By Bob Bunn
Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening my axe.” Of course, that might be an internet legend, and he may never have said it at all. But even if he didn’t, the principle behind the thought rings true.
A wise worker knows what it takes to get the job done right the first time.
You’ve probably had those situations where someone over-promised and then under-delivered. Nothing is more frustrating that discovering that something you’ve brought in simply isn’t up for the task. You end up spending more time and money trying to get something fixed than you would have if you’d paid more attention on the front end. It’s important to make sure you’ve got the right person for the right job. Whether you’re talking about car repairs or home improvements or tax preparation or yard care, having someone qualified and experienced makes all the difference in the world. You need someone who can do the job right the first time and settle the matter once and for all.
In ancient Israel, the priests had a job to do. It was their job to offer the sacrifices on behalf of the people. They were the go-betweens who represented God on behalf of the people and the people on behalf of God. This was an important responsibility that had to be done right.
And honestly, they were qualified for the job. God set out strict rules about who could be a priest and who couldn’t. He set down the guidelines for what they should do and what they needed to avoid. And He even explained the consequences for those who fell short. The priests had everything they needed to meet God’s expectations and lead the people into a closer relationship with Him.
They did have one problem, though. They were sinners just like the people they represented. They had the same broken natures and lived under the same curse. They shared the tendency toward evil thoughts and wicked actions. They had to keep offering sacrifices for themselves, along with the sacrifices they presented for others. They couldn’t save themselves, so they couldn’t finish the job once and for all.
Only Jesus could do that. As the sinless Son of God, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He broke the curse of sin. And in doing so, He became the perfect Mediator between humans and their Creator. While all the human priests in Israel’s history could not finish the job, Jesus got it done—once and for all time.
During the Advent season, it’s easy to think about Jesus as the baby in the manger. Still, we can’t forget why that baby came in the first place. He came to be a King, but He also came to become our ultimate High Priest. He offered the perfect sacrifice because He was the perfect Sacrifice.
He did what no one else could do. And He did it for us.
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