The Superior Sacrifice of the ChristHebrews 9:11-28

Consider the message this morning to be one long ‘pre-Lord’s supper’ meditation—we’ll spend time in the scriptures focusing on Jesus and his superior sacrifice and then we’re headed to the Lord’s Table.

Let me give you a brief outline of our time. We’ll start in Exodus 24, a place we’ve visited recently. We want to go there again. It’s the place in the Old Testament where the first covenant, the old covenant, the Mosaic covenant was formally adopted, ‘officially ratified’1and confirmed. We’ll highlight how blood was fundamental to the first covenant being inaugurated. It seems that sprinkled blood in that Exodus 24 scene ‘removed the defilement of Israel’2

We’ll then make a stop at the foot of the cross in Matthew and look afresh as Jesus is slaughtered as a blasphemer and a criminal.

And then we’ll pick up our journey in Hebrews chapter 9. The message is entitled “The Superior Sacrifice of the Christ” 3

_____________

If you have your bible, let’s begin in Exodus 24. On the screen I’ve put an artist’s rendition of this unique scene…you see the people, the leaders, the altar, sacrifices and the 12 pillars

As I said, we’ve been here recently and that’s because it’s an important chapter. As we look at some verses in Exodus 24, the nation of Israel is gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Moses, the

1 Sermon by Justin Langley, “Covenant Blood and the Christian Life”, Exodus 24:1-18. 2 Schreiner, page 2783O’Brien, P. T. (2010). The Letter to the Hebrews (p. 316). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

1

priests and the seventy elders of Israel and the people are gathered together. Moses has been given the covenant words and rules that the Israelites must abide by and Exodus 24 involves what we could call a covenant ratification or confirmation ceremony of sorts. We pick up in verse 3…

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of (YAHWEH) and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that (YAHWEH) has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of (YAHWEH). He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to YAHWEH. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that (YAHWEH) has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that (YAHWEH) has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Now let’s process a bit of what we see in these verses. God is “cutting a covenant” with his people and there is an altar and twelve pillars and lots of sacrifices and the throwing(or sprinkling) of blood.

Why an altar? Well there were animals that needed to be sacrificial offerings. And why was it necessary for animals to be sacrificed? It turns out that for man to be in a covenantal relationship with God blood must be shed. It’s hard to know how much an individual Israelite understood about this at the time but this was just the way God determined that life would work in covenantal relationship to him—to be in covenantal relationship with God blood must be shed (or said differently to be in covenantal relationship with God, someone or something must die). Or explaining it with an insight from our passage in Hebrews this morning—without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.4 Blood needed to be shed because God is holy and man is sinful and there must be a payment for sin if man is able to relate to God in a covenant.

Look at verse 5. There were burnt offerings. These were for atonement (we import that understanding from the book of Leviticus5). And what is atonement? Justin gave us a concise definition of atonement last week—atonement means to pay a price that results in cleansing and reconciliation. So the oxen were sacrificed to pay a price so that the Israelites were cleansed and reconciled with God. But notice peace offerings were also sacrificed to the Lord.

4 Hebrews 9:225 Leviticus 1:3-5

2

Later we find out that peace offerings (or fellowship offerings) were the offerings that individual worshippers shared in. So it seems that peace offerings represented the reconciled relationship that men and women had with God once their sins were addressed.

Why 12 pillars? The 12 pillars represented the twelve tribes of Israel.

Why the “covenant-confirming actions”6 of throwing the blood? Half the blood went into basins, verse 6. And half the blood Moses threw against the altar. The altar probably represented God and ‘this was probably a picture of Yahweh accepting the sacrifice, the death of the animals in place of the death of the people.’7 After throwing the blood on the altar, the Book of the Covenant was read—probably the Ten Commandments and the material that follows in Exodus 21, 22, and 23. Then the people declared their obedience to God and then, verse 8, Moses took the blood in the basins and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that Yahweh has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Now let’s make a point. Who were the covenant partners in this Mosaic covenant? God and the Israelites. And whose blood was used in cutting the covenant? Well the Israelites surely deserved to die for their sin but God chose a substitute. So oxen blood splattered the altar representing God and it splattered the people (or maybe the pillars representing the people). And It was the blood of a substitute which was used to ratify the covenant between God and the people of Israel.

