He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood. (Hebrews 9:12)There was a big difference between the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament and the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. Mosaic sacrifices were not only temporary, but insufficient to remedy humanity's sin problem. Nothing in and of themselves, they were symbolic of something better to be offered by the coming Christ.
Under the Law, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place only once a year, and carried with him the blood of a bull sacrificed for his own sins, and the blood of a goat for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:11-15). That blood was his authority for being there. Without it he would die (16:2). Without Christ's blood, we would die. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).
When he died for our sins, the inner room Jesus our High Priest entered was not some symbolic representation, but the very presence of God the Father. It was not by authority of blood collected from a sacrificial lamb, but by the authority inherent in his own blood. He didn't need anyone or anything to make him presentable to God; he was perfect in and of himself. ...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 (v. 28).
What can wash away my... and your sin?
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