Costly Sacrifice (March-May 2025)
Unit II: Christ's All-Sufficient Sacrifice
Lesson 1/4: Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice
Daily Bible Meditations by Denovia Mckenzie
Sunday, March 30: Psalm 96
When we hear "bring an offering," we might think it is time to empty our pockets and bring money to the church. But an offering is much more than money. The passage urges us to, "Give to the Lord the glory due His name" (Psalm 96:8, NKJV). God is worthy of our praises! Even creation sings His praises. He is the exalted King and human idols cannot be compared to Him. What offerings are you bringing to such a worthy God? Will you offer your surrender, time, and resources? "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!" (Psalm 96:1, NKJV). Sing to the Lord a new song of commitment. Sing to the Lord a new song of surrender. Sing to the Lord a new song of gratitude.
Monday, March 31: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Jesus displayed such humility when He walked the earth as a human. Though faced with numerous temptations, He never succumbed to them. He did no wrong but, in all His actions, strived to please His Heavenly Father. He endured suffering not because of His sins but because of our sins. Jesus' demonstration of love on the cross is why we can fellowship with God. Jesus suffered and died on the cross, but He did not stay dead. He conquered the grave: "He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept [His] authority" (v.22, NLT). We have such great hope of eternity in heaven because of Jesus' sufferings and exaltation.
Tuesday, April 1: Isaiah 52:13-53:3
There is no doubt Jesus is the Suffering Servant. He was not only mocked but was severely beaten, pierced in His side with a sword, and nailed to the cross wearing a crown of thorns. Yet, despite all He went through, He rose as a victorious King. With all the evidence of Jesus' suffering and resurrection, many still refuse to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Though we know many in the world are still blinded to the truth of who Jesus is, we should never stop sharing Him with the world. In so doing, we do not need to water down the gospel; we need to share it in its entirety, knowing with full confidence that the Holy Spirit convicts hearts - we are simply vessels.
Wednesday, April 2: Isaiah 53:4-12
"Yet when [His] life is made an offering for sin, [He] will have many descendants" (v.10, NLT). Today's passage speaks to the fact that Jesus suffered a horrible death without physical descendants. Yet, in His resurrection, He gained many spiritual descendants. Light came out of His anguish. The suffering Jesus endured was not in vain. Jesus' suffering resulted in the salvation of people from all nations who believe and have accepted Him as their Savior and in so doing have become children of God.
Thursday, April 3: Mark 10:41-45
Jesus' leadership while on earth was remarkably humble. He did not flaunt His power or misuse His authority for selfish gain. Jesus was more concerned with loving and serving people, especially those discarded by their society - consider how He cared for the Samaritan woman and the man at the pool of Bethesda. Whatever gifts God gave us or leadership roles in which He has allowed us to serve, may we remember that we should follow the example of Jesus. We must serve others and not exercise control over them. We should show love to everyone-especially those ostracized by society.
Friday, April 4: Hebrews 9:23-10:4
Before Jesus, the priests of Israel sacrificed animals as an atonement for the people's sins. Those sacrifices, however, had to be performed numerous times, repeatedly. No animal sacrifice could cover sins in the way Jesus' sacrifice did. Jesus did not die for one person; His sacrifice did not have a set number of people that could be saved. Nor did He have to repeatedly die for sins; His death and resurrection were enough to cover the sins of the entire world. Jesus' sacrifice provided perfect cleansing for sinners of all nations for all time.
Sabbath, April 5: Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25
If we have received salvation through Jesus Christ, we have been born again; we should not continue living as though we are still worldly. The passage warns us to set those sins aside. Let us not "[treat] the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy" (v.29, NLT). Jesus' sacrifice was far greater than any animal sacrifice. The spiritual privilege we now have as believers is not one we should take lightly. We should strive to live pleasing lives to God. We have a spiritual inheritance that we do not deserve, so we ought to be grateful and acknowledge how holy God is.
Reading:
Study: Hebrews 9:23-10:25
Background: Hebrews 9:23-10:25
Devotional: Mark 10:41-45
Key Verses:
For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24).
Heart of the Lesson:
People base their day-to-day lives on what has worked in the past. What if they were to learn that what worked in the past really did not work? Compared to the effect of Christ's single sacrifice for sin, the repeated rituals of the Torah are found wanting. Christ's life and death seal God's covenant with us, put God's Law into our hearts and minds, and guide us to live faithfully.
Questions for Studying the Text:
- When have you had to give up something that worked in the past in favor of something new? What did it take for you to make that transition?
- Explore the meaning of the word "cleansing" (9:23). What was the significance of cleansing in the Old Testament sacrificial system? How does this word reflect both physical and spiritual purification in the context of Hebrews?
- Compare Hebrews 10:1-4 with Psalm 40:6-8 and Colossians 2:16-17. How does the concept of shadows and the reality in Christ deepen our understanding of the Law?
- How did the author of Hebrews contrast the Old Testament sacrifices with Christ's sacrifice (see especially 9:23; 10:10)? What does this reveal about the nature of Christ's sacrifice? What comfort does this bring to believers?
- How can the assurance of forgiveness and the new covenant (Hebrews 10:16-17) transform the way we view our past mistakes and live out our future?
- What is the significance of entering the holy place "by the blood of Jesus" (10:19-22)? Describe the "confidence" with which we are encouraged to enter. How does this shape our prayer life and relationship with God?
