The Perfect Sacrifice - Hebrews 9
Sermon Recap
It’s an all-too-familiar feeling, seeing a sight that is expansive and beautiful (like being at the Balloon Fiesta for a morning launch). We try sometimes to capture the moment in a picture, but while an image may be powerful, it never hits with the same force as the real thing.
The author of Hebrews, writing to a people likely living within a single generation of Jesus, reaches for the images of the OT to help explain the fullness and completeness of Jesus’ work. As we sit with this, we learn for ourselves that one of the best ways to experience full life with Jesus is to have our imaginations saturated in these same images from the OT.
There are 4 images central to understanding Hebrews 8-10: Priest, tent, blood, and covenant.
Priest: In the biblical imagination, a priest is a mediator between God and creation. In the life of Israel, the tribe of Levi was set aside to serve as priests in the tabernacle. Among all the priests, one was chosen to serve as a high priest, who uniquely entered the holy of holies once a year to make a sacrifice of atonement.
Tent: It was something like a portable “house of worship”, but designed specifically to be a place for offering sacrifices. Some sacrifices expressed gratitude and devotion. Other sacrifices provided atonement for sin. Once a year, the high priest would enter the holy of holies, sprinkling blood on the altar for himself and for the nation.
Blood: Why all the blood? It feels primitive to us. In the sacrificial system, the dead body of the sacrifice was left outside, and only the blood was carried to the mercy seat. The blood (Leviticus 17:11) wasn’t a symbol of death, but of life. Death was part of the sacrifice and showed the severe gravity of the moment. But the blood was a presentation of life to God in the Holy of Holies, completing the work of atonement.
Covenant: The divine covenant with the God who had delivered Israel from the gods of Egypt was everything to Israel. The idea of “covenant” holds several meanings together, including a political treaty, marriage vows, bond between parent and child. Because this God who gave covenant to Israel was holy, sin had to be dealt with in order for God’s presence to remain with them.
Holding these ideas together, Hebrews 8-10 shows us Jesus is our ultimate high priest, serving not in a physical tabernacle but rather in the true spiritual sanctuary that was the pattern for the tabernacle Israel knew. As our high priest, Jesus carries his own blood into the holy place to make atonement for sin, once for all time.
There’s one other covenant image the author brings forward, that of a will. A will is enacted when the one who made it dies. Hebrews holds 2 images of Jesus side-by-side: His death puts into effect his will, making the inheritance of the new covenant available to all. His life – by means of his blood – is carried into the true heavenly sanctuary in order to bring us cleansing and forgiveness.
This true and complete work of Jesus brings to us both forgiveness and freedom (Hebrews 9:14). Everything Jesus has done is the true form of what the law was pointing toward all along. Christ offered his fully-God-aligned, obedient-unto-death, resurrected, embodied human life to God in the true heavenly tent. In Christ, we can be really forgiven and really free.
Entering Conversation
Feel free to use any or all of these questions - or your own – in any order. The goal of our talking together is not merely better understanding, but to help us respond to what we have heard. Always, share as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
(NB: Some groups are giving intentional time this term to learning each other’s stories. If so, feel no pressure to also attempt a weekly sermon discussion. Let stories be told, maybe followed by a prayer of blessing over those who shared this week.)
· Do you remember the images or pictures that first shaped your understanding of God? What pictures have stayed with you, for better or worse?
· Of the 4 images David presented on Sunday, is there one that resonates with you? Or is there one that just feels completely foreign to you? Can you explain why?
· Tell about a time you were meaningfully forgiven, either by God or another person. What changed in you afterward?
· Reflect on the human presence of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, there for you. Why is that so meaning-full for us? How might holding on to that truth help you receive the forgiveness and freedom offered in Jesus?
End your time by praying together. If specific concerns were shared, name them as you’re able and trust them to God’s care. Wrap up your time in prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer together, including kids if appropriate to your group.