Hebrews 10:3-4 But
those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away
sins.
Usually, when we break a promise or
disappoint someone, we seek their forgiveness and hope to be given an
opportunity to redeem our mistake with a gift. Sometimes parents do this with
their children, especially if they've been unable to keep a special promise
because of work related commitments. At other times spouses, who disappoint
their partners, have a lot of giving to do in order to make amends. And even
businesses, that unexpectedly fail their customers, usually offer a discount or
free gift to make up for the disappointment. In all of these cases, some
process of sacrificial giving is necessary in order to restore relationships,
confidence, and trustworthiness.
In Old Testament times, when God’s
people disappointed Him, they quickly offered a ritual sacrifice of a bull, a
goat, a sheep, or some pigeons. Their mistakes and sins damaged their
relationship with God. Because the people absolutely depended upon His bounty
and blessings to sustain them, their livestock, and their crops, they
sacrificed the best of their animals or the first of their produce to placate
Him. They feared God’s wrath in ways that we cannot understand or even accept
today.
But no matter how many times they
sacrificed, the people still sinned. No matter how often they kept special feasts
or religious rites to glorify God, they still were contaminated by their past
mistakes and personal regrets. Their sacrifices were not sufficient to meet God’s
requirements. Their regular religious rites could not effectively redeem and
restore them to God.
This is why Christ came from God to
enter into history and the world. This is why He sacrificed Himself so that our
sins, as well as those of Christ’s own people, may be absolutely forgiven by
God. After all, if the sacrifice of God’s Only Son was not enough to satisfy
the demands of God’s holiness and justice, then there is nothing in all of
existence that can save human beings from sin. We may not like the idea of God’s
just demands; we may not ever fully understand why Christ had to die; but this
we can know: Jesus died for our sins, so that we can be absolutely forgiven and
eternally restored to God. This is also why the other name for Holy Week is “Passion
Week’ – a sacred commemoration and faithful focus on Christ’s suffering, His
Passion, for us.
Questions for personal reflection
Do I accept that
Jesus died for me? Do I realize that His Death has given me Life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we cannot fully comprehend
why our sins would condemn You to death on a Cross. We don’t fully understand
why God’s justice demanded such an awful and shameful thing. However, we are
fully thankful that Your personal sacrifice has completely atoned for our sins,
as well as restoring us to God forever. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and
gratefully pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send
him an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest Holy Week drawings. It’s called ‘Descent.’ If you
would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/13439105075_cac310d7e5_b.jpg
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