Slices
Prepare
The drawing of the unbridgeable gap, with ‘Me’ on one side and ‘God’ on the other, explains how sin separates us; then the cross is drawn in to show who brings us back together. What other images come to mind?
Bible passage
The blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, so obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command 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. 20 He said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.’ 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Explore
Now, our salesperson/author moves on to the new, improved product! The passage focuses on the power of the blood of Christ (v 14). The sacrifices made year after year by the high priest, who offered animal blood in an earthly sanctuary, only achieved outward, temporary cleansing (v 13). Compared with that, Jesus enters the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood – and it’s a once and for ever deal (v 28). Jesus’ sacrifice of himself achieves permanent and ongoing cleansing from sin, which reaches into the depths of who we are to bring life and forgiveness and restoration (vs 14,15). How wonderful to know.
And the purpose (v 14)? It’s not a deal which, once it’s done, can just be left behind and forgotten. It has implications and consequences; our salvation is for something: ‘that we may serve…’. It encourages us into a life where the knowledge that we belong to God, not to ourselves, makes all the difference to our identity. It projects us into a life given over to God in gratitude and service, in whatever way he chooses for us.
Respond
Think about the ways you are serving God at the moment. Offer them again to the Lord and ask him for his continuing guidance as you live out your salvation.
Deeper Bible study
Lord Jesus, thank you that you came to do away with sin by sacrificing yourself. Cleanse my heart as I come into your presence today.
These verses deal with past, present and future salvation. Yesterday’s reading referred to tabernacle worship and, in particular, the annual entrance of the high priest into the most holy place on the Day of Atonement. Today’s reading emphasises the contrast between that regularly repeated ritual and the single, unique, once only, entrance of Christ into the ‘greater and more perfect tabernacle … not made with human hands’ (v 11) – that is, his entrance into ‘heaven itself’ (v 24). Rather than offering animal blood, he ‘offered himself unblemished to God’ (v 14). The writer uses a ‘how much more’ argument. If the former offerings brought outward cleansing, ‘How much more’ (v 14) will the blood of Christ bring inner, conscience cleansing.
The writer has twice claimed that Jesus sat down in the presence of God.1 Here he says something more. While Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, ruling the universe with the power and authority of God, he is there in God’s presence for us, with an ongoing ministry of intercession (v 24).2 Jesus offered himself to God for us in the past, he appears in God’s presence for us in the present and the chapter concludes stating that he will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (v 28).
Christ’s comprehensive saving work in the past, the present and the future has consequences for us. He offered himself once to God in the past to cleanse our consciences and, so that we may serve the living God, he continually intercedes for us in the present, to strengthen us when tempted. The expectation of his second appearance in the future reminds us that our final salvation is still to come, calling us to persevere as we await his appearance.
We are urged to be active in God’s service, approaching the ‘throne of grace3 when tested and focusing on Christ’s second appearing for final salvation. How do we measure up?
1 Heb 1:3; 8:1 2 See also Heb 4:14–16; 7:25 3 Heb 4:16
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 7,8; Colossians 2
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Local Mission Partner Cadwyn Teifi as they seek a new schools’ worker in the Tregaron-Lampeter area. In the light of recruiting difficulties in the past, pray that an appropriate candidate will both apply and be appointed.
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