By Daniel L. Sonnenberg | April 6, 2012, Maundy Thursday
Recording not available.
2012-04-06 Jesus Christ, A Superior Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-18) Maundy Thursday
Homily Text
Hebrews 10:1-18 (ESV) For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 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. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Homily
Jesus, a Superior Sacrifice
On this night, as we have heard the Scriptures which recorded Jesus’ final Passover and Last Supper with his disciples, his prayer in Gethsemane, his betrayal and arrest, his trial, his crucifixion, death and burial we must consider what was it all for? Why did Jesus reluctantly, yet willingly enter Jerusalem and proceed like a flint to the cross?
The reason is this: In order to obtain a better ministry and to establish a better covenant based on better promises, he offered a better sacrifice, a superior sacrifice and a final sacrifice.
This passage tells us five ways Christ’s sacrifice is better than the sacrifices offered by the OT priests.
| Characteristics of OT priest’s sacrifices | Characteristics of Jesus’ sacrifice |
| 1. Continually repeated Offered continually every year | 1. Singularly completedOffered once for all time |
| 2. Standing and working Priests stand continually to offer | 2. Sitting and waiting Jesus sat down after offering once and waited |
| 3. Reminder of sin (’s price)Reminder of sin but cannot remove sin | 3. Removal of sin’s penalty (justification) Provides forgiveness of sins |
| 4. Consciousness of sin (’s control)Cannot make perfect those who seek to draw near | 4. Liberation from sin’s lusts (sanctification) – law in heart, mindPerfects for all time those being sanctified |
| 5. God’s temporary provision Impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | 5. God’s permanent planGod prepared a body,Christ came to do God’s will |
In Jesus’ death, he has accomplished our salvation once for all time, and as a reward Jesus is now he is sitting at God’s right hand waiting for the consummation of all things. Sin’s penalty has been paid, sin’s power has been broken, and God’s permanent and final plan has been set into motion by the willing obedience of his faithful Son.
Our proper response to Christ’s superior sacrifice is found in the words of Isaac Watts’ hymn – As we survey once again the wondrous cross – we count our gains as loss, pour contempt on our pride, boasting only in the death of Christ our God, and giving thanks for his indescribable gift, which demands our soul, our life and our all.
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
ESV Psalm 34: I will bless the LORD cat all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and bbe glad.
3 Oh, amagnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I asought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
8 Oh, ataste and see that bthe LORD is good! cBlessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
(Psa 34:1-8 ESV)
Categories: 2012, Hebrews, Jesus in Hebrews, Lent, Passion Week, Sermons
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