READING: Jeremiah 49-50, Hebrews 7
The gospel is glorious in its simplicity. That’s how I feel today about these words related to Jesus, our perfect High Priest: “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Heb 7:27). He is “one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Heb 7:26), yet He is also the one who gave Himself for us while we were still caught in our sin.
He need not die for His own sin (for He is without it), nor did He need to keep offering sacrifices. “Once for all” He paid the price in our place. In the words of one writer to each of us, “You don’t have to look for another way to have your sins forgiven—Christ was the final sacrifice for you.”*
And, that’s unbelievable news. Our High priest who lives forever grants us undeserved, unearned life. Forever.
In the midst of these chaotic days around the world, that message is still life-giving. Amen.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving Yourself for us.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Take time today to meditate on the death of Christ. Read the story of the cross in one of the four Gospels.
TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 51-52, Hebrews 8:1-9:10
* Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Comfort, P. W. (1997). Hebrews (p. 108). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.