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More Than Symbols
3. A Better Sacrifice
It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these (Hebrews 9:23 NIV84, emphasis mine).
What made Jesus’ sacrifice better than the animal sacrifices, and how is it that Jesus’ sacrifice cleanses heavenly things?
Again, all of the animal sacrifices were merely symbols, theater, object lessons meant to teach the reality that Jesus accomplished, but what did His sacrifice accomplish?
The gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order. … But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 9:9, 10; 10:3, 4 NIV84, emphasis mine).
Wax fruit can represent real fruit, but we can never get life, nutrition, or health from eating wax fruit. Likewise, the sacrifices of animals can represent the real sacrifice of Christ, but we can never get life, spiritual nurturing, and healing of our souls from animal sacrifices—it is only through Jesus.
And why is Jesus’ sacrifice effective? Because Jesus provides the reality-based solution to the sin problem, one that restores trust and recreates sinners in righteousness.
Jesus’ incarnation into humanity, His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His resurrection:
- Revealed the truth about God that destroys the lies that Satan has told about God, thus removing all doubt from the loyal angels and solidifying them in eternal loyalty.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19, 20 NIV84, emphasis mine).
- Destroyed the power of Satan and freed us from death.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:14, 15 NIV84, emphasis mine).
Jesus, God in humanity, revealed the truth about God that destroys the lies of Satan and wins us back to trust. Life eternal is that we know God and Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus that God is revealed.
Life eternal = knowing God (John 17:3).
Eternal death, then, is not knowing God. Therefore, Satan’s power of death is the lies he tells about God that, when we believe them, keep us from knowing God. Jesus destroyed this power by His life of selfless love and sinless death. But more than this, Jesus also frees us from the fear of death by providing the remedy that heals us and gives us eternal life. This is symbolized by His sinless blood. His sinless blood represents His sinless life that we receive when we trust Him. As Leviticus states, “The life is in the blood” (17:11). And Christ’s perfecting, healing, and restoring of the species human is described in Hebrews 5:
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (vv. 8, 9 NIV84, emphasis mine).
But wasn’t Jesus always perfect?
Jesus was always sinless, but biblical perfection is about the maturity of character. Jesus, as a human using only human abilities, was tempted in all points just like we are (Hebrews 4:15), but He chose with His human mind, heart, and will to say no to every temptation and, ultimately, destroyed the infection of fear and selfishness with which Adam infected humanity. Thus, Jesus destroyed the death-causing principle He partook of through Mary, purging it from the humanity He assumed, and restored the life-causing principle He received from the Father of His humanity (the Holy Spirit) and became the source of salvation for all who love and trust Him.
Therefore, Jesus’ sacrifice is better than the animal sacrifices because it accomplishes what was necessary to destroy death and bring life and immortality to light (2 Timothy 1:10), to defeat Satan, to restore love and trust in God, and to heal God’s creation. (For more on how Jesus cleanses us from sin, see our blogs Salvation and the Cleansing of Our Spirits, Part 1 and Part 2.)
4. Better Possessions
You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions (Hebrews 10:34 NIV84, emphasis mine).
What are the better and lasting possessions? Jesus said,
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36 NKJV).
The world focuses on money, precious metals, jewels, cars, houses, lands, stocks, fame, social media “clicks” and followers, but what does any of that matter if one dies eternally? What do riches and fame matter if one is tormented in heart, mind, and soul, if one doesn’t have peace within? How many rich and famous people die by suicide because they don’t have mental, emotional, or spiritual health?
We possess something much more valuable, something that results in eternal life. We have the remedy of Jesus! We have God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and Spirit that heals us and recreates us in righteousness.
- “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice” (Proverbs 16:8 NIV84, emphasis mine).
- “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16 NIV84, emphasis mine).
- “Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud” (Proverbs 16:19 NIV84, emphasis mine).
What is the better and lasting possession? A clear conscience, a mature Christlike character, wisdom, a humble heart, clarity in thinking, good judgment, self-control, love for God and others, and a gentle and kind spirit. And these are only possible through Jesus Christ. And when we possess these, we become God’s trusting and trustworthy friend (John 15:15), a person like Job, Daniel, or the three worthies—someone whom God can trust to be faithful to Him and say of Him what is right.
What could be more precious than that?
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