No More Crutches

Read Hebrews 8:1–10:18

11. Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.
12. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
13. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.
14. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 9:11-14

Abroken leg usually means a time of walking on crutches. If the break is bad enough, getting around becomes impossible without them. Some may think this novel for a time, but the novelty soon wears off. The patient looks forward to the day when the crutches can be thrown into the closet for good.

Before Jesus came to this earth and died for everyone’s sins, people depended on the crutch of animal sacrifice for forgiveness. But Christ’s blood heals and frees people from sin and their dependence on spiritual crutches. Are you leaning on a crutch or on Christ?

As you read this passage, notice the comparisons between the old covenant of animal sacrifice and the new covenant with Jesus as your High Priest.

Animal sacrifices played an important role in Israel’s relationship with God. They provided a means for people to cover their sins until the coming of Christ. But these sacrifices only imitated and foreshadowed Jesus’ future sacrifice. His offering paid for all sin, once and for all, and did what the animal sacrifices could only point to: full payment forever for sin.

Today, Jesus serves as our High Priest before God the Father in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:24-28). Our hope of eternal life lies in him, and our day-to-day access to God depends on Jesus’ loving intercession on our behalf.

Look to Christ for fulfillment of your spiritual needs, because he can meet them all.