Jesus offered himself as the perfect and spotless Lamb. John the Baptist proclaimed “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus is the fulfillment of these Old Testament types.

Jesus did not just cover our sins, but his death removed them. His death is not an annual event like the sacrifices of old. It happened once and for all. Through His sacrifice, we enter a new covenant. His death completely satisfied God on our behalf. His resurrection proves sin and death have been forever dealt with.

Jesus’ role as the High Priest and Jesus’ role as the perfect sacrifice secured for all who believe in Him an eternal redemption. We have been bought by God, Christ was the fee, and we are now free from the slavery of sin and death and can serve the living God.

Through Christ’s work by the power of the eternal Spirit, we have eternal redemption and will receive an eternal inheritance.  

Christ is now in the presence of God interceding for us on our behalf.

Christ will return not to pay for sins because that has been accomplished. He will return to rescue all who eagerly wait on Him from this fallen world.

Do you see the redemptive theme of Christ in all Scripture?

Do you see how Christ is the ultimate High Priest and ultimate sacrifice?

Do you eagerly wait for His return to set all things right?

What can you do to eagerly wait for Him?


Father, I want to praise you for the mercy I've received in Christ. To know my sins have been atoned for and removed from my record gives me hope for Christ's return. I am eagerly awaiting his full redemption of all things on the last day.