God gave His only begotten son to become our complete and perfect sacrifice. This was an offering freely given to our world though sinful and evil. Prior to this time, God has made several efforts to redeem man but all failed. The prophets, priests, kings, scribes and even the law cannot tame man or curb his wide excesses. There is no perfection in the law! In short, neither the law nor its enforcers can free from sins, for wherever there is law, there is sin. According to Paul the Apostle, the knowledge of law makes room for sin because sin advantage in the law (Romans 7:7-8). People and nations of the world have drifted away from God, even God's own people-the children of Israel. Sadly, there's no one who has not been plagued by sin. So, God made provision for remission of sins through the blood of bulls and goats. Unfortunately, the blood of bulls and goats offered by the Levitical priests cannot permanently atone and remove sins even the sins of the priests who offered the sacrifices. For it became a perpetual necessity, a basic requirement for the high priest to first of all offer sacrifices for the atonement of his sins before he could offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gift and sacrifices for sins. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins" (Hebrews 5:1&3). And since the Levitical priesthood was deficient (Hebrews 7:11), hence, an entirely different and a new priesthood is needed to offer perfect sacrifices. God therefore proffered a lasting solution (Jesus) to the problem of man (sin) in His overall scheme of plan to redeem man. Jesus became both the sacrifice (a sinless lamb of God slain before the foundation of the earth (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:25 &28a) and the priest (Hebrew 9:11-12).
So, Jesus came after the order of Melchizedek since it became necessary that the holy Lamb of God who needs no offering for sins must be sacrificed, "For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:14-17). This Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God is a typology of Jesus for he had no descent (Hebrews 7:1&3). Jesus also has no earthly father. Jesus, the Son of God was conceived by a virgin (Mary) after the Holy Spirit overshadowed her (Matthew 1:18-23, Luke 1:26-35), born in a manger (Luke 2:4-7), grew up like every other children and it was recorded in the gospel according to Luke chapter 2 verse 40 "And the child grew and became very strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." Later, at age 30, being a fully grown man, He started His earthly ministry which culminated in His death on the cross. The Son of the living God was sacrificed for the sins of mankind. He decided to pay the price to ransom and redeem the world back to God. He bore the pains and the agony on the cross, indeed, it was a cruel cross. Yet, the Son of God bore it all and on the cross He died that we might live. And it was written of Him in the book of Isaiah 53:12, "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors." His suffering and death was predicted (Isaiah 53:7-10) and fulfilled (Matthew 27:15-50, Mark 15:3-39, Luke 22:63-65, 23:13-47, and John 19:1-37) because to this end and for this cause the Son of God was born.
Despite the provision God made for the redemption of man, the world is in turmoil because Satan (the god of this world) does not want man to be free from his grips. He still holds bound his captives not wanting them to be released from his shackles. But God's intention is to pull us out and deliver us from the power of darkness and to bring us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians1:7). That through Jesus we will be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in the light (Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 1:12b), though with no deserving merit. That His transformation power will work in us and make us who were once alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works reconciled back to God (Ephesians 2:11-13). God freely gives us the privilege to be among the saints to enjoy His divine blessings. It was a complete package-redemption, salvation, restoration and deliverance all at once through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. For it is written "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil'' (1 John 3:8b). Jesus came to disarm and destroy the strength of the powers that rule over us. He removed all satanic entanglements from us; graciously brought us into light, and made us free. Jesus made a cheap mockery and display of nothingness of the powers of darkness according to Colossians 2:14-15, "having wiped out the hand writing of the requirements that was against us which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." In other words, they cannot rule over us again. By extension, He destroyed the league, label, union and the handling over transaction of our lives to Satan. Hence, there's full redemption through the atoning blood of Jesus.
Wherever or whenever there is sin, there must be shedding of blood for its remission. For it is written "And according to the law almost all things in heaven are purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrew 9:22). Since the New Testament era, Jesus is the only sacrifice ordered and ordained by God and His shed blood is the only blood God recognizes and accepts to atone for sins (Hebrews 9:12-15). Inasmuch as the blood of bulls and goats formerly offered in the old covenant cannot permanently take away sins (Hebrews 7:18 & 10:3-4). Therefore, Jesus become the mediator of the new covenant; the only one approved bridging the gap between God and man. And this He does by the means of His death so that anyone who comes to God through Him may receive the promise of eternal life. There is no alternative to the blood of Jesus and no other sacrifice will be acceptable from God. God's blessings (salvation, redemption, forgiveness, deliverance etc.) are for those who will boldly take a step of faith and act. God is ever liberal with His blessings, willing and ready to attend to anyone who will humbly seek Him. But there is no shortcut to God, everyone must come to Him through Jesus Christ. God sees man only through the righteousness of the blood of Jesus. Every other route to God aside from Jesus is evil and demonic! Human skills, machinations, strategies and schemes will fail as these cannot equate or replace the blood and the sacrifice of Jesus. And that's why the song writer rightly puts: Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. It is henceforth needless to venture into ritual activity or engage in any form of animal or human sacrifices. Anyone who does this is not offering or sacrificing to God but to Satan. And God will severely deal with anyone found guilty of this evil act. Such a person will incur the wrath and the judgment of God for He will not overlook it.
Jesus is now the only hope for the world. No one and nothing can give man eternal, enduring and real hope outside Jesus. Paul the Apostle, in his letter to the Jewish believers exhorts and reveals to them the superiority of Jesus above their former practice "for the law made nothing perfect, on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God" (Hebrews 7:19). So, in Jesus we have not only better hope, but better covenant and better promises," But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry. Inasmuch as He is also a mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." These are all that the new priestly service of Jesus offers. Jesus has something to offer as a high priest just as high priests are appointed to offer both gift and sacrifices (Hebrews 8:3b). His sacrifice is better than the sacrifices of the Levitical priests because it is once in a lifetime. Previous covenant was faulty, hence, a need for a worthy replacement suitable enough to counter the deficiencies and the inadequacies of the former covenant. According to Hebrews chapter 8 verse 7, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." The new covenant is hinged on the efficacy of the blood of Jesus. His sinless blood (perfect) is qualified to remove sins and thoroughly cleanse from all defilement. There is huge contrast between the Aaronic (Levitical) priesthood (Exodus 29:1-21, Leviticus 6:1-7, 8:1-10) and the priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 7:22-28, 8:1-2, & 9:24-26). The priesthood of Jesus offers better hope, better covenant and promises that Levitical priesthood could not offer.
For the significant role Jesus played in God's redemption program, God was pleased with Him and allow all fullness to dwell in Him, "For it pleased the father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:19-20). As it is also written in the gospel according to John chapter 1 verse 16, "And of His fullness we have received, and grace for grace." All fullness dwell in Jesus, even the fullness of Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9 &Ephesians 1:23). God also exalted Him and gave Him a name above every other name (Ephesians 1:20-21, Philippians 2:6-10). Consequently, He is the head of the body (church). Jesus is the head of the church and that in all thing He might have preeminence (Colossians 1:18 &Ephesians 1:22). Jesus is not only the head of the church but He is also the head of all principalities and power. So, our completeness is in Him who is the head of all principalities and power (Colossians 2:10).
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