Understanding and Living - Joan Small
Israel's Sacrificial System
Leviticus 1 -7 describes Israel's sacrificial system, including the five types of sacrifices - burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt.
1) Burnt offerings were offered daily (morning and evening), on Sabbaths, and at new moon and yearly feasts. Animals used were bulls, lambs, goats, pigeons, or turtledoves. The person who brought in this offering would lay his hand on the animal to indicate that the animal was taking the person's place, after which the animal would be killed.
2) Grain offerings brought the harvest of the land-fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense and cooked into cakes. This was an outward expression of devotion to God and was called a "memorial portion" - asking God to remember them with favor.
3) Peace offerings were sacrifices of animals and various kinds of bread associated brought in response to an unexpected blessing or an answer to prayer.
4) Sin offerings were designed for purification from sin committed unintentionally, so God could continue to dwell among His people.
5) Guilt offerings were for the purpose of restitution. These offerings were done on an individual and a corporate basis and they teach the necessity of dealing with sin, demonstrating that God has provided a way for dealing with sin. These sacrifices offered by the people were a physical expression of their inward devotion and were a shadow of what was to come.
Christ's Sacrifice
The sacrificial system continued in the time of the New Testament. In keeping with the Levitical law (Leviticus 12), Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple and offered a sacrifice for Mary’s purification (Luke 2:22-24). When Jesus healed the leper, He told him to go to the priest and make a sacrifice (Luke 5:12-14). The cleansing of the temple is another evidence of the system being practiced, as people were selling animals and birds for various sacrifices (Matthew 21:12-17), The sacrificial practices of the Old Testament were a shadow of what was to come. God had prepared the Lamb to be sacrificed from before the foundation of the world. This scripture points to Christ's death which the New Testament consistently describes in sacrificial terms, using the terminology of the Old Testament in teaching about the death of Christ.
Hebrews 7:27 portrays Christ as the sinless high priest who sacrificed Himself for sinners. His sacrifice was seen as superior, once for all, over the Levitical sacrificial system which could only cleanse people's bodies from ritual defilement, being repeated year after year. Christ’s sacrifice purifies people's hearts and sets them free from the penalty and the power of sin forever.
The representational role of the priest was permanently fulfilled by Christ, whose offices of Prophet, Priest, and King were demonstrated through His accomplished and continued work. Christ's death on the cross is described as a priestly act that brought Him into "the greater and more perfect tabernacle" unlike the sacrifice of the earthly high priest who entered the most holy place year after year. Jesus' blood sacrifice (the Paschal Lamb) produces eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12). There is no longer a need for a human priest to stand and represent other humans before God for the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins. Christ Jesus, the high priest, offered Himself as one sacrifice for sins, and His offering makes everyone whom He is making holy forever perfect.
Paul associated Jesus with the Passover sacrifice in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and said His death was an offering and praise to God — a fragrant aroma (Ephesians 5:2). Sacrifice was the acceptable mode of worship for Israel, but with the death of Christ, the animal sacrifice became unnecessary. Believers now have the responsibility to offer their lives as an acceptable sacrifice unto God (Romans 12: 1-2, 1 Peter 2: 5, Hebrews 13:15). The symbol of the sacrifice must be reflected in the individual's life, as they now have the boldness to enter God's most holy place through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). God desires the offerings to exemplify the heart of the worshipper (10:22). Also, the death of Christ, through the sacred curtain, opens a new life-giving way for us (10:20). God’s people can go right into God's presence, with a clean conscience, bodies washed with pure water, and a true heart trusting God fully (10:22). This is hope that can be held tightly because God can be trusted to keep His promise (10:23).
Transforming Power
Believers should find ways to encourage others in their walk with Christ, and meeting together in a physical place should be a priority (10:25). Christ will return and He wants His people to be ready. Believers have the responsibility to share the gospel of Christ with others, so that the transforming power can also effect changes in their lives. Life will present struggles and challenges, but believers must be persuaded to hold faith in Christ's finished work and to keep persevering until Christ returns.
The transforming power of the gospel of Christ Jesus will keep us until Jesus returns, never losing its power. He who starts this good work in us will bring it to fruition. The plan of salvation is wrapped up and tied up in the love of God that was manifested in Christ Jesus and His finished work on the cross. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead is given to every believer, making us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and giving us the power to do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).
May you spread the gospel of Jesus to everyone with whom you come into contact and may the transforming power of the gospel change lives because salvation can be found in no one else but Christ Jesus. His blood still has miraculous power.
Hints for Teaching:
Lesson Goals:
- Recount the particulars and meaning of the Old Testament’s sacrificial code.
- Meditate on the significance of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for sins.
- Persevere in confidence in our public witness to the transforming power of the gospel.
Teaching Activity:
Invite students to create visual art or diagrams depicting the earthly and heavenly tabernacles, illustrating the differences between the two. Next, divide the class into groups to discuss the contrast between the old covenant and the new covenant. Have each group present their key insights. Encourage students to reflect on how Christ's sacrifice influences their personal relationship with God. Close in prayer, inviting each person to share a request related to holding living a life transformed by the power of the gospel.
Looking Forward:
We have been emboldened for faithful living through the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Next, we will be challenged to live in love through the truth of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
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