Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
The Epistle for the Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost is Hebrews 10:11-25. This reading is a contrast between the OT sacrifices and Jesus’ Sacrifice in his suffering, death and resurrection.
The old covenant had an unending round of sacrifices which left sin untouched and consciences unrelieved. Not only did the high priest have to bring the same offering year after year on the Day of Atonement, so did the common priest day after day. Every morning and evening, as Numbers 28:3-8 relates, the common priest, assigned to that task for the day, was to offer a one-year-old unblemished male lamb, along with a grain offering of 1/10 ephah of fine flour, mixed with ¼ hin of olive oil, plus a drink offering of ¼ hin of wine. Twice a day the priest stood there, day after day, with the same sacrifices. What clearer indication could there be that such sacrifices could “never take away sin?” Animal blood and grain offerings were unable to strip away sin’s guilt
which like a cloak had wrapped itself around the sinner. (PBC)
In verse 12 we meet the phrase: he sat down at the right hand of God. In contrast to the work of the Levitical priests, which was never done, Christ’s work was completed. Christ sits, showing that His atoning sacrifice is finished. However, He continues to intercede for us as our own High Priest.
Verse 17 states: I will remember their sins..no more. God promised. God’s justice sees all sins and demands that every one of them be punished. And that is what God’s love and mercy did through Christ. With Christ’s body broken and Christ’s blood shed on the cross, God’s love paid for all sin. (PBC)
When Jesus died, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was “torn in two from top to bottom” (Mk 15:38). The curtain symbolizes the body of Christ in the sense that just as the holy of holies was entered through the veil in the temple, so we now have access into the presence of God in heaven through the flesh of Christ offered as an atoning sacrifice. (CSB)
Now we are able to encourage others. We can be there to urge others when they waver. And, we can comfort them when gathering around the word.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thanks for doing it all once and for all. Help us to share this great news to those around us. Amen