Yesterday, we saw Jesus as One who can relate fully to our struggles. He lived with us, felt our joys and struggles, and ultimately as an act of great love, suffered and died for us. He truly is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.
Today, we look at Christ, our High Priest, as One who mediates for us – that is, He has mediated a new covenant that secures eternal life for us (9:15). How did He do that? Looking at our passage today, we continue to see Christ as our perfect high priest in that:
9:11 He didn’t have to go through a manmade tabernacle as in the old covenant (OT), but He went through the greater tabernacle that is the very presence of God Himself.
9:12 He did not enter by the blood of animals, but by His own perfect blood.
9:14 His sacrifice was not temporary or external, but permanent and internal.
Jesus Christ paid the price and mediated a new relationship with the Father. Two things to bear in mind:
First, our consciences are cleansed from “dead works” (the literal translation of “acts that lead to death” in NIV, 9:14). In this context, “dead works” refers to the sacrifices of the Law which are unable to impart spiritual life. We ought not to feel the need to earn what the perfect work of Christ has already bought for us.
Second, we have been set free from the guilt of sin (9:15). We no longer serve a guilty sentence before God with Jesus as our Mediator. It is as if we were freed from prison. We are free. Free to enjoy all that God has for us. Free to live as God intended. Free to live apart from the power of sin. And according to verse 14, free to serve the living God. That is the purpose of our freedom. Not to live a life of sin, but to live a life of service to God.
To consider: Do you ever find yourself trying to earn God’s favor? When you have sinned, how do you respond? Do you ever try to clear your conscience by resorting to good works rather than confessing and relying on the cleansing work of Christ? Remember, we have not been set free to work off our guilt. We have been set free to serve the living God!