How would you define sacrifice? When you say, I sacrificed…., or she made a sacrifice…., what does that look like?
What would you consider the greatest sacrifice any person has ever made for you (excluding Jesus)?
I think of people who have given up an organ, ie., kidney, part of their liver, etc., so that they can donate it to someone. How about firefighters, those who serve (or have served) in our armed forces, or those who serve in our local and state police agencies?
I think of men and women like Jim Elliott, who gave his life to reach the unsaved Auca Indians. These missionaries open (opened) their lives to Christ’s call, without shrinking back in fear.
As I pondered this myself, I know am blessed by so many who have done generous and gracious things for me. May God bless each of those people who have sacrificed time and resources on my behalf.
But God, and His amazing sacrifice, far outweighs anything any person can begin to conceive as a personal sacrifice.
Jesus, put on an earthly body. God, “limited” by the flesh. That is sacrifice. Purposely not calling on His Father to send “legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53). That is sacrifice. Instead, choosing to turn Himself over to be excruciatingly beaten, humiliated, hung to death on the cross, and then separated from His Father. That is sacrifice.
All of this so you and I can have a living relationship with our Creator! Jesus is the perfect sacrifice!
Jesus’ atoning sacrifice is the focus of the first part of Hebrews 10. The writer, in the last part of the Chapter, turned it around, to challenge his readers, and you and I, to a valid response to that amazing sacrifice.
What do you think is a valid response to the sacrifice our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all made for our salvation?
The writer in Hebrews 10 starts with referencing the law. He reminds us that it is only a shadow of the reality of what is in Heaven (10:1).
To aid us in understanding this, please consider a tree. When the sunlight is out, the tree casts a shadow. That shadow points us to the truth that there is a tree. The shadow does not provide us with everything the tree itself offers us. Birds cannot nest in the shadow; they need the tree.
In the same way, the law allows us to recognize that we need Jesus. The law was provided to prove that works, no matter how hard we try, will never save. Why? Because in order to have works save us, we must obey EVERY law. No one could possibly do that.
Jesus did! That is why He could be the perfect sacrifice.
The priests had to repeat the sacrifices daily, and annually (10:2-4). No one could ever be thoroughly cleansed by the law. The blood of the sacrifices only temporarily covered sins. The offerings had to be repeated, again and again.
As a child, I was taught to go to a priest to confess my sins. I did. I left, and committed the sins again. Back again to the priest I had to go. God showed me this was not saving me. This was futile. I needed a once and for all Priest. I needed Jesus. Now, because of Jesus, I still repeat sins, but His perfect sacrifice covers all of them, for my entire life. I am convinced by His Holy Spirit that I need to repent. I do. I sin less. I am not sinless. The priest in my childhood never could do any of that for me.
God, when He sent Jesus, prepared His body to be the offering for sins, not goats, bulls, or lambs. He became the perfect Lamb of God (10:5-6, 8). He offered Himself (10:7, 9). The amazing sacrifice of Jesus’ life makes all holy who accept Him (10:10). A person cannot simply indicate he/she believes.
The demons believe Jesus is God’s Son (James 2:19).
You start with belief. Then you humble yourself. Admit your sin problem. Recognize your need and desire to be Jesus’ true disciple (unlike Judas Iscariot). Make that evident through public baptism, and obedience to His Word.
Do you believe, like the demons, or are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you regularly discard anything that comes between your and your relationship with Jesus? Why or why not?
Jesus, after His sacrifice, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the Father’s right hand. No earthly priest ever has that privilege. Their work was never finished (10:11-12). They were a shadow of the reality. Jesus is in heaven, waiting for the perfect time to return, when His enemies will become His footstool (10:13). His sacrifice brings eternal life for His disciples (10:14). His law is in our hearts, our sins are no longer remembered, and no further sin sacrifice is necessary (10:15-18).
Why not praise God, now, for His complete forgiveness?
How do we express our love and appreciation to God for His amazing mercy and grace?
We stand firm in our faith. That was the problem with the Hebraic Christians of that day. Their faith was wavering. They needed to remember all Jesus did for them. They needed to stand firm in their faith. What will you do to make sure you remember Jesus’ amazing sacrifice?
As a result of Jesus’ shed blood, we confidently enter into God’s throne room (10:19). There is no need for a man to mediate for us. No. We boldly come directly to Jesus (10:20-21).
Thus, the exhortations in the remainder of this Chapter.
Let us draw near (10:22).
Let us hold unswervingly to our hope in Christ (10:23).
Let us spur each other on to what God commands in His Word (10:24).
Let us continue to meet together (10:25).
Let us encourage each other (10:25).
Stop any deliberate sin (10:26).
Stop treating God disrespectfully through disobedience.
Remember all that God has done for each of us.
God will judge (10:27-31).
Restore your confidence in Christ (10:32-36).
Why do all of this?
Jesus is returning (10:37-39). Jesus wants to find faith when He returns (Luke 18:8).
How will Jesus find you living when He returns?
Copyright 2020 Donna Shappy
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.