What did Jesus Have to Offer ? (Hebrews 8:1-4)
In this lesson we will be studying what Jesus Christ had to offer in regards to dealing with our sin. In the passage Jesus is compared with the Old Testament Levitical priesthood and it is shown that he must have something to offer as well.
A body hast thou prepared me (Hebrews 10:1-14)
From this passage it is plain to see that the sacrifices offered continually by the Old Testament Priest could not take away sin (verse 4). They were sort of a down payment until Jesus Christ could shed his blood as the ultimate payment for sin. In verses 5-6 we see that body was prepared for Jesus Christ to offer because God had not had pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices. Let us look at the Body of Jesus Christ and see just what he had to offer.
The Body of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ would have had a body, soul, and spirit because he came in the flesh (Hebrews 2:9-17). These three parts are clearly seen when he dies on the cross as they all go to different places (Luke 23:39-53)
- His Body went to the tomb (verse 53)
- His Soul went to paradise (verse 43) and also to hell (Acts 2:25-31){Remember Matthew 12:40}
- His spirit when back to God (verse 46), the spirit of man does the same thing (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Now we will look at how each of these three parts is directly connected with the offering.
1) His Body (Hebrews 2:9-17)
- By becoming a man he could taste death for every man.
- By becoming flesh and blood he could shed his blood (which was God’s blood Acts 20:28) as the price for our eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-15).
2) His Soul (Acts 2:17-31 ; Isaiah 53:10-12)
- His soul in hell was also an offering for sin. We must remember that he suffered not just physical death but the sufferings of a lost person in hell as well. Note in Isaiah 53:10-12 God was satisfied with this offering, which is why Jesus is called a propitiation in Romans 3:25.
3) His Spirit (John 10:17-18 ; Romans 8:11 ; Hebrews 9:14)
- Through the resurrection he defeated death, hell and the grave which completes our salvation. This was all done through the Spirit of God.
No earthly priest could offer what Jesus offered, which is why we do not need them today!