TODAY IN THE WORD
In our secular culture we can easily forget about the connection between the events we celebrate at Christmas and Easter. Hebrews reminds us that all of Jesus’ life on earth–His birth, growth, death, and resurrection–belongs together. Jesus’ life is unified by one goal: the eradication of sin (v. 26). We must not forget that the accomplishment of this goal was not an end in itself; rather, the superior sacrifice of Jesus was made so that God’s people can “receive the promised eternal inheritance,” namely salvation (vv. 15, 28).

Why, we may ask, did Jesus have to die to accomplish our salvation? Our text today addresses this very question. God’s covenants are much like a will–they cannot go into effect apart from death (vv. 16-18). So, the promises of God regarding the forgiveness of sins are ratified by sacrifice. The old covenant teaches us that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood (v. 22).

The problem, as we have seen, is that the old covenant sacrifices only made things clean on the outside. The blood of bulls and goats didn’t open the way into the real, heavenly sanctuary–God’s very presence (vv. 8-9, 13). This is why a superior sacrifice was required. This is why Jesus had to die, and also why He has become the mediator of a new and better covenant (v. 15). The cleansing accomplished by Jesus opens the way into the very presence of God (v. 24) and sets us free from sin and judgment so that, when He comes again, we will receive the promised eternal salvation in full (vv. 15, 26-28).

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
With good reason some hymnals list Charles Wesley’s great hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” as both a Christmas and an Easter hymn. As you finish your devotions today, meditate on the words of this classic song.

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