This is the final reflection on Advent for this season. Our theme is Christ.
We are looking at Hebrews 10. At first glance, this does not seem like a Christmas passage. However, as we look at it, we will see that it is. The Book of Hebrews is written to Jewish believers. They professed faith in Jesus but were thinking about leaving the faith. They were enduring suffering. They were thinking of returning to the Old Testament sacrificial system. The author of the book assures the audience that the good old days are not the good old days.
Let us look at Hebrews 10:1-4:
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
From this passage we learn a few things. We learn the Old Testament sacrifices are a shadow. They are not reality but point to reality. Why are sacrifices merely a shadow? The sacrifices are insufficient to permanently deal with sin. If the sacrifices were truly sufficient to pay for sin, then one sacrifice would be enough. But that was not the case. The sacrifices had to be repeated. They had to be repeated often. They were repeated at least of each of the three great feasts that were held each year. Furthermore, with each occasion of sin a new sacrifice was required. There is an important lesson: an animal sacrifice can atone for past sins but not for future sins. Thus the sacrifices were offered continually. The repeating nature of the sacrifices serves as a reminder that sin had not been fully paid. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The sacrificial system tells us that sacrifices are not enough. Something better, is required. Something or Someone better, is coming. That Someone is Jesus. Jesus is better than the Old Testament sacrificial system. How do we know this?
Recorded in verses 5-7 is a conversation that took place in heaven. It is a conversation between God the Father and God the Son. Jesus is doing the talking. This conversation takes place just before Jesus leaves the glories of heaven, willingly and joyfully, submitting to the will of His Father, and being conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
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.’” Hebrews 10:5-7
Versos 5-7 are a quote from Psalm 40:6-8. David wrote this Psalm. He understands that animal sacrifices cannot atone for sin. They do not make us right with God. God does not take delight in sacrifices. God delights in obedience. David knows God does not like when we play games by living in sin all throughout the week only to straighten up on Sunday or the holidays. Giving money does not make up for a sinful lifestyle. God desires obedience over sacrifice.
Therefore, David promises to obey God. He will do better. While his desire is admirable, he didn’t do so well. We know about David. While he is called the man after God’s heart, he committed some of the most heinous sins ever recorded in Scripture. Unfortunately, we are like him. We make promises to do better. We promise to obey more. Although we may mean well, although we are sincere, we fail miserably. We sin over and over!
But now we see Jesus. As He leaves the glories of heaven and enters the world, He quotes Psalm 40. He takes the words and makes them His own. “I have come to do Your will, O God.” Jesus does what David never did. Jesus does what we have never done. Jesus obeys the law. He obeys it perfectly. He never sins. Jesus alone has done God’s will.
But to do God’s will, Jesus takes upon Himself a human body. This was the body He took upon Himself when He was conceived in Mary’s womb. The Word becomes flesh. God becomes man. This body is fashioned so that Jesus will do God’s will. What is God’s will for Jesus? God’s will for Jesus is to do what animal sacrifices cannot do: atone for sins. Jesus will sacrifice Himself. Skipping down to verse 10:
And by that will (Jesus’ successful determination to obey God) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
What the sacrifices of animals could not do, the sacrifice of Jesus accomplishes: full and complete atonement for our sin. Jesus deals with our sins — past, present and future. We are made holy and blameless with God through Jesus. Jesus doesn’t have to die over and over to atone for our sins. He died once and that was enough.
Jesus was born and took on humanity that He might live a perfect and sinless life and die a sacrificial death, and be raised to life three days later. We are called, not to work for the sacrifice of Jesus, but to believe in Him, have faith in Him, trust Him for what He has done for us. This Christmas, let us worship the One who left the glories of heaven to become a human baby and give HIs life to save us from our sins. Come, let us adore Christ the Lord.
Mark Cymbalak
holds an BA from Bob Jones University with additional class work from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He served as a part time paid elder at Black Earth Congregational Church/Curtiss Street Bible Fellowship. In 2006, Mark became a full time paid elder and pastor at Curtiss Street Bible Fellowship until his retirement in 2020.