Proper 27
November 8, 2009

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 • Psalm 127 • Hebrews 9:24-28 • Mark 12:38-44

²⁴ For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.²⁵ And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. ²⁶ If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

²⁷ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Once and For All

One of the arguments that the writer of Hebrews makes is that Christ is superior to the old ways.  Here in chapter 9 we are reminded that Christ is the superior sacrifice.  He did not enter a human made sanctuary but he entered heaven itself to plea for us.  He is our advocate.  Jesus does not have to appear over and over and over again in order to make the sacrifice valid.  Jesus does not have to appear before God once a year like the Hebrew priests did — no, his sacrifice was once and for all.  His sacrifice transcended time.  It is through Christ’s death on a cross, he removed our sin.  We are reminded that we physically die once — but Christ died once for all time — his death brings new life and he will return a second time, not to deal with our sins — but (and I love this) to bring final salvation for those who are waiting for him.  This is the hope that all of us have as believers — Christ died for our sins and he is returning again for us.  His work is once and for all time — I like that.

To close, I want to post the lyrics to a song by White Heart called Once and For All

Oh won’t you come with me
To a hill called Calvary
See the face of a bruised and denied man
Can anyone explain
The mystery beyond the pain of this place
Where love is born again

Once and for all
He gave His life
He bled and died
The sacrifice for all
Who will take His name
Once and for all

Oh won’t you come and see
The tide of all humanity
They come on bended knee
We cannot close the door
That isn’t why He fought
the war of this place
Everyone can be free

Once and for all
He gave His life
He bled and died
The sacrifice for all
Who will take His name

Once and for all
Open wide the doors
There’s room for more
Tell all the world
that a heart can soar
when you call upon His Holy name

Once and for all
There is freedom
Once and for all
There is healing
Love sealed it all
Once and for all

It goes on and on
Out to everyone
Who will call upon His Holy name
On the tide will turn
For all those who yearn
For a heart that burns
With His flame
Once and for all