The Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:11–22

The main point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus saves us through his self-sacrifice. Some may find the focus on blood uncomfortable or old-fashioned, but it’s key to understanding how deep our issues are, how strong God’s solution is, and how much our lives can change. Jesus’ sacrifice and the role of blood in our salvation is a big deal.

1. How bad our problem is

The Old Testament shows us that blood is needed for cleansing, representing both brokenness and purification. Blood symbolizes guilt and the inability to solve serious life problems. It also explores the concepts of guilt and shame, how they affect our self-view, and the need for honesty and making things right. It suggests that guilt gives us a sense of importance and purpose in life, and eliminating guilt might make us lose that feeling.

2. How strong God’s solution is

Blood, which represents life and self-giving, has a powerful effect, like when a soldier willingly gives up his life in a prisoner of war camp. The God of the Bible, unlike gods of other religions, offers his own blood. This shows that forgiveness involves suffering, and through this suffering, we are saved. Christianity’s unique view of forgiveness, based on Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross, can change hearts and bring true peace, something that can’t be achieved just by following religious rules or doing good deeds.

3. How much you can change

The blood of Jesus Christ has the power to save us from our flaws and allows us to come before God. Christianity isn’t about trying to be good enough, but about realizing God’s love and care. It’s about understanding that religious rituals can’t fix sin. True change comes from saying sorry, not just for the wrong things we’ve done, but also for the wrong reasons behind the right things we’ve done. This leads to a desire to follow God’s rules, as shown by the impact of Billy Graham’s message at Cambridge University.