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Advent Blog 23
Hebrews 10:5-10:
5“That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”When first reading this scripture from Hebrews I wondered why such verses were chosen for the advent season. Shouldn’t we keep talk of death and sacrifice for Easter? Advent should be about the waiting and anticipation of Christ’s birth. However, the more times I read and reread the passage the more I began to see that the two can never truly be separated. Hebrews 10 is about how Christ came to be the final perfect sacrifice. In those days sin sacrifices were given as a reminder of sin, they did not cleanse one of sin. If they did there would have not been the need to repeat them year after year.
Now I admit that when I think of the sacrifices of the Old Testament my mind pictures the body of an animal on an alter. I forget that it is supposed to be a process, and what I picture is just the final step. The book of Leviticus is almost completely dedicated to explaining and re explaining the rules and regulations that go along with the selection, preparation and presentation of the “body” for an offering. Growing up on a farm I once had to opportunity to witness a group of men from the middle east prepare a lamb that was to be used for Passover. Their process of selecting and preparing the lamb was painstakingly precise, nothing done without purpose, nothing wasted, a strangely moving- almost beautiful event. Yet, even if what I witnessed was anything like the ritual that went into the sacrifices of the Old Testament they were still merely temporary, not what God desired.
Here in Hebrews Jesus is saying that he is the “body,” that is here to do Gods’ will. The birth and death of Christ are both necessary steps in the process of sacrifice. In order to have a sacrifice that is perfect and without defect, as required in Leviticus, He was selected and sent in the form of a baby. This way when the time came his ”body” would be the offering that would replace the old temporary- imperfect offering. He is the new perfect everlasting sacrifice that sanctifies us once and for all. How great is it that now, instead of having to give yearly sin sacrifices, we are given a yearly reminder of just how innocent, willing, and obedient Jesus was in his role as sacrifice.
A Manger and a Cross instead of an Alter. One is not possible without the other. This is something I did in 2004 that seemed appropriate for this passage.
Reflection:
- Do we still have sacrafices, offerings that we give in order to make ourselves feel better about something ?
- Do we give of time/money freely or are we just replacing the sin offerings of the Old Testament?
carolss said...
1Cheryn-great questions…as is the graphic. Thanks.
12/16/09 6:53 AM | Comment Link
Peter said...
2Thanks for the entry, Cheryn. As the Psalm says, God’s word is sweet to my taste, sweeter than honey to our mouths. I love that whoever believes in Jesus has fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law, because he himself fulfilled the law, including the atonement – just like you’re talking about.
I don’t think any of us can hear it too many times, that there is absolutely no sacrifice, no rule, no action, no abstaining, no penance that can make us right with the Father – that we just must believe in the One God sent and receive His righteousness. As Ben mentioned last week, some people find that too good to be true, and hard to accept – Being one myself who loves much because I’ve been forgiven much, I embrace this truth with all my heart.
12/20/09 12:41 PM | Comment Link