Day 357, December 23 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Hebrews 4:14–10:31 (note: the reading for today's lesson is long because of the prevailing theme)
A Better Vehicle
It is Christmas time and many people buy new vehicles. All of the them will need serviced on a regular basis. Not only will they need service, but periodically they will also need repair. Finally, they rust or wear out, or we get tired of repairing them, and so we replace our old vehicles with newer vehicles, but even they need repair and servicing. Wouldn't it be nice to own a vehicle that never wore or rusted out or needed service and repair but always looked new? Nice thought but impossible, right? In the physical realm this is true but not in the spiritual realm.
The Jews had a vehicle (a means) for salvation. It was always by faith, but they had a system of laws, regulations, sacrifices, and ceremonial days to keep to obey God.
In the early years of the church, some Jewish people tried the new vehicle of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. They were persecuted for it. They were also tempted by Gnostic beliefs (the worship of angels and making personal sacrifices). Now they were tempted to go back to their old outdated means of trying to be right with God.
Why did the old vehicle for salvation need to be replaced?
Every day priests would offer bulls and goats and even pigeons or doves for sacrifices to atone (make amends) for the sins of the Jewish people. However, the priests and high priests were also sinners and had to prepare sacrifices for themselves.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would offer sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of the nation (this was a general sin offering for all the Jews and Jewish converts for sins which had not been atoned for, whether the sins were intentional or not). Then the high priest took blood from the sacrifice into the innermost part of the sanctuary of the tabernacle (a portable worship center), the Holy of Holies, and sprinkled blood on the lid of a small solid gold chest, called the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. He did this in order to atone for their sins.
The sacrifices were symbolic pictures
The blood shed by the animals didn't in themselves take away the sins of the people. It was a picture. The innocent animals did nothing to deserve being killed, yet their lives were given in substitution for those who were guilty of wrongs against God or people, and they paid for it with their blood. The Jews (Israelites) were forgiven for their sins when they exercised faith in doing what God required.
Jesus is the reality of what those sacrifices pictured
Jesus was sacrificed as an innocent lamb. However, he is a better vehicle for salvation because belief in his sacrifice to atone for our sins brings real forgiveness and freedom from guilt.
Jesus Christ is a better priest
He received his priesthood by someone who had a better position than Aaron—God chose Jesus Christ after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was a recognized priest of the Most High God in Abram’s (Abraham’s) day. He blessed Abram as he and his small army returned from rescuing his nephew Lot and his family from four invading kings of the north. In gratitude, Abram offered Melchizedek a 10% tithe of all the stuff he brought back from the battle (Genesis 14:11-20).
Melchizedek had no traceable earthly origin. Jesus’ was from heaven for an eternity. His place from heaven is much more important than a priest’s from the earthly tribe of Levi. God chose Jesus to be a high priest in the order of Melchizedek and confirmed it with an oath, which was more than what was required for an earthly Jewish high priest.
Jesus is perfect and sympathetic
Jesus was also a better priest than other high priests because he was not a sinner—he never did anything wrong and is still righteous today! This does not mean, however, that he cannot relate to us,
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16, NIV).Jesus' sacrifice is better than animal sacrifices
Our Lord offered a better sacrifice than that of the high priests. He didn't have to enter the inner sanctuary year after year to offer blood sacrifices of animals for the sins of himself and all the people. And, the animal sacrifices were incapable of removing the guilt of the worshipper.
Jesus shed his blood on the cross of Calvary on our behalf, offering himself as a perfect, sinless sacrifice for all people (not just Jews or Jewish converts), and he did this once for all. By faith in his substitutionary sacrifice for us, we can now have forgiveness and peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (more...).
Jesus is the author of a better covenant, built on better promises
The old covenant was built on laws, which if the Israelites kept by faith, they would be pleasing to God. But the people of Israel were not faithful in keeping the covenant, so he turned away from them.
After the death of Christ, the new covenant, confirmed by his blood and received by faith, was put into their minds and hearts.
- Now, all people (Jews and non-Jews) can receive real forgiveness, not just a covering for sin.
- Now, the Holy Spirit helps us to please God.
- Now, we have a life-giving relationship with God which is worthy of any suffering we may experience.
Jesus is definitely the better vehicle for salvation. The old sacrificial system rusted and decayed away and was finally removed when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.. The old vehicle is destroyed but the new vehicle of faith in Christ for salvation lasts forever.
Discussion
Why is Jesus a much better vehicle for salvation?
The Old Vehicle for salvation depended on faith demonstrated by obedience to moral, sacrificial, and even ceremonial laws. What does the New Vehicle depend on?
Jesus is perfect, so can he relate to us or not? How?
Focus Verses
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
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Looking Ahead: Now that we accept Jesus Christ as the better and only vehicle for salvation, how do we have Persevering Faith when others think we are crazy and persecute us? See for yourself in our Next Lesson.
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