_______________

Well let’s leave this scene and spend a few minutes at the foot of the cross on Good Friday. Turn to Matthew 27, verse 35… Matthew 27, verse 35…. What I’d like to do as I read these verses—and we’ll read about 17 verses-- is imagine the author of the book of Hebrews there at the foot of the cross on Good Friday sharing his stunning insights about the identity of Jesus…

Matthew 27:35…

35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

So we’re imagining the writer of Hebrews is there at the foot of the cross and he speaks of what he knows about Jesus out loud to anyone who will hear, “Look at Jesus…they call him the king of the Jews and so he is, Jesus…. the heir of all things, the one through whom God created the world…Jesus, the one who is the radiance of God’s glory, the one who is the exact imprint of

6 ESV Study Bible uses this phrase, page 1827 Justin Langley Sermon, “Covenant Blood and the Christian Life” Exodus 24:1-18

3

God’s nature…. Jesus, the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power8 ….He’s being slaughtered on a tree… He is dying a criminal’s death! ”

Verse38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

At this point I imagine the writer of Hebrews pulling those passing by aside, “Oh friends…quit ridiculing this man hanging between two thieves … you don’t want him to come down from the cross…you don’t want him to save himself…. though this looks like a criminal being punished, though this looks like a guilty man receiving his just desserts…. this man whom you are ridiculing is really the unblemished lamb of God giving his life as a sacrifice to put away sin… this man is opening the way to God by paying for our sins… and though you might never believe it…because of this sacrificial death…. we will now be able to draw near to God’s throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need9. Oh….listen to me… when this man dies the way to God will be opened!” Those ridiculing stare in unbelief and walk off.

Verse 41  So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Again the author of Hebrews approaches these important religious leaders…

You religious leaders…you chief priests from the high priest’s family, I urge you to see this dying man for who He really is. As you yourselves have said, “He is the king of Israel” …..you are right about that…. but he is also a priest of the order of Melchizedek, declared a priest by an oath of God, Psalm 110 verse 410…. And though you won’t believe it….he is our high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners…and one day he will be exalted above the heavens11….. Oh you religious leaders open your eyes…. You’re looking at our great High priest Jesus who will soon pass into the Holy of Holies12…. when he dies, he will enter the greater more perfect tent13, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own

8 Hebrews 1:2-49 Hebrews 4:1610 Hebrews 7:2111 Hebrews 7:2612 Hebrews 4:1413 Hebrews 9:11

4

blood….and in doing this he will secure an eternal redemption14. Look at the blood pouring from his brow and his hands and feet…. Oh you religious leaders you’re looking at the inauguration of a new covenant that God is making with man through the death of his dear son Jesus.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Verse 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Brothers and sisters, the cross is (way) more than mere jewelry that can be (purchased) with or without the little man on it15

Well let’s turn over to Hebrews 9….Hebrews 9…. We’ll look at verses 11 and 12 first….Hebrews 9:11–12…

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Now the verses that we’ll look at this morning –we’ll be looking at verses 11-28–speak of three different appearances of Christ presented chronologically16.

Here in verse 11, Christ appears as high priest—this is an allusion to Christ’s sacrifice for sins and so this, of course, would be in the past.

In verse 24, look at the very end of the verse, Christ now appears in God’s presence on our behalf….so this is what’s going on now. Christ is appearing before God and interceding for us.

And then look at the last verse of the chapter, verse 28, Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to bring final salvation to those who await his coming…. obviously that would be future.

Along with Paul and other New Testament writers, Hebrews presents the work of Christ as past, present, and future.17 In the past he appeared to obtain our eternal redemption, verse 11.

14 Hebrews 9:1315 As quoted in Guthrie, Wendy Zoba, ‘Trivializing the Cross”, Christianity Today, June, 199516 Guthrie, page 30917 Guthrie, page 309

5

Currently he appears in God’s presence to intercede for us, verse 24, and in the future he will appear to bring salvation (verse 28).18

Look again at verse 11. It says that Christ appeared as the high priest of the good things that have come—I take the phrase ‘good things that have come’ to mean all the blessings associated with the New Covenant, the inner inclination that believers have been given to obey God, complete forgiveness of sins, etc19 Verse 11 also says Jesus entered into a greater and more perfect tent (one not made with hands…not of this creation…I take that to mean that simply Jesus entered God’s presence.20

Look at verse 12….he entered once for all into the holy places…once for all… he doesn’t need to go yearly like the other high priests…..not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood….the passage before us is all about the blood of Christ and it’s superior cleansing power.

And he has secured an eternal redemption for us. We’ve been purchased by God, delivered from sin’s penalty.

