HE ENTERED BY BLOOD

"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." (Heb 9:12)

WHEN THE SON RETURNED to "heaven itself," He did so in our behalf. He did not enter heaven in disassociation from His vicarious atonement, like finishing a job on earth, then returning to His former role. He did return as One who had completed a mission, having satisfied the requirements of a gracious, yet just, God. However, after returning He embarked on the work for which He was now suited. That included mediating the New Covenant, interceding for those who are in Him, nourishing and caring for His church, and the final and total subjugation of all of His enemies. The salvation of God required all of these things.

IT WAS WONDERFUL when the Son walked among men, but it was more wonderful when He entered into heaven! It was good when Jesus "went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38), but it was better when He entered into "the holy place." Meeting with disciples in the synagogues and on the mountain side was glorious, but meeting with saints in heavenly places is "rather glorious." Christ's entrance into heaven had an infinitely greater effect than His entrance into the world. His ministry in heaven is more effectual than His Galilean ministry. In view of this, when you ponder Christ's accomplishments in the earth, it is staggering to consider how great His present work is. The work He is doing now does not overshadow the work He did upon earth, but it does exceed it. Presently He has a greater glory, a greater ministry, and a greater expectation.

THIS IS NOT INTENDED to diminish His entrance into the world, nor His marvelous works when He "dwelt amongst us." God forbid! His entrance into heaven validated His death and resurrection on our behalf. It also sanctified the recollection of His powerful works and gracious displays of grace and mercy. Christ's death would have counted for nothing if He did not return to heaven to minister its efficacy (Rom 8:34)!

IT WAS "THROUGH HIS OWN BLOOD" that the Son "entered the holy place." Some versions read that He entered, "with" His own blood (NAB). Others read "by means of" His blood (NIB), "taking with Him" His blood (NJB), and "He took His own blood" (NLT). The key that allowed Jesus to enter into heaven was not His "endless life," but His effective death! His entrance into the world was in order to the accomplishment of a death, not only a life (Luke 9:31). The command He received from the Father was to "lay down" His life, then take it up again (John 10:17-18). In His death, the price was paid. In His return to heaven, the price was presented to the God who required it to be paid.

JUST AS THE HIGH PRIEST under Law could not enter the holiest place without blood, so Christ could not enter heaven without the efficacy of His own blood. What is more, the high priest of old had to have appropriate blood to enter the expiatory realm. He could not enter with the blood of a turtle dove. It had to be the "blood of the bullock" or "blood of the goat" of the sin offering (Lev 16:14-15). Jesus could not enter heaven with the blood of "goats and calves." He could not enter with the blood of Abel, Stephen, Antipas, or the holy prophets. He had to enter with His own blood – His own personal investment in our salvation!

THE WILLING AND EFFECTIVE forfeiture of His life became the basis of our acceptance by God! He entered heaven with the evidence of an accomplished mission. He was obedient to the Father, having laid down His life of Himself, and taken it up again in the power of the Holy Spirit. Also, entering with His own blood required that He raise from the dead, taking His life back again as the Father commanded Him (John 10:17-18). No one else could enter with His blood – He had to do it Himself.

HE DID NOT ENTER into heaven with our good works, but with His own blood. He did not enter with the merits of the most excellent of the sinful race, but with His own blood! He did not enter into heaven with the tables of the Law, but by His own blood!

HIS SUBMISSION TO THE WRATH and curse of God lifted the curse from us. He entered by His own blood. Having submitted to the curse of the Almighty, now the Almighty could bless us. He entered by His own blood.

IF YOU DARE TO ENTER HEAVEN with anything else, you will be rejected. Make no mistake about that. We do not come to God pleading the merit of our own accomplishments, but having "faith in the blood" through which Christ entered into heaven (Rom 3:25). Because He entered through that blood, so can we! God honors that blood, and if we honor it, He will honor us! This gives great weight to the Pauline phrase, "faith in the blood" (Rom 3:25).

– Given O. Blakely