Hebrews 9: Jesus and the blood of Christ

Hebrews 9:1-15 “Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not y…”

Hebrews 9:1–15 NRSV

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent is still standing. This is a symbol of the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right. But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

The blood of Christ is what Christ paid for us to be free

This video will be used https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/covenants/

The first time we moved house we could hardly believe our luck. We went from a first floor one bedroom flat to a house. The flat had been cold and damp; the house was warm and snug. We had had no garden at the flat; now we had a small yard with space to hang out our washing, with flowerbeds and a beautiful tree. Moving was hard work, but it was worth.

Wright, T. (2004). Hebrews for Everyone (p. 94). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

The Old Covenant and the New Covenant

Last week we heard that in Hebrews 8 that new covenant was better or rather fulfilled what the old covenant. Today we return to the Tabernacle and subject of sin and redemption and we find that Jesus’ sacrifice is better because much like the blood of the lamb takes away sin - the wrong things that people did. However, Jesus sacrifice is better because it only had to be done and for all meaning that other sacrifice will be ever needed. Jesus’ sacrifice was done once and for all; for you, for me and for the whole world. As we have learned previously that once a year that the temple was split in two the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. In the Holy Place, priests would go about their daily duties and offer daily sacrifices. In the Most Holy Place the High Priest would once a year go into the holy place to offer a sacrifice for the sins of all the people as instructed by Moses. However, this sacrificial system did not bring sanctification which means that the sacrifices had to be made each year on the Day of Atonement.

‘Atonement’ is is quite literally “at-one-ment” is a process of being made one with God or at peace with God.

Therefore, if God is different from us meaning that he is holy or set apart means he is basically unapproachable because of our sin and failings. The people needed a sacrifice to die and shed blood in the peoples place. For the Hebrews they used the most perfect, unblemished, spotless lamb or goat to die and shed their blood. However, they would never be truly sanctified because this needed to be repeated year, after year, after year with a sacrifice, upon sacrifice, upon sacrifice.

Something quite dramatic was needed, fortunately God had a masterplan because he knew humans would fail and are ultimately selfish despite the different covenants this could only be done by a new covenant.

As NT Wright puts it: ‘the new bond between God and his people through which, at last, sins would be properly dealt with and forgiveness not only promised but accomplished.’

Wright, T. (2004). Hebrews for Everyone (p. 92). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

Much like the high Priest would present the sacrifice - Jesus the true High Priest would be that sacrifice. For in Jesus the great high priest, God has put things into proper order at last. He has thus established the new covenant, in which sins have been fully and finally dealt with.

Wright, T. (2004). Hebrews for Everyone (p. 93). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

The New Covenant is Better

This new covenant is now better than the one before for three reasons.

First, because the tabernacle was a secondary thing, a temporary substitution for the reality God had in mind for the true tabernacle is the presence of God in the heavenly realms which Jesus has gone through for us.

Second, the Messiah - which has been given for us. We will come back to this in a moment.

Third, it is a better sacrifice because we are fully restored or as we have said before sanctified from dead works to good works, from death to life and from lost to being found. In other words grace and redemption.

The Blood of Jesus

Jesus has presented not the blood of animal sacrifices but his own blood.

Now, this would have been shocking to Jewish readers where nowhere in the history Jewish literature from the Bible through to contemporary writings is human sacrifice considered to be a good thing. Even in the story of Abraham and Isaac - the sacrifice does not happen because God provides the sacrifice. Also the suggestion that a high priest be both the sacrificer and the sacrifice was not just laughable but almost blasphemous. The writer of Hebrews is drawing us into the mystery of this sacrifice because it is once-for-all, meaning that we do not have to die because of Jesus’ life given sacrifice and much like the blood of sacrified animals represented purity for the outward lives of worshippers, the blood of Jesus would go deeper purifying our conscience (vs.14) from dead works to worship God .

Or as Andrew Murray the South African Preacher puts it like this:

The blood was shed to unite us with God.

The blood has accomplished its and will perfect it in you.

The blood has unspeakable virtue and glory in God’s sight.

The blood has irresistible power.

Through the blood Jesus was raised from the grave and carried into heaven. Be assured the blood is able to preserve you every day in God’s presence by its divine life-giving power.

As we have sang before that it is only through the blood of Jesus that we washed from our sin and made friends with God. This is true freedom and in this we can find true joy.

But we this starts in a decision and part of that decision is found in baptism.

In Baptism we respond to what Jesus has done

Today we have witnessed Oaklan’s baptism which is the beginning of his Christian journey and we can all be on this journey by saying yes to Jesus.

Baptism is a response to sacrifice Jesus did on it once and for all on the cross provides that way back to God. This is something to be excited about because we are no longer separated but have been brought close to God because of Jesus who didn’t just die but rose again to make it possible.

Similar to the blood of Jesus in Baptism we are washed and cleaned to be made right with God again through the waters of Baptism - the word used called redemption which means being buying something or someone back. Meaning our debt is paid - a bit like someone paying off our mortgage or debts asking nothing in return and just wants us to enjoy it. And grace is similar because something is offered that we could not have earned which is so much more than mercy because grace is provided is not just a debt paid but debt paid which expects nothing in return.

So we can be free from sin but this doesn’t mean that we are free to do what we want but free to live for God’s glory.

In verse 14 we are told that we are free so we may serve the living God the Greek term here speaks of total surrender to God and to worship by giving him our lives by serving him instead of ourselves or the world.

In the Baptism liturgy that we have just heard talks about turning from the devil, the world and from sin. By turning to God by repenting and recognising Christ as our saviour, as Lord and as the way, the truth and the life.

Conclusion:

The New Covenant is a better covenant because Jesus has fulfills it and has provided a way by his blood.

The blood of Jesus - the one who had done no wrong paid the price, paid the debt - Jesus did this ‘once and for all’ to provide a way back to God.

This passage reminds us that in Baptism that we can be free to live a life God worship totally devoted to serving God which is both our duty and delight.

Finally, what Jesus did on the cross was reckless love and we are called to respond because his sacrifice is better, he paid price and we respond by giving ourselves to God in duty and delight.