616. HEB 10:12, HEB 10:13. THE SACRIFICE AND TRIUMPH OF CHRIST
Heb_10:12, Heb_10:13. The Sacrifice and Triumph of Christ
By Rev. W. Atherton.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."’97Heb_10:12, Heb_10:13.
The apostle is showing, in this chapter, the superiority of the sacrifice and priesthood of Jesus Christ, when compared with those sacrifices which were offered, and those priests that gave attendance, at the Jewish altar; and on which things the Hebrew Christians had trusted for acceptance with God. He shows their great superiority by a variety of arguments. The first argument is drawn from the priesthood of the people. "Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sin," Heb_5:1.; but the Christian’s High Priest, is "the Lord from heaven"’97"God over all, blessed for evermore." The Jewish high priests, in their official ministrations, had first to offer sacrifices for their own sins, which was a tacit confession that they were sinners. The Christian’s High Priest, however, was without sin; he knew no sin, had no sin of his own to atone for, and was perfectly fitted to make atonement for the sins of others.
Another argument he draws from the sacrifices themselves: they offered the blood of bulls, and of goats, and of lambs, which could not take away sin. Our High Priest offered himself a Lamb without blemish; he poured out the price of our redemption for us, which is emphatically called "the blood of Christ!"
He draws another argument from the multiplicity of their sacrifices, which were repeated, and offered year by year continually; proving that they could "never make the comers thereunto perfect." "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood," Heb_7:24. It was so full of dignity, so full of merit, so teeming with virtue; it was stamped with such an infinite desert, that such a sacrifice once offered was enough. The Jewish high priests, in humble reverence, and in readiness to serve, stood within the veil, offering the same sacrifices: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God." This one sacrifice of Christ, stands opposed to the multiplicity of sacrifices that were offered under the law.
1. This God-man offered one sacrifice for sin. That was the sacrifice of himself, which we may consider as implying surrender.
1. He offered his body. The prophet says of him: "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting," Isa_50:6 : "they gave me gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," Psa_69:21; so that in Isa_52:14, we read, "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." These were sufferings of no common kind.
2. But, in suffering, he offered his mind. The sufferings of our Redeemer’s soul must be considered as the soul of his sufferings. These he anticipated at a distance, when he said, "I have a baptism, to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" Luk_12:50. We must, however, go into the garden of Gethsemane to witness this sacrifice offered. What must have been the agony of his mind, when, in the bloom and prime of health, supported by conscious innocence, raised above the natural fear of death, with the prospect of an abundant entrance into the kingdom of heaven’97what must have been the agony of his mind, when even the vital fluid, interrupted in its natural course of circulation, was forced through the coats of the veins, the vessels, and integuments, and bathed his body in a sweat of blood!
3. He offered in sacrifice his glory’97by which we understand how glory will follow up the shame. Now, our Redeemer’s feelings were not blunted and stoical; he was alive to his reputation; his sense of indignity, and shame, and dishonor, were exquisite’97nay, they were delicately fine; and when they called him an enemy to civil government, and a deceiver of the people; when they said, "He is mad," "a glutton and a wine-bibber;" when they said he had a devil’97that he was not fit to live; he must have felt the indignity with great acuteness.
4. He offered in sacrifice the consolations of heaven’s protection.
This he did when he cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mat_27:46. Now the dogs of hell opened their mouths on him; the strong bulls of Bashan beset him around; now earth and hell are allowed to do their worst; and such is that worst, as to lead him to cry to God, Why hast thou abandoned me’97why hast thou forsaken me?
5. He offered in sacrifice his life. Life is dear to every creature: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend," Joh_15:13; but while we were yet enemies, Christ died for us, Rom_5:8.
6. He offered in sacrifice his will. Suffering can never be loved for its own sake; and shame and death are terrible foes. The Redeemer prayed that the cup of suffering might pass from him, Mat_26:42; yet he gave his person into the hands of those who put it to torture: he voluntarily resigned himself to that train of overwhelming and distressing ideas, that threw his mind into an agony that bathed him in a bloody sweat: he gave up the consolation of heaven’s protection. Perhaps it may be asked,
II. For what purpose did he offer this sacrifice?
Whenever we think, or read about the sufferings of Christ, we are immediately directed to sin:’97"Christ died for our sins," 1Co_15:3. He suffered once for sin’97"the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities," 1Pe_3:18; 1Pe_2:24; Isa_53:5. This Man offered himself a sacrifice for sin,
1. To avert the consequences of it. Jesus Christ paid the penalty, that he might deliver the sinner from the consequences of his sins; and every sinner that accepts of the sacrifice of Christ by faith, the finger of God’s mercy, dipped in the blood of his Son, writes that sinner as one over whom the second death shall never have power.
2. He died that he might remove the presence of sin, by doing away the love of it; by cleansing the guilty in the "Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness,"’97rendering the person "without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,"’97that he might so renew the nature of man, so endear the principles of grace to him, that he might deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts," and live above the practices of sin.
