The Crucified Messiah

Because he sacrificed his life for others, God resurrected and exalted Jesus and installed him as Absolute Lord over all things . Jesus is the only one who unveils the “ mysteries of God ,” only he is qualified to reveal the “ unseen God .” Only in Christ are all the promises of God fulfilled. He unlocks the Hebrew Bible and discloses the “ times and seasons .” The Crucified Messiah is the Absolute Sovereign over all things, and he reigns from the Divine Throne as “ Lord ” – (Revelation 5:9-14).

Jesus is the High Priest of the greater sanctuary “made without hands” foreshadowed by the Ancient Tabernacle . Jesus is the High Priest who serves in the “ True Tabernacle pitched by the Lord and not man ” and foreshadowed by the religious structures and rituals of Ancient Israel. The Son of God has become our “ priest forever ” who ministers for us “ at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens ” – (Hebrews 8:1-2).

The Slain Lamb is the Messiah in Revelation who overcomes and reigns over the Nations and the Kings of the Earth . In popular preaching, Jesus has become the “ Roaring Lion of Judah ” who will soon unleash his predatory cry as he slays his enemies. Unlike the man from Nazareth, this warrior-king will destroy everyone who resists him as he imposes his kingdom on the willing and the unwilling. No longer is he the savior who submitted to an unjust death to save the world. Does not the  Book of Revelation  tell us that he is the Messianic Lion?

Foundational to the Letter to the Hebrews is the appointment of Jesus as our High Priest. This was due especially to his obedience “ unto death ” whereby he achieved the “ purification of sins .” In his sufferings, he was “ perfected .” God vindicated his sacrifice by resurrecting and seating him at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High ” where he now intercedes for us.

Jesus inaugurated the superior New Covenant through his Death and Resurrection, rendering the old covenant obsolete  – Hebrews 8:6-13. The definitive “ Word ” that God has spoken “ in the Son ” surpasses all past revelations made in “ the prophets ,” including Moses, the Great Lawgiver. Only Jesus “ achieved the purification of sins ,” therefore, he “ sat down ” at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest and instituted the long-promised “ New Covenant .”

God has spoken His definitive word in His Son. All previous words given by the prophets were preparatory, promissory, and partial . God has spoken His supreme Word in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah who “ achieved the purification of sins ” through his “ once and for all ” sacrifice for sins. To now return to the Levitical system with its rituals and repeated animal sacrifices would mean disregarding and dishonoring this Supreme Word and Christ’s sacrifice. By doing so, we invite severe punishment.

The Letter to the Hebrews begins by stressing the superiority of the “ word spoken in the Son ” over all previous revelations “ spoken in the prophets .” This includes the Great Lawgiver himself, Moses, the greatest of the prophets, and it indicates the fundamental weaknesses of the Levitical priesthood and its sacrificial system. The previous words from the prophets were true but partial and preparatory. However, now, “ upon the last of these days ,” God has “ spoken ” with great finality in one who is His “ Son .”

The Son achieved the “ Purification of Sins ,” thereby qualifying to “ sit down at the right hand of the Majesty on High .” As the appointed High Priest “ after the order of Melchizedek ,” he now intercedes for his people in the very presence of God. Moreover, he inherited a “ more distinguished name ” than even the angels, namely, “ Son .” In its first chapter, the Letter to the Hebrews demonstrates that this “ Son ” and High Priest is superior to even creatures as glorious as the angels of God.

According to  Hebrews , God has spoken His decisive and superior “ word ” in His son. Moreover, He did so “ upon the last of these days .” This clause refers to the end of the period epitomized by the Levitical code with its priesthood and repeated animal sacrifices, a system of worship that was centered in the Tabernacle, and later, in the Temple in Jerusalem. With the exaltation of the Son to the “ right hand of the Majesty on High ,” a new and final era of salvation has commenced.

Having achieved the purification of sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, where he now intercedes for us as our faithful High Priest . A key point of the  Letter to Hebrews  is Christ’s victory over sin for his people and his consequent exaltation to the “ right hand ” of God as their High Priest. Jesus secured what none of his predecessors could ever do. Through his “ once for all ” sacrifice, he “ achieved the purification of sins ” and “ sat down ” in the “ true and greater Tabernacle ” where he now intercedes for us.

Foundational to the  Letter to the Hebrews  is the appointment of Jesus as our High Priest, and this was due especially to his obedience “ unto death ” whereby he achieved the “ purification of sins .” In his sufferings, he was “ perfected ,” and in his resurrection, God vindicated his sacrifice by seating him at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High ,” where he now sits enthroned interceding on our behalf. The stress is not on his position as the Royal Son, as true as that is, but on his priestly status and ministry for his people.

Paul links the start of the “ Last Days ” with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The time of fulfillment arrived, and all God’s promises now find their “ Yea and Amen ” in the risen Savior. Similarly, the  Letter to the Hebrews  declares that “ in these last days ,” God has “ spoken ” His definitive “ Word ” in His Son who now sits at the “ right hand of the Majesty on High .” History reached its pivotal point in the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God.

The New Covenant results from the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and his enduring priesthood, which is based on his resurrection life . The  Letter to the Hebrews  highlights key aspects of Christ’s ministry, especially his Priesthood and  once and for all  Sacrificial Death. The Letter stresses the  non-repeatable nature  of his sacrifice for sin and  the permanence  of his Priestly Office. He has “ achieved the purification of sins ” that no animal sacrifice or priestly predecessor ever could.