Jesus, the altar
Preaching Outline on Hebrews 13:10 – “We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
Introduction to Hebrews 13:10
When the people of Israel entered the tabernacle in the desert, the first thing they encountered was the altar. It was there, in that sacred place, that atonement was made for sins. Without passing the altar, no one could come close to God. There was no other way. If you wanted to pray, praise, ask for blessings or forgiveness, you had to start at the altar. It was like a door to reach the divine presence.
But here’s the main point: today, as New Covenant believers, we too have an altar – and that altar is Jesus Christ. On it we lay our lives, our weaknesses, our sins and we receive something much greater than just forgiveness: we receive eternal life. And that changes everything!
Development
1. What does “altar” mean?
The word altar literally means “raised up” or “high place”. In the book of Song of Songs, chapter 4, verse 6, it says: “I will go to the mount of myrrh and to the hill of incense.” This points to something elevated, special, where God meets with us.
Jesus is exactly that: he is our High Altar. When he was crucified, he became the perfect sacrifice and, at the same time, the place where we can meet God. On the cross, Jesus rose as the only way to the Father. It is through him that we are reconciled with God. As it is written in 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.”
2. The altar of the tabernacle and Jesus’ sacrifice
In the Old Testament, the altar of the tabernacle was the place where the Israelites brought their offerings. There were sacrifices for sin, for guilt, for peace. These offerings were necessary because, through them, the people received forgiveness and restored their communion with God. But these sacrifices had a problem: they had to be repeated constantly. No animal could definitively pay for human sins.
Then comes Jesus, the Lamb of God! He is the perfect and final sacrifice. In John 1:29, John the Baptist said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” When we look at the cross, we see that Jesus is both the altar and the offering. He took our sins upon himself (1 Peter 2:24) and gave us direct access to God’s presence.
Let’s remember Psalm 130:4: “But forgiveness is with you, that you may be feared.” This forgiveness is available to us today, and it doesn’t depend on animals or ancient rituals. It depends on Jesus, our living altar.
3. The church outside the camp
Hebrews 13:13 says: “Let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.” This reminds us that following Jesus often means leaving the worldly system and empty religious practices. Just as Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, we too are called to leave behind those things that keep us from a true relationship with Christ.
Jesus is our new meeting point. He invites us to abandon the false altars – be it money, success, selfishness or any other idol – and draw closer to Him, the true Altar.
4. The dawn of the third day
Jesus’ resurrection on the third day brought us a new reality: life and peace. Romans 5:1 states: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christ’s death and resurrection opened the door to a new spiritual dimension.
And do you know what’s most exciting? Jesus has promised to come back! When he comes again, it will be to take us to meet the Father. Revelation 21:3-4 talks about this hope: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God with men, for he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them. And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”
Conclusion of Hebrews 13:10
The dawn of the third day brought us something that no law or ritual could ever give: abundant and eternal life. Jesus, our altar, is proof of God’s unconditional love for us. He accepts us as we are, but never leaves us as we were. He transforms our lives, heals our wounds and fills us with his grace.
If you haven’t yet allowed this dawn to break in your life, I invite you to do so now. Come to the right altar – Jesus Christ. Lay your sins, your guilt and your worries at the foot of the cross. Receive the forgiveness and peace that only He can offer.
And for those of you who have already experienced this transformation, remain steadfast in your resolve to live as royal priests, offering pure and blameless worship to God (1 Peter 2:5). For one day we will be together, at the feet of the Father, celebrating eternal glory.
Preaching Outline on Hebrews 13:10 – “We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
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