Hebrews 9:11-20: a reflection

11But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

The writer to the Hebrews contrasts the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant with the single sacrifice of Christ, and marvels at its finality. Christ, he says, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Where the old priests offered sacrifices again and again, year after year, never finishing the work, Christ offered himself once, a single sacrifice, and obtained eternal redemption. It did not need to be repeated; it was done, once for all, complete. The single, final sacrifice of Christ accomplished what the endless repetition of the old sacrifices never could: an eternal redemption.

Notice the finality of Christ's sacrifice: once for all, obtaining eternal redemption. The old sacrifices were endless, repeated year after year, never able to finish the work; but Christ offered himself once, a single sacrifice, and it was enough, obtaining an eternal redemption that needed no repetition. His sacrifice was not one of many, to be offered again and again; it was the once-for-all sacrifice, complete and final. What the repeated sacrifices could never accomplish, Christ accomplished in a single offering of himself: eternal redemption, obtained once for all. There is no need to add to it or repeat it; the work is finished, the redemption eternal, secured by Christ's one sacrifice.

That is worth resting in, for Christ's once-for-all sacrifice has obtained eternal redemption, complete and needing no repetition. We can feel that our redemption is uncertain, that it must be secured again and again, that the work is never quite finished; but Christ offered himself once for all, and obtained eternal redemption, complete and final. There is nothing to add to it, no need to repeat it; the work is done, the redemption eternal. Do not think your redemption must be secured again and again, as though Christ's work were unfinished; he offered himself once for all and obtained eternal redemption. Rest in the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, which has obtained eternal redemption, complete and needing no repetition, as the writer says he entered once for all and obtained eternal redemption; for Christ's single offering of himself accomplished what the endless old sacrifices never could, and the redemption he obtained is eternal, finished, and secure, needing nothing added to it.

Lord, the writer to the Hebrews contrasts the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant with the single sacrifice of Christ, and marvels at its finality. Christ, he says, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Where the old priests offered sacrifices again and again, never finishing the work, Christ offered himself once, and obtained eternal redemption. It did not need to be repeated; it was done, once for all, complete. Show me the finality of Christ's sacrifice: once for all, obtaining eternal redemption. The old sacrifices were endless, repeated year after year, never able to finish the work; but Christ offered himself once, and it was enough, obtaining an eternal redemption that needed no repetition. His sacrifice was not one of many; it was the once-for-all sacrifice, complete and final. What the repeated sacrifices could never accomplish, Christ accomplished in a single offering of himself. There is no need to add to it or repeat it; the work is finished. Let me rest in that, for Christ's once-for-all sacrifice has obtained eternal redemption, complete and needing no repetition. I can feel that my redemption is uncertain, that it must be secured again and again, that the work is never quite finished; but Christ offered himself once for all, and obtained eternal redemption, complete and final. Keep me from thinking my redemption must be secured again and again, as though Christ's work were unfinished; he offered himself once for all, Lord. Help me rest in the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, which has obtained eternal redemption, complete and needing no repetition.