“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:12)

This verse in Hebrews 10 stands in comparative contrast to the previous verse, which says, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (v. 11). It’s noteworthy that the Old Testament priests had to “standeth daily” as they did service in the tabernacle.

There were several reasons for this. The first was that “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Another less obvious reason was that the tabernacle of Moses and the later temple in Jerusalem didn’t have a single piece of furniture designed for sitting. In other words, there wasn’t a chair in the holy place for the priest to take a rest. There was the altar of incense, the menorah, and even a table of showbread, but no chairs. This was probably to signify that the work of the Old Testament priest was never finished.

In dramatic contrast, Christ Jesus, functioning in His office of high priest, offered His life as a single sacrifice and payment for all our sins—past, present, and future—and then “sat down” at the Father’s right hand. Jesus emphatically sat down to demonstrate that the work of redemption is indeed finished!

In God’s eyes, His people are forever perfect, spotless, and washed whiter than snow by the precious, eternal blood of His Son. Our part is to believe and receive all that has been done for us by Christ, “whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25). JPT

Days of Praise Podcast is a podcast based on the Institute for Creation Research quarterly print devotional, Days of Praise. Start your day with devotional readings written by Dr. Henry Morris, Dr. Henry Morris III, Dr. John Morris, and others to strengthen and encourage you in your Christian faith.