March 16, 2023 | Be On Mission
Jesus' Blood Gives Access to the Most Holy Place
Scripture: Hebrews 9 (NIV)
1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 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!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 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.
Devotional
The old (first) covenant had a system offerings and sacrifices in the sanctuary. Priests would enter the Holy Place (outer room) for daily sacrifices, and the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place (inner room) annually on Yom Kippur. All these sacrifices included the blood of animals offered for the forgiveness of the sins of the priest and people. As the author states, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (v. 22).
In the new covenant, Jesus became the ultimate high priest, not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood, “unblemished to God.” Because of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, we have eternal redemption (v. 12), clean consciences (v. 14), and an eternal inheritance (v. 15). What does each one of the following verses tell us about the blood of Christ?
When Jesus was eating the Passover meal with His disciples, he gave them the cup and said, “This is my blood of the [new] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).
“In [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
“Since we have now been justified by [Christ’s] blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9)
“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood” (Romans 3:25).
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that You have taken the place as our High Priest. No longer do we need to wait on a priest to enter Your holy presence on our behalf. You appear for us in God’s presence, advocating for us when we have done nothing to deserve it. By your blood, we can enter the holiest of holy places. Cleanse us with Your blood, Lord, that we might abide in You forever in Heaven. We look forward to Your return, when You will bring salvation to all those who are waiting for You. Amen.
Poem
Attention, Please!
I need your attention.
Can you see me, O God?
Do you see all my chaos?
I'm stuck in the bog
of sorrow and crazies
above and below
around and around
and around me they go.
I need your attention—
Should I get on my knees
Am I properly saying
what's bothering me?
Should my prayers be more fervent?
Is my heart true enough?
Did you notice my offering?
Should I give up more stuff?
I need your attention
God, listen to me!
Hello, are you out there?
Do you care? Do you see?
I know, I'll lie prostrate
I'll get on my face
I'll lie here in waiting
My pride I'll abase.
I need your attention
I'm not looking, Lord
Okay,... I am peeking
What more can I do?
Should I whistle my shrillest?
Should I climb up a tree?
God, stop all your silence
Stop hiding from me!
I need your attention!
I'm waving my arms
Yoo-Hoo! do you see me?
Should I sound an alarm?
Remember your promise
You said you would show
I'm here on your stage
Are you out there, or no?
