But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Hebrews 8:6
An on-line discussion occurred between some Americans and a Canadian as to which of the two countries has the better health care. Unfortunately for the Americans, they were basing their arguments on the deeply flawed information from their insurance companies, that falsely described the Canadian publicly funded approach as inadequate. The Canadian reminded them that half of all personal bankruptcies in the US result from health care expenses, while no personal bankruptcies in Canada result from health care costs. He also reminded them that, for about a third of the cost per capita, the Canadian systems provide health care to everybody, unlike the American system that includes only those who can afford the insurance. But the Americans still insisted that their system is better, just like those who insist that the Judaic system of the law and ordinances is better than the salvation through grace provided by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our text speaks of a better covenant, of which the Lord Jesus is the mediator. It is better in many ways, including two of the many ways in which Canadian health care is better than the American.
Like the Americans’ need to always be paying for insurance, the Judaic legal requirements were a continual thing, requiring regular sacrifices and vows and observances to maintain. How much better is our salvation, in which our Saviour has already paid all the charges in full by making one great sacrifice for sins forever. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:1. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more – Hebrews 10:17.
As the Canadian health care is available to everyone, unlike the user pay, too bad for the poor system south of the border, so God’s glorious and full salvation through His Son is for the whole world, not merely to the offspring of Jacob and his sons. Gentiles were excluded under the Mosaic law, and could not enter into the temporal blessings of Judaism. But the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanest from all sin – 1 John 1:7. And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world – 1 John 2:2.
As we gather today to honour our Lord in the weekly remembrance of His death, we do so without any concerns on our part as to whether we meet the requirements for His salvation or for His presence in our midst. He has forever met all those requirements for us by being the Mediator of a better covenant. We praise Him for the better promises of eternal redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1:7 – Jim MacIntosh