“Expiation”

That’s not a word we use every day, but a Christian should be aware of the meaning.  To expiate means “to make amends or reparation for wrong doing or guilt; atone for, to pay the penalty of or to suffer for.”  Theologically, the word is used to describe what Christ did for us when He died on the cross.  Through His perfect obedience, up to and including His death on the cross, He made the way to be rid of our guilt and the debt of our sin.  In the words of a song we used to sing, “He paid a debt He did not owe with a price I could not pay.”  It’s not surprising that the Jewish people of the first century struggled to comprehend that Jesus was “the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the world.”  Think of the countless sacrifices, the blood that flowed, the water poured and the prayers prayed!  That one Man’s death on a Roman cross could replace all that seemed blasphemous.  The problem of course, was that they still didn’t understand at the time Who the Man really was.  The writer of Hebrews knew Who Jesus was!  With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we learn from the first three verses that Jesus is the Supreme One in every category that matters.  He is the only One that could purge us from our sins and give us the life we long for.  There is a strong temptation to go back to an old way of life and/or living.  Understanding who Jesus really is provides compelling evidence to stay the course on the narrow way that leads to life.  Jesus is better!