Hebrews 10:5–10 (NRSV)
Read Hebrews 10:5–10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; Verse 6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Verse 7Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." Verse 8When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), Verse 9then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. Verse 10And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Devotion
The blood of animals was never enough to take away the sins of the world. It was through Jesus’ sacrifice that we are sanctified. It was through his death and resurrection that we find new life. The enormity of that statement can be lost in this discussion in Hebrews about the provisions of the old sacrificial system, but the miraculous nature of Jesus’ death for us on the cross remains.
It is Jesus that takes away the sins of the world. It is through Jesus that we are saved. Jesus is the hope of the world, and we are thankful for this. During these days of Advent, we are waiting to celebrate once again the birth of our Messiah. May we never forget all that he has done for us. We no longer must make sacrifices that will never be enough. All is enough for us because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice.
Prayer
Our most merciful Christ, you are holy and perfect. May you bless us and keep us. Amen.