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#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Better Than The High Priest & Sacrifices

#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Better Than The High Priest & Sacrifices

Heb 9:11-15  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)  (12)  he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.  (13)  For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,  (14)  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 serve the living God.  (15)  Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

The theme of the book of Hebrews is Jesus is better than____________. You name something or someone in the Bible and Jesus is better than that. For Jesus is the fulfillment of everything in the Scriptures. In this passage Jesus is better than the high priest and the sacrifices of the temple.

Jesus himself has become our high priest according to the order of Melchizedeck. As the high priest of the Israelite temple would enter into the Holy of Holies on earth with the blood of the atonement every year. This would not take away their sins though. It would only make their flesh clean so they could stand before God and in the congregation of the people at the temple.

Jesus has entered the more perfect tent, the temple which Moses saw in heaven above. He brought his very own blood and poured upon the mercy seat of the Lord in the Heavenly Holy of Holies and this was demonstrated as the temple curtain was torn in two as Jesus died and gave up his life.

Jesus by his blood has procured for us an eternal redemption. There is no more need for sacrifice for sins, transgressions, iniquity, guilt or shame. His blood and life has made satisfaction once and for all. Jesus’ blood not only purifies our bodies but it purifies our conscience to serve the living God. His blood, applied to us in baptism and the Lord Supper and the words of absolution gives us a clear and clean conscience. It makes us new creations. It gives us a new and living spirit that fears, loves and trust in God above all things.

Such is the nature of the new covenant. In it, as Jeremiah prophesied, God forgives us our sins and remembers them no more. He gives us a renewed knowledge of himself. He puts the law upon our hearts, not like all men have, but in doing so, enables us to do and keep the law for we do it in and through faith in Christ and the life he gives us. He has given us the promised inheritance though we cannot see it now; we live by faith. Eternal life though is our present possession. The resurrection to eternal life is what we are waiting for. This if the free gift of grace won for us by the redemption price paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ upon the cross. Having fulfilled the old covenant, it has no hold on us anymore. We live under the new covenant of grace.

Gracious God and Father, you sent your son Jesus Christ to be our high priest who offered himself as the sacrifice for sins upon the altar of the cross and he poured forth that blood upon your mercy seat in heaven. Grant us such faith in his work that we may receive the promised inheritance now and on the day of his revelation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Rev. Guillaume J. S. Williams, Sr.

The Reverend Guillaume Williams is the Pastor of Hope Lutheran Chapel of Osage Beach, Missouri. His pastoral ministry with Hope began in 2005 where he preaches the Christ crucified.

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