Now verses 11-12 give us three reasons in a summary form why Jesus’ sacrifice was superior to the priestly sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Look at verses 11-12 again…

--he entered into a greater and more perfect tent and

--he entered once for all and

--he entered by means of his own blood

Now we’re going to see that the author is going to elaborate on these three reasons in the verses that follow. And so here is how we’d put it in an outline

18 O’Brien, P. T. (2010). The Letter to the Hebrews (p. 317). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.19 Guthrie, page 20 Schreiner, page 267

6

1. Reason #1-- Christ’s blood achieved a superior cleansing (vs. 13-22)

Follow with me as I read verses 13-22

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Now in verses 13-14 the author argues from the lesser to the greater. IF the blood of animals (and the phrase sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer is from a sin offering ceremony in Numbers 19), if the blood of animals purifies a person physically, removing ceremonial defilement, HOW MUCH MORE will Christ’s blood purify the conscience. And in Hebrews the term conscience is the inner person.21 In the Old Testament, typically uncleanness was from physical defilement. Such defilement was related to sin but Jesus’s blood purifies the insides of a worshipper. That’s way better isn’t it? That’s way superior isn’t it?

_______________

Albert Speer was once interviewed about his last book on ABC’s “Good Morning, America.” Speer was the Hitler confidant whose technological genius was credited with keeping Nazi factories humming throughout World War II. In another era he might have been one of the world’s industrial giants. He was the only one of twenty-four war criminals tried in Nuremburg who admitted his guilt. Speer spent twenty years in Spandau prison.

The interviewer referred to a passage in one of Speer’s earlier writings: “You have said the guilt can never be forgiven, or shouldn’t be. Do you still feel that way?” The look of pathos on Speer’s face was wrenching as he responded, “I served a sentence of twenty years, and I could say, ‘I’m a free man, my conscience has been cleared by serving the whole time as punishment.’

21 Schreiner, page 269 and 272 “The conscience refers to ‘removing sin from the heart, that is, from the inner reality of the faithful”

7

But I can’t do that. I still carry the burden of what happened to millions of people during Hitler’s lifetime, and I can’t get rid of it. This new book is part of my atoning, of clearing my conscience.” The interviewer pressed the point. “You really don’t think you’ll be able to clear it totally?” Speer shook his head. “I don’t think it will be possible.”

For thirty-five years Speer had accepted complete responsibility for his crime. His writings were filled with contrition and warnings to others to avoid his moral sin. He desperately sought expiation. All to no avail. 22

_______________

In verse 15, as a result of the inner cleansing Jesus’ blood accomplishes, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. We’ve run into the word ‘mediator’ one time before in Hebrews 8:6. It’s a wonderful word. You call a mediator when two parties can’t get along or when they’re estranged or when they are alienated and the mediator works to bring a reconciliation. Job lamented that he had no mediator between himself and God—“There is no arbiter between us (between him and God) who might lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:33). Well in Christ we have a mediator between us and God. That’s wonderful news.

And in our text, verse 15, Jesus mediates a new covenant to ensure that we the called ones—that’s us, believers—may receive our promised inheritance….all that God has committed to give us. The author goes on, since a redeeming death has occurred.

Well in verses 16-17, the connection between death and the new covenant is pressed further.

16 For where a will is involved—I don’t want to try to muddy the water here too much but the word ‘will’ here in verses 16 and 17 is really still the word ‘covenant’ that was used in verse 15 and which will be used in verse 18. Are you following? One word is translated covenant in verse 15 and covenant in verse 18, but ‘will’ in verses 16-17. Why have the translators done that in some of the versions? They’ve chosen to use the word ‘will’ because the author seems to have in mind the characteristics of a will by what he says in verse 16-17…let’s look…..For where a will is involved the death of the one who made it must be established. Isn’t that true about wills? How can someone get their inheritance? The get it when someone dies. Verse 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

So the main point of verse 16 and 17 is the ‘importance of death for receiving of an inheritance’23. And applied to Jesus—Jesus had to die so that we would receive the inheritance.

22 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 230). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

23 Schreiner, page 277

8

Look at verse 18, Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. What’s he talking about? He’s talking about the scene in Exodus 24 which we looked at in the beginning of the message…. The first covenant, the Mosaic covenant was inaugurated with blood. There was blood sprinkled on the altar. There was blood sprinkled on the people.

