“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:11-15).
The sanctuary in which Christ’s Day of Atonement was performed is unquestionably superior to the tabernacle constructed by Moses and the temple built by Solomon. Proof of this is overwhelmingly provided in these verses. Consider these specifics:
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Christ’s atonement is superior because of its location. Verse eleven describes it as “the greater and more perfect tabernacle”; verse twelve declares “He entered the Most Holy Place”.
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Christ’s atonement is superior because of its quality. There is no particle of inadequacy in the Lamb of God. His blood’s spotless caliber is of such quality that it only needed to be shed once for all for it to obtain eternal redemption. It is an eternally sufficient sacrifice.
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Christ’s atonement is superior because of its results. In addition to obtaining eternal redemption, it also has the power to clean any guilty conscience and inaugurated the new covenant.
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Christ’s atonement is superior because of its motivation. His participation in this Day of Atonement was voluntary, not coerced in anyway. Unlike the Old Testament’s bull and goats which were “volun-told”; Jesus freely volunteered.
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Christ’s atonement is superior because of its capabilities. Not only did it secure the possibility of salvation for those who lived under the new covenant, it also provided redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant. What a two-fer! Because of its superior capabilities, the eternal inheritance is possible for all—Old and New Testament saints alike.
The superiority of Christ’s atonement is no coincidence or accident. Each point of comparison exists because of the depth and riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge.
