My friend and business partner was very innovative. He never stopped trying. He often suggested new concepts or plans for us to try.
He eventually invented a number of products that really upset the applecart. One was balustrades (railings) that needed no or very little maintenance. The products were made of resin using sand fillers and other sand-related material.
After the balustrades had been installed, no further maintenance was needed, because the product never crumbled or became rusty. Very different from wooden and steel railings that have to be sanded and painted before every winter.
He also upset the applecart with window frames. Instead of leaving a hole and installing the aluminium window afterwards, the builder inserts our polymer so that it becomes part of the wall. When the builders are finished, the aluminium windows are screwed into the polymer frames, making them fit 100% tightly. Two men can install the windows of an average three-bedroom house in a morning.
I can list many wonderful products that upset the applecart. Truly innovative products representative of pioneering work in various areas.
In the same way, Jesus also upset the applecart. In the past, people’s sin was dealt with by slaughtering a goat or a calf, which then had to be sacrificed by the priests. The blood of these animals had to flow again and again, because this wasn’t a permanent solution.
In the same way that my friend was innovative, upset the applecart, and developed brand-new products, God came and introduced a brand-new plan, not ever seen before: 11-12But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven’s “tent”-the true Holy Place-once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all.
People were used to regular sacrifices being made for their sins. That’s the way it had always been and it would probably have stayed like that, if not for innovation. The difference lay in the blood. Because it was Jesus’ blood, Royal blood, it was sufficient to cover people’s burden of sin forever.
This was certainly revolutionary. For the first and the last time. Sufficient for everybody’s sin. Jesus went to heaven once. He does not have to die again. He does not have to enter the holy of holies again.
One was enough – because it was His blood.
Thank you! Thank you that it is enough for ALL my sin. God is really so good to us!
Scripture
Hebrews 9:11-15
Reflection
What does Jesus’ blood mean for you?
What does it do to you?
What do you do differently because of Jesus’ blood that flowed for you?
Prayer
Our Father, thank you for being so innovative. Thank you for upsetting the applecart. Thank you that we no longer have to sacrifice animals. Thank you that Jesus’ blood was enough once and for all. Amen.