Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hebrews 10:1-14

1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, 
 but a body you prepared for me; 
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings 
 you were not pleased. 
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— 
 I have come to do your will, my God.’”
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Questions to consider:

  • What characteristics of the Old Testament sacrifices indicate that they are only preparatory?
  • What is revealed here about Jesus’s relationship to God and God’s will?
  • How do you know that Christ’s death is no tragic mistake or accident?
  • What is the result of Christ’s sacrifice for you? What is your response?

Possibilities for prayer:

The image of Jesus waiting “for his enemies to be made his footstool” is pretty intense one! It gives us a good sense of the kind of power that Jesus wields--we’re not given an image of him cowering in a corner, or even breaking a sweat in battle for supremacy. Instead, he is sitting at the right hand of God, waiting. Because God’s triumph is inevitable. Today, let’s take some time to celebrate the triumph and victory that already belongs to our God.