SEEKING BETTER THINGS

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6)

Devotion 14 of 26

BETTER SACRIFICES

The Old Covenant was noted for its sacrifices. They were many and frequent, but they brought no eternal benefit to the people. In a poignant statement of this circumstance, the Spirit says the following. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb 10:1-4).

The sacrifices offered under the Law had no impact upon the conscience of the people. A since of guilt still dominated the "comers," or "the worshiper"--even after the ordained sacrifices were made. In the ultimate sense, God could not receive the people, and the people could not receive God. Thus it is written, "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with BETTER SACRIFICES than these" (Heb 9:23).

The sacrifices are "better" because of the effects they generated. Actually, the single sacrifice of Christ is meant by "better sacrifices." The plural form is used because of the extent of that sacrifice, as well as the multitudinous benefits wrought by it. In laying down His life as a ransom for all, Jesus sacrificed His will, His life, and His position. He "learned obedience" (Heb 5:8), "was tempted in all points" (Heb 4:15), and "was heard in that He feared" (Heb 5:7). He submitted to be abandoned by God, ravaged by men, and struck cruelly by the devil. And what was the result of His sacrifice? It is so great that language and expression become impoverished when attempting to articulate the glories of it.

He "put away sin" by that sacrifice (Heb 9:26). He "destroyed" the devil by means of His death (Heb 2:14). Principalities and powers that long had enslaved the world were "spoiled" and plundered by His death on the cross (Col 2:15). The world was "reconciled" (2 Cor 5:18-20), and "good news" was prepared for the poor (Lk 4:18). But that is not all!

His sacrifice made it right for the good things of heaven to be enjoyed by those who receive the reconciliation (Rom 3:26; 5:11). "The heavenly things" had not themselves become contaminated, but they had been placed beyond the reach of humanity because of sin. But Christ's sacrifice resolved that dilemma, bringing them within the grasp of faith. By His vicarious death, "heavenly things" were sanctified for our enjoyment and benefit. Truly, Christ offered a "better sacrifice"; "better" in quality; "better" in effectiveness; "better" in benefits!

PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus, I thank You for the Better Sacrifice. it has brought what I needed, and satisfied my longing heart.

-- Tomorrow: A BETTER AND ENDURING SUBSTANCE --