The Scarlet Thread

Lately I've been spending a lot of time in the book of Hebrews.  We've been studying Hebrews in our Life Group on Sundays, and our pastor has been preaching from Hebrews as well. 

These weeks in Hebrews have been a fascinating and challenging study.  We've centered our focus around the theme Jesus Is Better.  For the last several weeks, our attention has been focused on the middle chapters of the book, the chapters that explain to us that Jesus is our High Priest.  A better high priest.

 

 



One of the duties of the High Priest was to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people, as well as for his own sin.  This was done year after year after year after year.

Jesus is a better High Priest because He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sins.  One sacrifice that covered all sin for all time.

"But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.  For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."  (Hebrews 10:12, 14 ESV)

That's the scarlet thread that runs throughout the Scriptures, the promise of, and then the fulfillment of, this once for all sacrifice.

We see this thread in Genesis 22, as we read of God's instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

Isaac must have wondered what was going on!  He and Abraham were going to make a sacrifice.  They had fire and wood, but where was the lamb?  And so he asked, "Behold the fire and the wood:  but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  (Genesis 22:7 KJV)

"And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide Himself a lamb'" (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

God will provide Himself.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  (John 1:1 ESV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  (John 1:14 ESV)

"When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."  (Galatians 4:4 ESV)

"God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

"Christ died for sin, once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)

"Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom."  (Matthew 27:50-51 ESV)

Jesus, the Lamb for the sacrifice. Jesus, God Himself the Lamb.  Jesus, the sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus, our Great High Priest who made a way for us to enter into the very presence of God.

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

Jesus, our Great High Priest.

Jesus, the sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus, the Scarlet Thread of redemption, woven throughout the Scriptures.

Jesus is better.

Jesus died for me.  Jesus died for you.

May we live for Him!

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20 ESV)