Jesus: One Sacrifice

In Leviticus 16, one may read the commands set forth by God concerning the sacrifices He required as a part of Old Testament law. Verse two and three in particular stand out, “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.” So it is through this verse and the rest of the chapter that one comes to an understanding of God’s concern and standard for the atonement (payment) for sin.

If you were to read the book of Leviticus, you might begin to feel bogged down. God gave list after list of laws that His people were to follow. But let’s take a look at Hebrews 10. This makes a great difference in our understanding of God’s law. Where the Old Testament seems foreboding and unattainable, the New Testament brings a joyous enlightenment to the follower of God. Hebrews 10:11-14 is amazing in light of the requirements of the law in Leviticus 16.

It states, “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Notice three things about this Scripture:

1. Christ offered something for you (vs.12). He offered Himself as a sacrifice for your sins. In Leviticus, it was animals that were offered. Jesus, God in human form, offered his literal body as your sacrifice.
2. Christ sat down (vs.12b). The other priests had to continually and constantly offer animal sacrifices. What Jesus did on the cross was final.
3. Christ is sufficient (vs. 14). The work Jesus did on the cross was one offering, for all time, for all those who would believe.