We often refer to the "sacrifice" of Jesus. What does that mean?
We thank God that he sent Jesus to be "the sacrifice for our sins." What are we referring to?
Probably you are thinking of the cross. It is on the cross that Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Right?
If you mean by "the cross" the whole death/resurrection/ascension of Christ, then it is fine to say "the sacrifice of the cross" because it is indeed the blood shed on the cross that Jesus offered to the Father – but it was not on the cross that Jesus offered his blood to the Father.
Think of how Exodus 24 speaks of the offering of the burnt offerings and peace offerings, and then the sprinkling of the blood on the altar – and on the people. That's what Hebrews is talking about here.
Last week we saw how the Mosaic worship of the first covenant foreshadowed Christ.
We looked last week at the earthly holy place and the Mosaic regulations for worship. We saw that the earthly tabernacle had two parts, the first (the Holy Place) symbolized the present age and the first covenant, the second (the Most Holy Place) symbolized the age to come/the new covenant.
So long as the first part of the tabernacle was standing, so long as the priests offer the repetitive day after day sacrifices, the way into the heavenlies is shut. Only the high priest could enter once a year.
Now Hebrews is ready to explain how the better covenant is expressed through a better sacrifice...
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