Can you imagine Gods’ people, whose sins are forgiven once a year after the High Priest has performed his duty in the Most Holy Place, disappointed and turned away because the high priest is dead. I can imagine the secretary of the council of elders of the Jewish people announcing to the whole congregation that the sin offering can only be offered after a new high priest has been chosen. “Everyone, go home till a new high priest has been appointed,” he will scream.
All the people with the guilt of sin will be so disappointed with such an announcement. Some will be anxious while some will feel the burden of their sins on their shoulders. Their conscious will not allow them to be at peace. But nothing can be done for them that day. Why? Because it’s only the high priest that can enter the Most Holy Place and offer a sacrifice for their entire nation of Israel (Hebrews 9:7). The other priests do not qualify. In fact, they dare not attempt to enter the Holies of Holies to perform any form of sacrifice.
Then comes another interesting fact. The high priest, if alive, would have to go into the Most Place the next year, just after offering a sacrifice for himself and the entire congregation (Hebrews 9: 25). He is to go to the Holies of Holies every year.
Glory bet to God for our new High Priest, Jesus Christ. He doesn’t have to go into the presence of God to continually present His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. He offered His blood once and has perfected us forever (Hebrews 10:14).
Moreover, Christ being the perfect sacrifice who lives forever, we will not have to face what the Jewish people face from time to time. We will not have to hear these words from the council of elders, “No sacrifice for our sins today. Our high priest just died.” One can understand why such bad news was often heard among the Jewish congregants. “For the law appoints as high priest men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever” (Hebrews 7: 28).
Many priests were prevented by death from offering the sacrifice for the sins of the entire Israel but Jesus continues forever as an unchangeable priesthood (Hebrews 7:23,24). Glory to God.
Author: Michael Hagan || Chrife.com.gh
