Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame (He 12:2). Amen.
It is Friday. And that is good. In general, it is the end of the normal work week. Many have logged their 40 or 41+ hours at the office or on the job. Compared to the other seven days, there are those who consider this day better than the others and are thankful that it is here.
It is on this Friday that we contemplate our Savior’s work. Tonight the most obvious similarity to an Old Testament High Priest is significant—the work with the blood of sacrifice. But Jesus our great High Priest is better than any other high priest because he cleanses us from sin and cleanses us for service. We read from …
Hebrews 9:11-14
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the ultimate High Priest,
It is one thing to be good at something. Really anything—singing a song or swinging a bat. (In case you missed it, opening day for major league baseball was yesterday and today. It is a long season. You have plenty of time to get excited before the World Series in November. (That seems like a long way off, doesn’t it?)
It is another to be better than someone else. And that is up for debate. The discussion can be heated or hard when it comes down to two individuals.
Who is the better recording artist?
Who is the better long-ball hitter?
Those are not easy questions to answer. There are so many different variables. Of what style—modern country or classic rock? Or of what era— the 1900s or the 2000s? Often it will come to one’s opinion or outlook. And then finally, it ends up with a “Well he is (or she is), because.”
When it deals with high priests, we can determine who is better. Jesus. And that is a fact. The writer to the Hebrew Christians helps us come to that conclusion.
Jesus Our Great High Priest Is Better Than Any Other High Priest
1. Because he cleanses us from sin (11,12)
2. Because he cleanses us for service (13,14)
1. Because he cleanses us from sin (11,12)
There is no missing it on this day. Sin. Whether we hear the cry of the Messiah, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1). It was for us and for our sin. Or we have the reminder of the prophet: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Is 53:5). Yours and mine. But Jesus is our great High Priest. Better than any other because he cleanses us from sin.
The author highlights Jesus’ office as he uses his title—Christ. “Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here” (He 9:11). He is the anointed one—prophet, priest, and king. He is the one the crowds acclaimed on Palm Sunday: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mk 11:9). The “Coming One” brought “good things”—forgiveness from God and peace with God (Mt 11:3; Lk 3:16). The recipients of this letter were to recall that as we do. Our guilt is gone. Heaven is our home.
So the contrast is there. “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation” (He 9:11). We have reviewed that special day for the children of Israel—the Day of Atonement (Lv 16). That was the only day all year that the High Priest dared to pull back the curtain far enough to slide into the Most Holy Place, the back part of the tabernacle, and later temple. That was where the Ark of the Covenant was. That was a symbol of God’s presence among his people.
As great as that was, Jesus is greater. Jesus came to live with us and be one of us (Jn 1:14). With real flesh and blood, Jesus obeyed the law perfectly for us—what we could not do. And then he died willingly for us—what we deserved to experience. He died after six hours on the wooden cross. He rose after three days in the borrowed grave. And then he returned to heaven after 40 days to God’s right hand. That place is better than anything crafted with human hands with everyday material.
The High Priest didn’t think of heading into the Most Holy Place emptyhanded. He always had blood—the blood of a bull for his sins and his families’. And then with the blood of a goat—for the sins of the people (Lv 16:6,11,14). He would sprinkle that on the mercy seat, the top of that golden box.
But Jesus is unlike that Old Testament figure. “He [Jesus, the Christ] 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, having obtained eternal redemption” (He 9:12). It was not year after year. But one time and not again—not like the never-ending cold weather of this winter and spring. (Did you see the snow flurries today?) Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins was sufficient. As he hung there, enduring the punishment of hell, he secured redemption. He was the buyer—with his desire. He was the price—with his blood. He paid what was necessary to set us free from sin forever. As Luther reminded us, “not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death” (Explanation to the Second Article). Jesus our great High Priest is better than any other high priest because he cleanses us from sin for good with his own blood.
2. Because he cleanses us for service (13,14)
There is no mistaking it from now on. Jesus has set us apart from sin and for service. We serve the One who served us by giving his life as a ransom (Mt 20:28). Jesus our great High Priest is better than any other high priest because he cleanses us for service.
The writer another time draws on the readers’ knowledge of the Old Testament as he draws a parallel. “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” (He 9:13). There were rituals to provide cleansing for those who were ceremonially unclean due to contact with dead bodies, human bones, and graves (Nu 19). These particular ones were to be sprayed with water into which the ashes of a sacrificial heifer had been mixed. But it was only on the outside, not on the inside. It is like rubbing soap and water on your skin to deal with the cancer under your flesh. It doesn’t work. It is only symbolic.
That is where Jesus’ blood is superior. “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” (He 9:14). Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God (Jn 1:29; 1 Pe 1:19), offered himself. He purifies our souls from every single stain (1 Jn 1:7). We did nothing—as if we could present something like an animal to get in good with God. “Hey, God, how about this?” All that we could accomplish is death with our efforts and energy—unending separation from God. But Jesus did it all as he sheds his blood for us on the cross. His wounds make us whole (Is 53:5).
But now that we are without fault or flaw by Jesus’ blood, as the writer points out, “we may serve the living God!” (He 9:14). We don’t have the fear of punishment looming over our heads, but the love of Jesus living in our hearts. With that faith, it is possible to please God. (He 11:6). That causes us to do what we do out of gratitude and gratefulness to the Christ—at work or play, at home or away, day after day (Mt 16:16). Jesus our great High Priest is better than any other high priest because he cleanses us for service.
Perhaps you are done with work for two days since it is Friday. On this day we think of Jesus’ completed work with his cry from the cross: “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). What the Old Testament high priest prefigured, Jesus performed. He poured out his blood to purchase our release from sin and Satan. In the category of high priest, he is #1. Everyone one else who ever held that office comes in at a distant second. There is not much room for argument. Jesus our great High Priest is better than any other high priest because he cleanses us from sin and cleanses us for service. Finally, he is not just better than any, but the best of all. That makes this Friday good. Happy Good Friday. Amen.
Grace be with you all (He 13:25). Amen.
March 30, 2018
11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, 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, having obtained 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!
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