Hebrews 9:3-4 – “Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.  Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.”

In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle and the Temple had an inner room called the “Most Holy Place” (or the Holy of Holies in some Bible versions).  The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant.  The Ark of the Covenant played a crucial role in the major events in Israel’s history. 

continue

Hebrews 9:4 - “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

We have received new life – eternal life – through Jesus Christ because of the Blood that he shed for us. Jesus’ blood brings us atonement and cleansing from sin (see 1 John 1:7). Most Christians understand this; in fact, we should understand something about Christ’s sacrifice for our sins at the time we convert and receive salvation. From God’s perspective, it was very important to teach us about his project of salvation and illustrate the sacrifice of Jesus through all the animal sacrifices described in the Old Testament. All of these sacrifices pointed forward to Christ’s death on the cross, and that is why no animal sacrifices are necessary since Jesus died for us; as God’s Son, he is the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God. Today, we can study the sacrifices and requirements in the Old Testament to gain a deeper understanding of the blood of Jesus.

continue