The Final Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:4-10
(4) For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
(5) Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
(6) in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
(7) Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'"
(8) When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),
(9) then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
(10) And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ came to do His Father's will. As we observe Good Friday today I think it is especially important to contemplate the cross. We should contemplate the cross every day, but on Good Friday it is particularly poignant.

Our sin separates us from God. This was true from the first sin of our father Adam. God then made the first sacrifice for sin when he killed animals to clothe Adam and Eve. Ever since then God has demanded blood in exchange for sin. Through Moses He created a system of sacrifices that the people had to observe. Jews today still observe Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

But if we are in Christ we no longer have to go through the sacrificial system. Christ died to atone for our sins. He died as a once and for all sacrifice for sin.

Think about that today. Really chew on it. You might consider fasting from food so as to get a deeper sense of your dependence on God for life. Think about the complete faithfulness of Christ in His death on the cross. This has incredible implications for what we believe and how we live.