The divine services of the first covenant: the rites and bloody sacrifices, 1–10; are far inferior to the “dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, 11–28. (91)
- “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” 12. The excellency of His sacrifice, which was His own blood; second, in the holy place whereinto He entered by virtue of it, which was Heaven itself. In Lev. 16:14, 15 it was by virtue of the blood of these animals that Aaron entered so as to be accepted with God.
- “But by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place.” This is the great mystery of the priestly work of Christ, the sacrifice which He offered unto (God to make an atonement for the sins of His people. The “holy place”—called in Heb. 9:8 “the Holiest of all”—signifying Heaven itself, the dwelling-place of God. This is unequivocally established by Heb. 9:24 “into heaven itself.” There never was any place to which this title of “holy place” so suitably belonged: thus, in Ps. 20:6 “His holy heaven.”
- And when was it that Christ entered Heaven by virtue of the merits of His own blood? Christ first ascended into heaven immediately after the resurrection as High priest. His final ascension took place forty days after the resurrection. This took place immediately after Christ, appeared to Mary Magdalene on the resurrection morning. Jn. 20:11-17. “And seeth two angels in white sitting…And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him, hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. This is to fulfill Lev. 16:17 “And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.” We can now continue with Jn. 20:19 and the verses that follows to see that the disciples indeed touched Him. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
- Having obtained eternal redemption,” what He did before He entered Heaven. What is redemption: “To deliver by paying a price” Three word are translated redemption: (a) agorazo “to purchase in the market”. The underlying thought is of a slave-market. The subject of redemption are “sold under sin” Rom. 7:14 but are under the sentence of death Eze. 18:4, Jn. 3:18-19, Rom. 3:18, Gal. 3:10. The purchase price is the blood of the Redeemer who died in their stead. Matt. 20:28, Mk. 10:45, 1Tim. 2:6, 1Pet. 1:18. (b) exagorazo, “to buy out of the market”. The redeemed are never again to be exposed to sale.(c) lutroo, “to loose” “to set free by paying a price” Jn. 8:32, Gal. 1.:4, Rom. 8:21. Redemption is only by sacrifice and power, Christ paid the price Rom. 8:2. Let us look at what took place in hell. The power of sin was broken and Christ met the claims of justice. Zech. 3:3-5, Is. 61:10, Rev. 3:18, Rom. 4:25, 2Cor. 5:21. We were clotted with righteousness with Him. Light over came darkness. Ps. 18:28, Eph.5:8, 2Cor. 4:6, Jn. 1:4-5. God made us alive in the spirit with Him 1Pet. 3:18. He became the first born from the dead. Col. 1:18. Satan became a captive. Ps. 18:40-41, 32, Col. 2:15. Death was paralysed. Heb. 2:14-15, Act. 2:24, 2Tim.1:10, Jn. 5:24; 8:51, 1Jn. 5:11-13. Captives were released. Ps. 126:1-3, Eph. 4:8-10, Ps. 24:7-10. That was the eternal redemption He purchased and sealed with His blood. 1Tim. 2:6, 1Cor. 7:23; 1Pet. 1:18. This “redemption” is eternal, which is in contrast from Israel’s of old—after their deliverance from Egypt they became in bondage to the Philistines and others. As the blood of Christ can never lose its efficacy, so none redeemed by Him can ever again be brought under sin’s, Satan’s, deaths and hell’s dominion.
