Heb. 9:11-28, Our Great High Priest

Let us now consider Jesus Christ, our “great High Priest” (4:14), the eternal Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (8:1).

Yes, Jesus has a covenant with God that enables worshipers to know God deeply (8:10-13).  This covenant involves the Holy Spirit living in the worshiper, so that not only is God’s law written in the heart but the worshiper is changed.  This covenant does not involve mere externals like the old; it brings change to the heart so that God can dwell with the one who comes to Him.

Second, Jesus has access to the “heavenly sanctuary” (9:11), the original after which the earthly one was patterned.  This is the point of the references to Jesus “passing through the heavens.”  He has gone to that temple that is greater, more perfect and not made with hands. 

Third, Jesus had performed the service of a High Priest (9:12-15).  Unlike Aaron, who brought the blood of animals, Jesus has entered the “Holy of Holies” (NKJV “Most Holy Place”) with His own blood.  He did it once, and since it was the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, it never needs to be repeated.  Thus, He has obtained, for the worshipers, “eternal redemption.”  His blood cleanses the “conscience,” which means it deals with our guilt at the deepest level. 

Fourth, Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant that promised a relationship with God (9:15).  Remember that the promises of a relationship with God in the new covenant were based on the fact that God would no longer remember the sins of the worshipers (8:12). 

This concept of the “mediator” needs more explanation and we get it in Heb. 9:16-28.  To understand 9:16-22 (Moses’ role as mediator of the old covenant) we would encourage you to read Exodus 24:3-8.  At Mt. Sinai, after God gave Moses the covenant, Moses explained it to the people who agreed to live by it (24:3).  Then Moses built an altar, and for the last time offered sacrifices performed by young men of various tribes.  Moses took the blood, sprinkled half on the altar, and then half on the people after they again agreed to do their part (24:7).  Then Moses said these words: “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD made with you according to all these words” (24:8). 

If the “copies of the things in the heavens” were sprinkled with the blood of animals, then the “heavenly things themselves” required a better sacrifice (Hb. 9:23).  That is what Christ did!  He entered the heavenly tabernacle “to appear in the presence of God for us” (9:24).  He did this only once.  There was seemingly an endless supply of animals to kill under the old system.  But under the new covenant there was a perfect Man and He could only die once.  This is so exciting, isn’t it.  How wonderful to know that we, sinful men, can be reconciled to our holy God!