How many things in life do I wish I could just do once and be finished forever? The list is endless but it definitely includes taxes and laundry. Knowing that I have to do any task again and again greatly diminishes the satisfaction of completion for me. Did I mention laundry?
Can you imagine the thrill of Jesus’ Jewish disciples when they realized that His death and resurrection was a “once and for all” sacrifice?” No more repeat sacrifices at the temple. Sin was forgiven forever through Jesus’ incredible sacrifice!
Isaiah 52:15 says, “so shall He sprinkle many nations….” I recently read that the Hebrew word for sprinkle is “yaz’zeh.” This same Hebrew word for sprinkle is used in the book of Leviticus for sprinkling sacrificial food (from The Complete Jewish Study Bible, pg. 579). This was really good news for the Jewish people! The good news for the rest of us is that Jesus’ sacrifice extended to all nations – forgiveness to anyone who would receive His free gift!
“For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:14
We are all able to join God’s chosen people and become one His children if we repent and believe in Jesus’ sacrifice. If you are not a believer in Jesus (or “Yeshua,” His Jewish name!), then it may all sound too good to be true. The truth that Jesus’ sacrifice offers forgiveness for our past, present, and future sins is hard for any of us to believe! In fact, even many of us who have been believers in Jesus for decades, still find ourselves in the rut of trying to earn God’s forgiveness. Once we have surrendered our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us and changes our hearts.
Can you imagine if we all accepted this astounding gift and let the truth sink down deep into our hearts? Love, joy, and peace would replace our guilt and shame.
Jesus summed it all up on the cross when He said in John 19:30, “It is finished!”
For further reading see Hebrews 10:1-23.
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