0896. The Offering of Christ, As Priest
The Offering of Christ, As Priest
"But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
"How much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (Heb_9:11-14).
The earthly Tabernacle and the blood of goats and calves were all typical. They looked forward to Christ. Christ fulfilled these types.
1. As an High Priest Christ must have somewhat to offer. The priest of old offered up the blood of goats and calves. Christ offered up His own Blood.
2. As an High Priest Christ made no offering for Himself. The priest of old offered up "first for his own sins, and then for the people's" (Heb_7:27). But "such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" (Heb_7:26).
3. Christ offered Himself without the camp. "For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own Blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach" (Heb_13:11-13).
How wonderful is all of this! Jesus Christ was, in all things, the fulfillment of these Old Testament types. Surely we who know Him and who love Him, should gladly go with Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
4. Christ entered into the Holy Place. The High Priest went alone, once a year, into the Holiest of all; but "not without blood" (Heb_9:7).
But Christ entered not "into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb_9:24).
In this act our Lord opened up a true and living way. The veil of the Temple rent when Christ died. The way to God is open to all who believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus,
"By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;
"And having an High Priest over the house of God;
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb_10:19-22).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR