[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 6th of October, 2019 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Today's service included the observance of Holy Communion. Look for the video of our services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Last week I got a little ahead of myself when I mentioned that the previous week we had looked at one reason Jesus had to die. And then I went on to talk about the second reason - so that the Holy Spirit could come to believers. So if you were confused, it’s understandable, because I’m actually going to look at the first reason today. And I’ll let the author of the Letter to the Hebrews provide our explanation. Please listen and follow along to what he tells us in chapter 9, verses 6 through 28, and I’ll be reading from the Modern English Version of our Holy Bible…
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests would regularly go into the first part, conducting the services of God. 7 But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, showing that the gifts and sacrifices offered could not perfect the conscience of those who worshipped, 10 since they are concerned only with foods and drinks, ceremonial cleansings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ, when He came as a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies so that the flesh is purified, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the Mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the sins that were committed under the first covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a will, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a will has force after men are dead, since it has no force at all while the testator lives. 18 So not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when Moses had taught every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.” 21 Likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood. 22 And according to the law almost everything must be cleansed with blood; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was therefore necessary that the replicas of heavenly things be cleansed with these sacrifices, but that the heavenly things themselves be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, which are patterned after the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. 25 Nor did He enter to offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 For then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the world was created, but now He has appeared once at the end of the ages to put away sin by sacrificing Himself. 27 As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him.
--Hebrews 9:6-28 (MEV)
Let us pray… Father God, Your true tabernacle is in heaven, where Jesus sits at your right hand. Anything we have on earth is a mere shadow, corruptible instead of incorruptible. Please help us grasp the difference. And especially, please help us understand exactly why it was necessary for Your Son to sacrifice Himself, and what that blood offering means to us. Speak to us now, Father, with the message we need to hear this morning. Show us what You would have us do in our service to You and Jesus. This we pray in the blessed name of Your Son, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
The magazine, Today in the Word, carried this little story in its November 14, 1993 issue:
Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a "gratitude lunch." With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as "just a friend." They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn't stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys. When you've got something great to be thankful for, having a "gratitude lunch" is a great way to celebrate.
This morning we will come to our Lord's table for the sacrament of Holy Communion. We will eat and drink in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made just for us. Because of that sacrifice, and all God's blessings, we have much to be thankful for. So consider this our "gratitude lunch".
Our scripture reading this morning was long and filled with much information. First we must realize that the entire book of Hebrews is all about Jesus, and about His superiority in all things. So in our passage, the author is comparing the old covenant God made with mankind, and the laws handed down through Moses, with the new covenant that Jesus brought to us.
In the old, only the high priest could enter the Holiest Place in the tabernacle, which itself was merely a replica of what is in heaven. There the priest would cleanse all the earthly things with sacrificial blood, to wash away his sins and those of the people. The old covenant required him to do this once a year.
Only blood can wash away sin. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. God spoke through Moses to explain why, in Leviticus chapter 17 verse 11…
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
--Leviticus 17:11 (MEV)
Only the blood of the Spotless, completely Innocent Lamb can wash away our sin. Jesus made that sacrifice for us, for you and for me, so that we could be washed clean and appear spotless when we stand before God. And once He made it, His job on earth was done. Listen to what the Apostle John recorded in the 19th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 28 through 30…
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
--John 19:28-30 (NKJV)
We come to our Lord’s table, to eat of His body, broken for us, to drink from the cup of His blood, shed for us. Jesus is the new covenant between God and mankind! His own blood sealed that covenant. We take of His body and His blood to remember… to remember the sacrifice, to remember the covenant, to remember the importance of keeping up our end.
Believe in Jesus, obey His voice, and be saved. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You knew mankind would never be able to meet its end of Your first covenant with us, the Law, but we had to realize it for ourselves. Like the rich young ruler, we thought we were obeying you perfectly, even in the depths of our sin. So You gave us another chance and a better way to be cleansed of our sin. You gave us Your Son, who washed us clean with His own precious blood. Help us, please Father, to understand the great importance of this act of mercy and grace. Help us always remember and hold dear just what Jesus did for us.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our disobedient ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, You are the perfect Spotless Lamb, the greatest High Priest. You entered into the true tabernacle of God and gave a blood sacrifice on our behalf, so that our sins could be forgiven. You who were without sin took all our sins upon Yourself, so that we could be seen as clean in our Father God’s eyes. Thank You, Jesus, for suffering for us, for giving of Yourself for us. Please help us to fully grasp why You had to suffer and die. Help us understand what Your sacrifice means to us. Help us to follow You, to obey You, to see You as our Lord and Master. And may we never forget or take for granted Your great love that led You to so selfless a sacrifice. This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Master and our Savior. Amen.
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