In conclusion, what did Jesus accomplish that the Mosaic covenant could not do?

Hebrews 9:24-28 NIV
[24] “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence…”

Earthly high priests could only minister in an earthly sanctuary. Jesus entered heaven itself to appear before the Father on our behalf.

[25] “Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.”

Earthly high priests’ work was never done. They could only offer animal sacrifices daily to cover sin. Jesus’ sacrifice atoned for sin once-for-all, never to be repeated.

[26]”Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Earthly high priests could not offer sacrifices that took away sin. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice that removes sin forever.

[27] “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, [28] so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Earthly high priests’ work can never change our destiny. People still die and must still face judgment. Jesus died once and changed our destiny from judgment to completed salvation when He returns.

Conclusion…the old covenant is useless to deal with the core issue that stands between us and God, sin. It can only show us how impossible it is for us to satisfy God’s holy standards and point us to something better.

Hebrews 10:1-4 NIV
[1] “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. [2] Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. [3] But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. [4] It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Jesus did not come into the world to endorse or continue the system of temple worship. That would have been a futile exercise, knowing full well that animal sacrifices and religious rituals achieve nothing to take away sin and reconcile us to God.

Hebrews 10:5-7 NIV
[5]”Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ ”

To accomplish God’s will, Jesus offered His own body in obedience to the Father as a sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 10:8-10 NIV
[8] “First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. [9] Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. [10] And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

This sacrifice, His own body and blood, was so effective to deal with sin that it did away with the need to offer animal sacrifices. What was God’s will for Jesus?

God’s will for Jesus was to crush Him through crucifixion but…it was also His will, through Jesus’ death, to raise Him to great glory.

Isaiah 53:10-12 NLT
[10]”But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. [11] When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. [12] I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”

For Jesus, death was not the end but the doorway into all God’s purposes for Him and for all mankind.

God’s will for Jesus to die is not an end in itself. It’s going somewhere!

To be continued…