Jesus is the Perfect Sacrifice.
 
No matter what is going on around us in this world, this is the hope of those who put their trust in Jesus.
 
This is the same hope that once filled an old man’s heart when he was about to sacrifice his promised only son because it was what the Lord asked of him. It was hope in the form of a ram caught in a thorny bush. Abraham saw this ram and knew that his trust in the Lord’s covenant promise was not in vain. And one day, as this ram symbolized, Jesus would come and wear the crown of thorns and bear its shame as the Perfect Sacrifice in our place.
 
It’s what we remember every year in December. The birth of a baby who was fully God and fully man. A supernatural miracle reconciling us to the Father through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
 
“This was always God’s plan. He would become one of us, and then die in our place, in order to become our ransom. In doing this, he would do something that no one else was able to do. He would become the temple – the place of sacrifice, he became the High Priest who would offer the sacrifice, and above all, he became the Passover lamb, the atonement sacrifice – all three roles in himself. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice because He is one of us and He is sinless.” (Stephen Sizer)
 
My friends, time is growing shorter. Do you have this assurance that you have been saved from the Final Judgement? Do you know that you can be freed from Satan’s power and that you are accepted before God unconditionally? Are you being made holy like Jesus on a daily basis? If you do, it is your greatest treasure on this side of heaven. If not, you can have that assurance right now if you repent, turn away from your sin and put your trust in Jesus as your Savior and Perfect Sacrifice.
 
In these days of shakings and unveiling of great evil—we who take refuge in Him, our Perfect Sacrifice, have this promise which David wrote of in his time of war:
 
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Psalm 27:1-3
During Napoleon’s Austrian campaign, his army advanced to within six miles of Feldkirch. It is a beautiful little village nestled in the mountains of Austria. It looked as though Bonaparte’s men would take the little unprotected town without any resistance. But as Napoleon’s army advanced in the night, the Town Council was hastily called together to consult what was to be done.
After much discussion, the dean of the Church rose and said, “My brothers it is Resurrection Day! We have been reckoning our own strength, and that fails. Let us turn to God. Ring the bells and have service as usual, and leave the matter in God’s hands.” So the Christians of Feldkirch gathered in a little church to pray.
At sunrise the bells of the village pealed out across the countryside. Napoleon’s army, not realizing it was Resurrection Sunday, thought that the Austrian army had moved into Feldkirch during the night and that the bells were ringing in jubilation. Napoleon ordered a hasty retreat, and the battle at Feldkirch never took place. The bells of praise caused the enemy to retreat, and peace reigned in the Austrian countryside.
 
What a wonderful God we have who has also put our spiritual enemies in retreat and given us victory, given us peace, given us assurance of sins forgiven and the hope of eternal life because of the birth, death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He always lives to intercede for us and because he lives, our enemy has already been totally defeated.
 
“The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:17-18
 
Jesus is indeed the Perfect Sacrifice.