Christ's Superior Ministry

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 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. (Hebrews 9:11-12)

In two verses, Paul quickly sketches the superior access to God provided through the High Priestly ministry of Christ (Heb. 9:11, 12). What is superior about each of these aspects of the ministry of Christ?

A.   The Tabernacle—Christ’s Tabernacle is Superior (Heb. 9:11).

1.      Christ has appeared as High Priest of the good things to come, that is, of the tremendous blessings that He bestows on those who receive Him.  His sanctuary is a greater and more perfect tent. It is not made with hands in the sense that it is not constructed of this world’s building materials. It is the sanctuary of heaven, the dwelling place of God. –Believer's Bible Commentary

2.      This greater and more perfect tabernacle is heaven itself (Heb. 9:24) and not His physical body. Messiah High Priest provides salvation for the lost “by a greater and more perfect tabernacle.” That is, the kind of tabernacle the priest officiates in, determines the quality of his work. If he ministers in a tabernacle that is a mere type, his work is only typical. If he serves in the Heavenly tabernacle, his work of salvation is real and potent. The heavenly tabernacle is the particular sanctuary in which Christ serves. It is further described as “not made with hands,” (2Cor. 5:1; Col. 2:11; Heb. 9:24) and “not of this building.” That is, Messiah’s place of service does not belong to the natural creation, the material universe—it is Heaven itself (1Pet. 1:4).

3.      No temple made with hands,

His place of service is;

In heaven itself He serves,

A heavenly priesthood His:

In Him the shadows of the law

Are all fulfilled, and now withdraw. —Thomas Kelly

4.      The Old Covenant tabernacle was made by the hands of men (Ex. 35:30–35). The New Covenant sanctuary was not made with hands. “Not of this building” (Heb. 9:11) means “not of this creation.” The tabernacle of Moses was made with materials that belong to this creation. The heavenly tabernacle needed no such materials (Heb. 9:24). Since the heavenly tabernacle does not belong to this creation, it is free from the ravages of time.

The “good things to come” had already arrived! All that was foreshadowed by type in the tabernacle was now reality because of Christ’s priestly ministry in heaven. The tabernacle was patterned after the sanctuary in heaven, but today we no longer need the pattern. We have the eternal reality! –The Bible Exposition Commentary

B.    Access to God—Christ’s Access is Superior (Heb. 9:12).

1.      It was by His own blood that was shed at Calvary.

                                                  i.      He offered His own blood, not the blood of bulls and goats. Animal blood had no power to put away sins; it was effective only in cases of technical offenses against religious ritual. But the blood of Christ is of infinite value; its power is sufficient to cleanse all the sins of all the people who have ever lived, all the people who are now living, and all the people who will ever live. Of course, its power is applicable only to those who come to Him by faith. But its cleansing potential is unlimited. –Believer's Bible Commentary

                                                ii.      Now, the efficacy of our Lord’s blood rested, not in the fact that it was human blood, but that it was human blood of a unique kind. It flowed in the veins of One who was as to His humanity, sinless, and as to His Person, Deity. And the combination of these two, sinless humanity, and Deity, made it unique, efficacious. It was the only sacrificial blood that could be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the heavenly Holy of Holies, the only blood which the High Court of Heaven would accept as atonement for human sin. It was this blood poured out on Calvary’s Cross that gave Messiah access as High Priest into the Holy of Holies of heaven. –Wuest, Kenneth S.

                                              iii.      Animal sacrifices and Christ’s sacrifice (v. 12). The writer will discuss the inferiority of animal sacrifices in Hebrews 10, but here he begins to lay the foundation. We need no proof that the blood of Jesus Christ is far superior to that of animal sacrifices. How can the blood of animals ever solve the problem of humans’ sins? Jesus Christ became a Man that He might be able to die for people’s sins. His death was voluntary; it is doubtful that any Old Testament sacrifice volunteered for the job! An animal’s blood was carried by the high priest into the holy of holies, but Jesus Christ presented Himself in the presence of God as the final and complete sacrifice for sins. Of course, the animal sacrifices were repeated, while Jesus Christ offered Himself but once. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

2.      It was perfect access into the very Presence of God.

                                                  i.      Our Lord entered the Most Holy Place once for all. At the time of His Ascension, He went into God’s presence, having finished the work of redemption at Calvary.

                                                ii.      He entered in once into the Holy of Holies. The word “once” means “once for all,” is contrasted with the Aaronic high priest who entered into the earthly Holy of Holies annually. We should never cease to rejoice over the completed sacrifice of Christ. Praise the Lord!

                                              iii.      Christ has entered into the true holy place,-not into that which was curtained with a veil, which was but a type, and which was put away when the veil was rent from the top to the bottom as Jesus died; he has entered into the immediate presence of God, and he has entered there once for all, "having obtained eternal redemption for us" Heb 9:12.—Spurgeon's Sermons

C.    Redemption—Christ’s Redemption is Superior (Heb. 9:12).

1.      It is Eternal. By entering the Holy of Holies, Messiah obtained eternal redemption for lost sinners.  By His sacrifice He obtained eternal redemption. Aaron’s priests only obtained annual atonement.  No animal sacrifices ever purchased “eternal redemption.” Their blood could only “cover” sin until the time when Christ’s blood would “take away sin” (John 1:29). We have “eternal redemption.” It is not conditioned on our merit or good works; it is secured once and for all by the finished work of Jesus Christ.

2.      It was the Perfect Ransom. The value of His sacrifice is immeasurably greater than the animal offerings of the Levitical system. A perfect ransom price had been paid for human “redemption,” and because it need not be paid again that redemption is an “eternal” one. Christ’s sacrifice was so perfect and effective that it never needs to be repeated. 

3.      It Frees Us. “Redemption” was the price paid to gain freedom for a slave (see Lev 25:47-54). Through his death, Jesus paid the price to release us from slavery to sin. Now we are forgiven based on the shedding of Jesus’ blood—he died as the perfect and final sacrifice. (See also Rom 5:9; Eph 1:7; 2:13; Col 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19.)

Christ provided our redemption. Although you know Christ, you may still believe that you have to work hard to make yourself good enough for God. But rules and rituals have never cleansed people’s hearts. By Jesus’ blood alone we are forgiven, are freed from death’s sting and sin’s power, and can live to serve God. If you are carrying a load of guilt because you are finding that you can’t be good enough for God, take another look at Jesus’ death and what it means for you. Christ can heal your conscience and deliver you from the frustration of trying to earn God’s favor.—The Life Application Commentary Series 

So, there you have it! These are some of the reasons Christ's once and for all sacrifice and service are superior to all others. The Old Covenant pointed to the complete work of Christ; it was never intended to rival the work of grace through Christ. Beloved, it is exclusively through Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God, that we have a superior Tabernacle, Access to God, and Redemption. There is no one and no ministry like that of our Lord Jesus. You may search the world and universe over...there is nothing like the Savior. Absolutely no one and nothing compares! He alone is the Way, Truth, and Life. Come to Him for forgiveness, salvation, and a relationship with the true and living God.