9.29 The sacrifices offered by the high priest

Under the Old Covenant, the high priest had to offer animal sacrifices, first for his own sin’s and then for the people’s. He had to be covered by the blood sacrifice before he could intercede on behalf of the people, for he was imperfect.

Year after year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to offer up sacrifices. They were only good for covering the sins of the nation for a year. It was a temporal solution, for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

(Hebrews 10:4)
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

These animal sacrifices that were offered during the 1,500 years under law pointed to the true Lamb of God who could take away the sin of the world. So when John called Jesus the Lamb of God, the Hebrews understood instantly what it meant.

So under law, we had an imperfect high priest who offered imperfect sacrifices. But under the New Covenant, we have the perfect High Priest who offered up Himself as the perfect sacrifice.

(Hebrews 9:26)
He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Think about it. Jesus didn’t send someone else to represent us. He came personally for us. He didn’t offer up an animal for us. He offered up Himself. He shed His own blood to redeem us.

(Hebrews 9:11-12)
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. 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.

How great is His blood that washes white as snow. How great is our redemption. The Bible calls it “eternal redemption”. You were not redeemed for just a year, or a month, or a week. You were redeemed for eternity. You can be secure in His salvation.

The author of Hebrews beautifully unveils Christ our perfect High Priest and our ultimate sacrifice. Today, you can read the Bible with unveiled minds to see the beauty of Jesus. He is the key to unlock our understanding of the Bible even when we read the rituals of the Old Testament. He makes the Bible come alive.