Verses 19-20 rehearse some of the details of that scene in Exodus and admittedly there are some slight differences between what is written in Hebrews here and what is found in Exodus 24. For example, Exodus says that Moses sprinkled the altar and the people (Exodus 24:6,8) while Hebrews says he sprinkled the people and the book. “In either case the blood purified both the people and the other elements of the covenant.”24

And since the book of Hebrews links blood with the forgiveness of sins,25 the sprinkling of blood back in Exodus 24 removed the defilement of Israel so that Israel could enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord.26

On the screen is a comparison of the words the author of Hebrews attributes to Moses in Exodus 24 to inaugurate the first covenant and what Jesus said at the last supper in the gospel of Matthew….

Well verses 21-22 pursue the necessity of blood for purification. Look at verse 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything was purified with blood. Indeed it was common in the Old Testament to sprinkle blood to purify items and people involved in worship—the altar27, the garments of the high priest28, the tent of meeting itself29, the veil of the sanctuary30, the mercy

24 Schreiner, page 27825 Hebrews 9:2026 Schreiner, page 27827 Lev. 8:19, 24, 30; 9:1228 Ex. 29:21; Lev. 8:3029 Num. 19:430 Lev. 4:6,17

9

seat of the ark once a year31, and the doorposts of the temple32. There were exceptions33 but these exceptions were rare and so the author of Hebrews quickly adds that for decisive cleansing blood was essential….look at the end of verse 22….and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Christ’s blood/Christ’s death provides a superior cleansing.

It’s Christ’s blood that is way significant. Just here in Hebrews 9, we’ve seen that point emphasized over and over….

It provides access (vs. 7)It purifies the conscience (vs. 14)It inaugurates covenants (vs. 18)It consecrates people (vs. 19)It cleanses items used in worship (vs. 21)It cleanses a host of things under Old Testament law (vs. 22a)…under the law almost everything

is cleansed by blood.

So where are we on out outline? …..Reason #2

Reason #2—Christ’s offering took place in a “heavenly tabernacle” (vs. 23-24)

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

31 Lev. 16:14-1532 Ezek 45:1933 An Israelite who was too poor could bring flour for his sin offering (Lev. 5:11-13). Metal objects captured in the war were to be purified by water and fire (Num. 31:22-23).

10

In a previous message we said that the tabernacle and everything that went with it were “copies” of heavenly realities.

Well verse 23 reminds us that the law required that these copies of heavenly realities be purified with the blood from animal sacrifices. The need for this purification was due to the tabernacle’s association with sinful people. But referring to the end of verse 23, it’s surprising to learn that the ‘heavenly things’ themselves needed to be cleansed with better sacrifices than these. What are we to do with that? Does heaven itself need purifying? The right answer is…No. Many students of scripture believe that the author of Hebrews has in mind the consciences of believers. “They need inward cleansing not only so that their approach to God may be free from sin but also that they may be a fit dwelling for him”34

But no matter what these heavenly realities are, it’s clear, isn’t it, we can all agree that they have been cleansed with a better sacrifice?

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Note the Day of Atonement imagery---Christ has entered holy places, heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. And what is he doing? He’s interceding for us.

That brings us to the third reason Christ’s offering is superior

Reason #3-- Christ’s offering was ‘once-for-all’ (vs. 25-28)

25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Again hear the Day of Atonement imagery. If Jesus had to enter the holy places yearly, like an earthly high priest, he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world.

Now don’t miss the two implications in the phrase ‘suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world’

1) Christ existed before the creation of the world. We saw that in Hebrews 1:2

34 O’Brien

11

2) Christ’s sacrifice had significance before it’s time—the redemption of people in all ages depends in some way on Christ’s sacrifice…and we believe that to be true.

Continuing in the middle of verse 26… But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Why did Jesus die on the cross? To put away sin. To finally deal with the selfishness, self-reliance, self-centeredness and self-righteousness that dominates our lives.

Do you hate the sin in your life?

Verse 27 And just as every man and woman have only one appointment to die, Jesus who was fully God and fully human had one appointment to die. So the author of Hebrews has provided an argument for the unrepeatable nature of Christ’s death. Men die once. Jesus was a man so he died once.

But he also uses the opportunity to remind his readers that after death comes what? Judgment.

Are you ready for the judgment?

And Jesus will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Let us pray.

Hallelujah! What a Savior (Modulate on the fifth verse)

1. Man of Sorrows! what a name for the Son of God, who came ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

2. Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood;

12

sealed my pardon with his blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

3. Guilty, vile, and helpless we; spotless Lamb of God was he; full atonement can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior!

4. Lifted up was he to die; "It is finished!" was his cry; now in heaven exalted high. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

5. When he comes, our glorious King, all his ransomed home to bring, then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Would the men come forward?

From the book of Matthew….

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

13