IT IS FINISHED

IT IS FINISHED
Heb 10:1-18
"But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." (v.12).

WHETHER IT WAS THE TEMPLE OR the tabernacle, the sanctuary was relatively bare. There was certainly no chair or facility for sitting. Every priest who offered the sacrifices and performed other priestly duties did so standing (v.11). So it is with a striking note of drama when the author says of Jesus, "he sat down" (v.12). That simple action speaks volumes of the surpassing quality of Jesus' priesthood.

Consider the following points of comparison. The priests offered many sacrifices (v.1), Jesus offered only one. They did it repeatedly, Jesus did it only once. Their sacrifices could not take away sins (v.11), Jesus' sacrifice "made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (v.14). Finally, as we have seen, they stood and stood, Jesus sat down. The work was completed, the task was accomplished. From the cross, after making the sacrifice for sin, he cried, "It is finished." (John 19.30).

Here lies the difference between the Protestant cross and the Roman Catholic crucifix, and the different understanding of the death of Christ. The former is empty, whereas the latter has the body of Jesus still hanging on it. Why? Catholic theology sees the need for Jesus to die again and again (each time the Mass is celebrated) to atone for the sins of man. Protestant theology holds that He died once and for all (v.10). His body was taken from the cross, laid in a tomb, raised from the dead and exalted to heaven. It is no longer there on the cross. One sacrifice is sufficent for all time.

Our salvation is secure, not because we think we are good, but simply because we trust in God's sufficency. He will not save us with a half-effective sacrifice, or on an instalment plan. He has done it all the way. He sat down. It is said that the servant of the house stands; the son sits. The wonder of the gospel does not end there. Further, not only is the Son seated at God's right hand, we are also seated with Him in the heavenly realms (Eph 1.20; 2.6). Can we imagine anything more glorious?

Thus, the author concludes this section of his epistle on a grand note. Jesus the superior high priest has accomplished by His death what no one else had ever done. The access to God is now open to us. What are we waiting for?

We are seated, safe and secure.