The better sacrifice has come

Hebrews 9:23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. The author continued the contrast between the old and new covenants. He said in the previous verses that the old covenant required that blood be shed for the forgiveness of sins. The blood required was symbolic of a better sacrifice to come, which would accomplish what the blood of goats and calves could not accomplish. Everything in the sanctuary was a copy of a heavenly reality—even the process of cleansing with blood. That cleansing in the earthly sanctuary indicated that in heaven there was a better sacrifice for the cleansing of the worshippers.  On the mountain, Moses was shown the blood of Jesus offered for the forgiveness of the sins of God’s people. The sacrifices and the blood sprinkled on everything shadow that reality, according to the author of Hebrews. Let this sink in! That’s why the old covenant is obsolete. The better sacrifice has come, and what Moses saw was fulfilled in Jesus’ death. He was the Passover lamb. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, as John the Baptist declared. Why is this important? Why should we be encouraged by this? This tells us to draw near to God with confidence so we can receive mercy and grace to help in times of need. The blood that has been offered before the mercy seat in heaven has been accepted on our behalf. He has been merciful to our iniquities, and because Jesus has paid the ransom for our sins, He remembers our sins no more. Draw near! Now, constantly, forever. Hold fast to what we believe about Jesus and abide in Him. In Him is life everlasting. Through Him, we have received grace upon grace so that we might glorify God as we live to love with Jesus.