JESUS' BLOOD - A LIVING POWERFUL THING!

HEBREWS 9:11-14 NKJV 
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with 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 for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

OBSERVATION: 

Christ is better! The continual theme of the book of Hebrews is carried on in this 9th chapter.   

Before Jesus, there was an earthly tabernacle where the priests would perform the sacrifices under the law. The blood of goats and calves was used in the old tabernacle as a way of purifying the worshippers.  

But Jesus is better. He is the High Priest over a heavenly tabernacle not made with the hands of men. God made this one.   

And Jesus did not enter the heavenly tabernacle with the blood of goats and calves. Jesus is better. He entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood. His blood is much better than the blood of animals.  

And Jesus only had to do this once. The earthly priests had to make sacrifices every year to redeem the people. But Jesus made one sacrifice and only had to do it once, not year after year. He has obtained eternal redemption for us. We don't have to receive Him every year. We can always renew our dedication and commitment to Him, but we don't need to be redeemed, purchased back, on a yearly basis.   

The blood of bulls and goats was used to set apart God's people under the Old Covenant. It would cleanse the flesh but could not cleanse the spirit of man. But Jesus is better. His blood cleanses us completely, and our spirits are made new so we can serve God with no fear of being rejected.   

APPLICATION: 

I realize Hebrews touches on topics that are rarely discussed in Christian circles. But we should pay close attention to these great truths. They reveal to us the work that was done for mankind through Jesus.   

They also reveal spiritual truths that give us a glimpse into Heaven's order of things. God counts the blood of Jesus as unmeasurably precious, the highest price that could be paid.   

This blood, this tabernacle, and this new covenant are very much real. Our part is to accept what has been done on our behalf and give God thanks. We have been cleansed from old dead rituals and activities that we might serve the living God.   

PRAYER: 

Thank you, Lord, for what You have done. I am clean and able to stand before God because of Your sacrifice.