When this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12)Our passage yesterday delineated one of the differences between the sacrifices offered under the Mosaic Law and the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. The High Priest carried bull and goat blood with him as his entrance requirement into the Most Holy Place. Jesus needed no such animal blood; he entered the presence of God by virtue of his own shed blood. Whereas Old Testament sacrifices were symbolic, his sacrifice was the real thing - what the symbols pointed to.
Today's reading points out another difference. We know animal sacrifices had to be repeated over and over again, because they were insufficient to remove the guilt of sin. Certain sacrifices were offered every single day. Day after day every priest stands and performs his duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (v. 11). Though a priest's work was never over, notice Jesus' next move after offering his perfect sacrifice: He sat down at the right hand of God. He could rest because his work was done. The plan of salvation was complete. His sacrifice never need be offered again.
The work begun in a manger was completed on a cross. This should make more meaningful to us Jesus' declaration: It is finished (John 19:30).
Aren't you glad Jesus finished what over a thousand years of Mosaic sacrifices never could?
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