Day 354: Hebrews 10, 11, 12 and 13

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 religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (v. 11). Though a priest’s work was never done, 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 for us Jesus’ declaration: It is finished (John 19:30).

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Give thanks that Jesus accomplished what a thousand years of Mosaic sacrifices couldn’t.

Day 353: Hebrews 7, 8 and 9

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). In the words of William Cowper’s immortal hymn:

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Reflect on how Christ died in your place, shedding his blood to wash away your sin.

Day 352: Hebrews 4, 5 and 6

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Growing up, I watched the Wizard of Oz [14] on TV every year. One scene we all remember is when Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion first meet the Wizard. He appears as a floating, disembodied head surrounded by smoke and flames. The four grovel before him begging for help.

Isn’t that often the attitude we bring in approaching God? At the risk of being labeled sacrilegious, I have to admit it reminds me of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail [15] when God gives King Arthur his quest:

God: Arthur, Arthur, King of the Britons. Oh, don’t grovel! If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s people groveling.

Arthur: Sorry…

God: And don’t apologize! Every time I try to talk to someone it’s “Sorry this,” and “Forgive me that,” and “I’m not worthy.” What are you doing now?

Arthur: I’m averting my eyes, O Lord.

God: Well don’t.

According to Psalm 100, God invites us into his presence with thanksgiving and praise. The writer of Hebrews says to come with confidence, and that we don’t need to wait until we’re worthy (until we don’t need help anymore), but that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

What do you need from God today?

Day 351: Hebrews 1, 2 and 3

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered (Hebrews 2:10).

The age old question asks, If God is all powerful and all loving, why does he allow suffering in the world? The problem is any answer we come up with is insufficient in the face of actual suffering. Knowing why we suffer could never take away our suffering.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God the Father used the suffering of his Son Jesus to make him perfect. This is not to say the Father caused the suffering, but that he used the suffering in a positive way. If the role of suffering in Jesus’ life was to make him perfect, could it play the same role in ours?

There’s no use fantasizing of a world without suffering, because there’s plenty to go around in the world we have. In the future? Maybe… but for now it’s a fact of life, a given.

When we suffer, we have basically two choices. We can either rail against the heavens, blaming God for our pain, or we can fall into his comforting arms, surrender our will to his, and allow him to do his perfecting work in our lives. It’s going to be painful either way. The question is: Will we suffer for a purpose, or will we suffer for nothing? If God the Father perfected his Son through suffering, he can do the same for us.

Everyone suffers, but we don’t have to suffer for nothing.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

How has God used suffering to perfect you?

Day 354: Hebrews 10, 11, 12 and 13

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?

Day 353: Hebrews 7, 8 and 9

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?

Day 352: Hebrews 4, 5 and 6

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Growing up, I watched the 1939 (hard to believe) film of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz on TV every year. One scene I'm sure we all remember is when Dorothy, along with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion first meets the Wizard. He appears as a floating, disembodied head surrounded by smoke and flames. The four grovel before him begging for help.

Isn't that often the attitude we bring in approaching God? It reminds me of the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail when God gives King Arthur his quest:

God: Arthur, Arthur, King of the Britons. Oh, don't grovel! If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people groveling. 

Arthur: Sorry... 

God: And don't apologize! Every time I try to talk to someone it's "Sorry this," and "Forgive me that," and "I'm not worthy." What are you doing now? 

Arthur: I'm averting my eyes, O Lord. 

God: Well don't. 

According to Psalm 100, God invites us into his presence with thanksgiving and praise. The writer of Hebrews says to come with confidence, and that we don't need to wait until we're worthy (until we don't need help anymore), but that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

What do you  need from God today?

Day 351: Hebrews 1, 2 and 3

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. (Hebrews 2:10)


The age old question asks: If God is all powerful and all loving, why does he allow suffering in the world? The problem is any answer we might come up with is insufficient in the face of actual suffering. Knowing why we suffer could never take away our suffering.


The writer of Hebrews tells us that God the Father used the suffering of his Son Jesus to make him perfect. This is not to say the Father caused the suffering, but that he used the suffering in a positive way. If the role of suffering in Jesus' life was to make him perfect, could it play the same role in ours?


When we suffer, we have basically two choices. We can either rail against the heavens and blame God for our pain, or we can fall into his comforting arms, surrender our will to his, and allow him to do his perfecting work in our lives. It's going to be painful either way. The question is: Will we suffer for a purpose, or will we suffer for nothing? If God the Father perfected his Son through suffering, he can do the same for us.


How has God used suffering to perfect you?