Will of Testament

Hebrews 9:16-22

¹⁶ For where a will* is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will* takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying,“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

*testament in KJV.  Greek word means both covenant and will.

Easy peasy reading right?!?  Just kidding.  Since I do not have a Jewish or formal theology upbringing, it's hard for me to understand the author's references he is alluding to.  So, allow me to share what I researched. 

In these verses, the author is explaining the necessity of Jesus' death.

 His death was necessary because a Will of Testament (verses16-17) can only be established upon a person's death.  As mentioned above, the word used for "will" also means "covenant" in Greek.  And as we have been learning, Jesus is the New Covenant.  His sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our sins.  It was a one-time, ultimate, perfect... and I mean perfect, sacrifice of a sinless lamb that cleansed us of our sins. Cleansed as in Purified.  And as verse 22 states, "...under the law, almost everything is  purified with blood, and without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness of sins." 

Forgiveness of sin requires a sacrifice, a payment, a ransom of blood.  Without this we cannot be reconciled to God.  Because of Jesus we have atonement.  (Atonement- the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.)

Church, today's devotion requires action.  I have three challenges for us to complete. 

#1  Read or reread all of Hebrews 9.  Its long dude!  It's crazy complicated and describes some of the sacrifices the Israelites had to complete in order to be reconciled with God. Imagine if we still lived under the old covenant.  Imagine what we would have to do to atone for our sins.  I often take the cross for granted so reading this really helped me see Jesus in a new light. 

#2 Think about your last few sins this week.  (I can list at least eight of mine of the top of my head but I know there are even more).  I'm not here to instill guilt.  Guilt is not of God.  But conviction is humbling and reminds us of how much we need Jesus.  His precious blood was spilled for you and me.  Isaiah 1:18  “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

#3 Pray.  Be like Mary Magdeline and kneel at Jesus' feet.  Ask for forgiveness.  Let him look into your eyes and be restored, reconciled, renewed.  You are his!  He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)

I pray that we as a church love and lean on his word, even when the verses are harder to dive into.  Take care today.  Thank you for reading this dissertation of a devotion ;)

In Him,

Grace