Hebrews 9:21-28: a reflection

21He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. 22According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, 26or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, 28so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

The writer of Hebrews explains the meaning of Christ's death against the backdrop of the old sacrificial system, where blood was needed for cleansing and forgiveness. But those repeated sacrifices could never finish the work; the high priest had to enter the holy place again and again, year after year. Christ, by contrast, did not enter an earthly sanctuary made with hands but heaven itself, appearing in God's presence on our behalf, and he offered himself not repeatedly but once for all.

This is the heart of the good news the passage proclaims: Christ has appeared once, at the culmination of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as each person dies once and then faces judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. His one sacrifice was complete and sufficient; it does not need to be repeated. And there is a further promise: he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring full salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Two great assurances flow from this. First, Christ's sacrifice for your sins is finished and complete; you do not need to add to it or fear that it was insufficient. Sin has been put away once for all by his self-offering. Second, he is coming again, not to condemn but to save those who wait for him. Rest in the finished work of Christ, and live in eager expectation of his return. The One who bore your sins once will appear a second time to bring you home.

Lord Jesus, you offered yourself once for all to put away sin, a sacrifice complete and sufficient, needing no repeating. Let me rest in that finished work and never fear it was not enough. And thank you that you will appear a second time, not to condemn but to save those who wait for you. Keep me watching eagerly for your return, resting in the sin you have already borne. Amen.