Jesus Came to Conclude the Sacrificial System (Advent 21, 2024)

Closure can be the best of things.  A job completed and “well done, good and faithful servant.”  An ending to a suspenseful thriller in which resolution brings a return to restful feelings, knowing how the story ends.  

Open chapters and loose ends lend to uncertainty about the future and anxiety over what that looks like. While uncertain, some people prefer it because closure can also bring with it a sense of sadness, that what was comfortable and customary has ended and a new way forward must be embraced. 

The sacrificial system had been that way for the Jewish people.  They’d always done it, as far back as anyone can remember.  It was familiar and rote.  They knew it through years of experience.  It was the stuff of tradition, and they knew exactly what to do.

Jesus ended their sacrificial system by completing it.  It had to be fulfilled in order to end it.  And Jesus did it perfectly.

Visitation Principle 21: Jesus Came to Conclude the Sacrificial System

Hebrews 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Questions for further thought:
Some, like the Temple Institute, are trying to reinstate the sacrificial system of the red heifer in order to usher in the Third Temple.  Why is that idea missing the mark? 

In what way does our passage today give closure and an indication that future sacrifice is no longer required, only faith that Christ Himself was the perfect sacrifice?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, prophecy about You and Your return in the End Times is truly hard to understand. We pray, Lord, that You will give us clarity and confidence that You fulfilled that full sacrificial system so that Your prophecies (the ones we don’t see as fulfilled yet) either have been or will be accomplished in some unexpected way.  Grant us boldness in proclaiming that You ended the sacrificial system by Your perfect blood and the coming of the Holy Spirit affirms Your perfect offering as acceptable for the Father to pay our sin debt in full.  We stand amazed at Your mercy and love.  We give You all the glory.  Amen.
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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.

The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.

2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.

God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.

Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.

The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.

The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.

The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.

Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.

The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.