3. He offered himself a sacrifice to overcome the forfeiture of sin. Sin had forfeited the image, the love, the protection of God. Through sin, man had lost every spark of happiness in life, and comfort in death, and every title to glory; yet, by the sacrifice of Christ, we receive all that we lost in the transgression. We are now directed,
III. To the exaltation of our Redeemer.
1. This was through the medium, of his resurrection. That Jesus Christ died on the cross, was attested by the water and the blood that flowed after the insertion of the spear, anatomically demonstrating that the heart had been pierced. And that he "rose again, according to the Scriptures," we have conclusive evidence.
2. And he has now "sat down at the right hand of God? God is a great and invisible Spirit, with whom literally there can be neither standing nor recumbency. We must, therefore, understand this phrase figuratively; and it is (1) expressive of rest. The Jewish high priest, when he entered within the veil, never sat down; his work was not done; he had to return, and to come back and "offer oftentimes the same sacrifices," if his life were spared. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God." But this expression "sat down," intimates (2) his being honored. When we read, that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God, we understand he is raised to the highest honor’97he is raised "above all principalities and powers;" having done his work to the perfect satisfaction of his Father, it has pleased God to give "him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow;’97and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Php_2:10, Php_2:11.
This phrase is expressive (3) of power, of authority, and of dominion. The right hand is employed as an emblem of power, Exo_15:6; Psa_17:7, etc. Now, when our Redeemer is placed at the right hand of God, we understand him as invested with power: he is now the ruler of all things, the governor of all worlds. There he shall remain, until, according to the promise of the Father to him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool," Psa_110:1.
IV. The purposes of his will shall be fulfilled.
Of the adversaries of Jesus Christ we observe,
1. That Satan is the most subtle, ancient, and formidable. But, my brethren, this adversary shall be the footstool of the woman’s all-conquering seed that was given to "bruise his head." Another adversary of Jesus Christ is’97
2. Error. Error may be said to be a hydra with many heads. The fist head which presents itself in this hydra has the face of a beast, by which we understand the errors of popery’97so decided an enemy to Christ, that that system, in the New Testament, is called Anti-Christ. Another of these errors has the face of the false prophet by which we may understand the delusions impurities, and abominations of Mohammedanism.
The next has the face of a dragon, by which we understand the cruel, the impure, the licentious, the hellish abominations of Paganism, or Heathenism. Paganism gives to the mind the falsest idea of God; or extinguishes the idea of the Supreme Being from the human mind. Heathenism substitutes, in the place of the great Jehovah, idols and devils’97worships them by the impurest rites, propitiates them by the bloodiest sacrifices. Paganism presents the most delusive prospect of happiness and of safety.
Now, these are enemies to Christ, because he is light and truth; these are false as hell, and dark as the chambers of death. These systems degrade God’s creatures, rob the Redeemer, murder the souls of men; and as such they must come down: by the general diffusion of knowledge, by the spread of the Scriptures, by the propagation of the gospel, by the piety and by the influence of God’s people, these systems shall be overturned.
3. Another enemy is to be found in wicked, unconverted men. But these enemies shall be the footstool of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Upon unconverted men, Jesus Christ will employ his gospel and his word on their understandings, and his Spirit on their consciences, and his providence on their circumstances and their bodies; and these weapons shall be "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." By these weapons some shall see their error’97shall discover their wickedness’97shall perceive their danger, and tremble at it’97shall let the weapons of their rebellion drop out of their hands’97shall crawl like guilty worms to the footstool of Christ’s mercy’97shall cordially embrace, with arms of faith, the despised Nazarene; they shall give him their hearts, and affections, and lives, in devotional obedience; and they shall joyfully suffer for his sake.
4. Another enemy of Christ is death. He is said to be the last enemy that shall be destroyed, 1Co_15:26.
5. All these enemies have been made by one worse than the devil himself, and that enemy is sin.
To destroy sin the Son of God was manifested’97for this purpose he offered himself a sacrifice for sin’97for this purpose he has commanded his gospel to be preached to every creature’97for this purpose he is, at this moment, seated at the right hand of God, invested with all power, with all energy, to employ whatever instrument or agent he thinks proper, and to give a blessing to those means that they may be effectual.
Application
1. Here we discover, brethren, the character of sinners. They are said to be enemies of Christ.
2. We learn, again, that these enemies of Christ, these unconverted persons must be his footstool, whether at home or broad. Are any of you unconverted? Are any of you in a state of hostility of mind to the blessed Jesus? Remember, you must come down. Will you be subdued by justice, or by mercy? Will you be conquered by the sceptre of his grace; or will you be broken in pieces by the iron rod of his wrath?
Finally. We see the duty of the people to extend by conquest the triumphs of the Redeemer,’97the empire of the Saviour: to bring home his rebel outcasts, that they may be saved from sin and Satan’s snare.
Yes; the kingdom of hell is shaking’97the gates of perdition tremble. Let us not rest, but take up a bold and manful stand in our own places, until we join in. that blessed acclamation’97"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!" Rev_11:15; Rev_19:6. Yes! and he will reign till he has subdued all to the obedience of faith; till death and sin are dead, and God shall be all in all!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS