Friday 27 May 2022
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
He has no need to offer sacrifices day after day … this he did once for all when he offered himself. (v. 27)
Background
Jewish priests were responsible, under the Law of Moses, for offering sacrifices morning and evening on an altar fire at the door of the Tabernacle or Temple. It was a fire that was never allowed to go out: God's presence among the people depended on it.
Once a year at Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement or Cleansing) the High Priest was required to carry out the ritual on behalf of the whole people to make atonement for the nation’s sins.
The anonymous writer of the Letter to the Hebrews explains that, while the High Priest’s actions included asking forgiveness for himself, Jesus had no such need. His priesthood comes from a completely different source, from God, and so he is "holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." (v. 26)
The High Priest had to offer a spotless lamb otherwise the sacrifice would not be accepted. Jesus, a sinless Messiah, became that perfect sacrifice, overruling any future need for the High Priest to act.
The outcome of this is that the Cross and Jesus’ self-giving have replaced the demands of the law. As St Paul wrote to the Galatians: "And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law." (Galatians 2:16)
We forget how radical this must have sounded; with Jesus' death and resurrection there is no need to have an intermediary between God and the people. It’s now a relationship built on grace.
To Ponder:
- How often do you feel the need to earn God’s love by what you do, rather than trust in God’s grace?
- How would you explain to a friend the difference between the law and God's grace?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the freedom we have been given through Christ’s sinless sacrifice for us. Amen.