The Eternal Sacrifice

We never tire of hearing good things about someone we love. And we never tire of hearing a person we love tell us they love us in return. Such messages are choice messages.

Likewise, we never tire of hearing a choice Word regarding Jesus. He is the great love message of all time. The book of Hebrews says, Christ came as High Priest . . . Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all. . . . (Heb. 9:11a,12a NKJV)

Jesus made it possible to approach God! Only the high priests could enter the Most Holy Place of the Temple where God's Pesence dwelled. And the high priest entered only once a year with a blood sacrifice. Jesus changed that when He gave Himself—the eternal Blood Sacrifice for all people.

Originally published August 31, 1990.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig

He Understands

An omniscient God is an awesome Being—because He truly knows everything. The book of Hebrews tells us, all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:13 NKJV)

This would be overwhelming and frightening if God’s purpose was judgment. But He has another reason for searching people’s hearts. He desires to bring us to Himself. Furthermore, we’re told he will sympathize with our weaknesses. . . . (v. 15)

Jesus our High Priest died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin because He understood our dilemma. And He alone could pay the penalty for sin—because He alone is perfect or without sin. So although He knows all things—including our sin—He identified with our sinful human nature. His sacrifice is effective because He is one of us—but one of us without sin.

And so, the writer of Hebrews continues with an invitation from the awesome, omniscient God: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (v. 16)

Are you glad God knows us—knows you? That He understands every need? That He understands sin and sent Jesus to pay the price? Respond to His invitation today. Ask Him to reveal Himself. Enter into His goodness, His mercy, His grace.

Originally published March 23, 1990.

God's Dwelling

The book of Hebrews tells us Jesus came to earth as flesh and blood because we are flesh and blood. (Heb. 2:14 LB) He is our proof that God desires to dwell with people—with ordinary human beings—people like you and me.

When Jesus came, He received and identified with our weaknesses, our frail sinful human nature. Because He identified with our sin-nature, He made it possible for us to identify with Him.

His mission was to sacrifice His sinless life for our sin. When Jesus died without sin while in His sin-prone body, He broke the power of the devil and proclaimed victory over Satan. This is the central doctrine of Christianity.

Because Jesus understands our sinful nature, He is our merciful and faithful High Priest before God . . . For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, He knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and He is wonderfully able to help us. (Heb. 2:17b,18 LB)

God cares about us and for us. He chooses to dwell with us. We can receive His love.

Originally published October 23, 1981.