But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:11-12 NIV
Much of Hebrews contrasts two covenants—the old covenant established at Sinai and the new covenant inaugurated at Calvery. Hebrews 9 begins by describing the Tabernacle of the Old Covenant. This Tabernacle had an inner room called the Most Holy Place—a room where God was symbolically enthroned between the cherubim above the Ark of the Covenant. Only the High Priest could enter this room, once a year on the Day of Atonement, with blood to offer for his and the people’s sins. This limited access into the inner room illustrated the inability of human efforts and sacrifices to purify us and thus enable us to enter God’s presence.
In contrast to this is what happened when Christ came as the high priest of the new covenant (Heb. 8:10-12). He entered, not into a tabernacle made by human hands, but into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Tabernacle. And he entered, not with the blood of an animal, but with his own blood. A one-time sacrifice that provided eternal redemption rather than the annual ceremonial washing provided by the old covenant.
Moses built the Tabernacle, established the priesthood, and set up the sacrificial system according to the instructions he received from God at Mt. Sinai. But these were only temporary, looking forward to and illustrating the greater work of Jesus. He is our great high priest, who offered himself as a perfect sacrifice, and who serves in a greater and more perfect Tabernacle. Only through Jesus’ finished work on the cross can we come to the Father. He is the only way (John 14:6).
