Jesus is better

Text: “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises” (Heb. 8:6 NIV).

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8:1–9:14

Introduction One of the prominent words in the letter to the Hebrews is superior. The author compares Jesus Christ’s character with the character of angels and Old Testament heroes and with the nature of the sacrificial system. He affirms, “Jesus is better.” He is better than the prophets (1:1–4); he is better than the angels (1:5– 2:18); he is better than Moses (chaps. 3–4); and Jesus’ work on the cross is better than the Old Testament sacrificial system of the sanctuary (8:1–10:18).

Opening Illustration: The Paid-in-Full Mortgage

I want you to imagine a family that has struggled for years to pay their mortgage. Every month another payment is due. They faithfully send in their check, but the next month another bill arrives. And the month after that. Year after year, the debt remains until finally, one day, they receive a certified letter from the bank. It says:

"Your mortgage has been paid in full. Your debt is completely satisfied. No further payments are required."

How foolish would it be for that family to keep mailing monthly mortgage checks? It wouldn't honor the bank. It would actually suggest they didn't believe the debt had really been paid.

The Old Testament sacrificial system was like those monthly payments—not because the sacrifices actually removed sin, but because they pointed forward to the day when the true payment would finally be made. Every morning and every evening another lamb died. Every Day of Atonement another high priest entered the Most Holy Place. The blood flowed endlessly because sin had never truly been taken away.

Then Jesus came.

On the cross He did not make another payment toward our salvation. He paid the debt in full. That is why His final words were, "It is finished." Nothing more needed to be added. No more sacrifices. No more priests offering animals day after day. Hebrews tells us that after offering Himself once for all, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God because His work was complete.

The question Hebrews asks us is this: Why would anyone return to the shadow when the substance has come? Why keep making payments on a debt that has already been fully paid?

Today we'll see why the work of Christ on the cross is far better than the entire Old Testament sacrificial system. His sacrifice wasn't temporary—it was perfect. It wasn't repeated—it was once for all. And it didn't merely cover sin—it took sin away forever for those who trust in Him.

Point I. Jesus is better than the old sanctuary.

The author of Hebrews starts (in 8:1) to use figures from Jewish worship. He begins with the sanctuary of the tabernacle and the temple. He acknowledges the great majesty and the great purpose of the sanctuary yet affirms that Jesus is better.

A. Jesus is the reality behind the shadow.

a. The tabernacle and the temple were constructed according to a great architectural plan.

b. The design of the temple had significance in the worship of God.

c. We must keep in mind that the tabernacle and the temple represented a greater reality. “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’ ” (Heb. 8:5 NIV) (Exodus 25:40).

d. The writer of Hebrews says the layout of the sanctuary and the ministries conducted there were designed according to the real but unseen world.

B. Jesus is the remover of barriers.

a. In the temple and the tabernacle the ordinary Israelite could come only to the gate of the tabernacle court.

b. The priests could go farther, and only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies.

c. This hierarchy of barriers portrays the reality that ordinary people were barred from the presence of God.

d. Jesus took away the barriers. He is a better sanctuary.

Point II. Jesus is better than the old priesthood.

The author of Hebrews chooses another factor in the Jewish religion. Not only is Jesus seen as superior to the sanctuary, but he is also shown to be better than the Old Testament priesthood.

A. Jesus is the master in majesty.

a. No one can compare to the majestic character of Jesus.

I. Look at 2 Peter 1:16-18

2 Peter 1:16–18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

b. Jesus belongs to a priesthood founded on personal greatness rather than human appointment.

c. He is a priest who offers sacrifice for sins, but he does not have to offer sacrifice for his sins, for he has none.

d. Only Jesus is able to offer a sacrifice that never has to be repeated. “We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Heb. 8:1 NIV).

e. There is no greater glory than the glory of the ascended and exalted Lord. Jesus, the priest, possesses the majesty of God.

B. Jesus is the master in ministry.

a. No priest can perform the priestly ministry better than Jesus “who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man” (Heb. 8:2 NIV).

b. “The ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one” (v. 6 NIV).

c. Many priests of the Old Testament rendered their service with great skill. But when you examine the priestly ministry of Jesus, you discover a superiority.

d. Jesus is better than the Old Testament priesthood.

Point III. Jesus is better than the old covenant.

After discussing the Old Testament sanctuary and priesthood, the author then turns to the Old Testament concept of covenant. The covenant described the relationship of God with his people. The author affirms that God’s relationship with people through Jesus is better than the old covenant.

A. Jesus brought a covenant that every person on earth could enjoy.

a. The Jews developed classes of people.

i. Some of these classes, such as the Pharisees, were observers of the law and could keep the details of the law.

ii. Most of the ordinary people could not observe all the ceremonial laws.

iii. Consequently, the common people were despised.

iv. But in Hebrews we read, “They will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Heb. 8:11 NIV).

b. In the new covenant in Jesus, classes of people do not exist.

i. All people—wise and simple, small and great—can relate to the Lord.

ii. The new covenant in Jesus is better because of its universality.

B. Jesus brought a covenant that is written on the heart. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Heb. 8:10 NIV).

a. The law written on the heart means that people would relate to God, not just laws.

b. People would obey the Lord not because of the dictates of the law but because of their desire to obey him.

c. Jesus is better, for he indeed brought a better covenant.

Point IV. Jesus is better than the old sacrifices.

The author continues with his comparisons of Jesus with Judaism. He turns to the Old Testament sacrificial system and proceeds to show that Jesus is better.

A. The sacrifice of Jesus is an unrepeatable sacrifice.

a. The priests had to make many sacrifices on many different days.

b. The most significant sacrifice took place the day the high priest had to enter the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the sins of the people.

c. All the sacrifices had to be repeated each year.

d. There was no final sacrifice until Jesus came.

e. When Jesus sacrificed himself, he made the final sacrifice for sin.

f. No other sacrifice was needed.

g. This element of finality proves further that Jesus is better.

B. The sacrifice of Jesus is a more effective sacrifice.

a. The superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice may be seen in its effects. “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!” (Heb. 9:14 NIV).

b. Jesus’ sacrifice cleanses the conscience of a person.

i. It releases one from the slavery of sin to become a servant of the living God.

ii. The animal sacrifices could not change a person’s heart.

iii. For this reason, Jesus’ sacrifice was better.

Conclusion Many religions exist in today’s world. Over 4,000 is a good estimate.

Acts 4:12 says: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Take the time to look at Jesus. You will discover that Jesus is better. Give your life to someone superior.

Crabtree, T. T.. The Zondervan 2026 Pastor's Annual: An Idea and Resource Book (p. 155). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.