Our youngest daughter has worked at Honey Baked Ham for the past few years. And while they serve sandwiches and cater events year-round, their highest volume of business occurs over the holidays. In late November, people line up outside before the shop even opens, and customers stream in for days, eager to buy the perfect turkey or spiral sliced ham to help their families celebrate and give thanks. Some are grateful for football and a day or two off of work. We give thanks for family and provision, and especially for Jesus.
In the Old Testament, God’s Law included a sacrificial system designed to make atonement for the sins of Israel. Priests offered morning and evening sacrifices, along with various sacrifices brought by individuals to pay for specific sins. Beyond that, to fully ensure recompense for every single sin in the entire nation, God instituted the Day of Atonement. Once a year the high priest entered the Holy of Holies where he would sprinkle blood from a bull on the mercy seat to cover all remaining sin for the previous year. Every Israelite could rest assured of right standing with God.
Until, that is, they sinned again. Day in and day out, year after year, they offered sacrifices because day in and day out, year after year, they sinned. And so do we! Knowing this system was insufficient, God sent Jesus, the perfect sacrifice who ended that entire practice.
The Levitical process was only temporary.But Jesus, the Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world–sins past, present, and future. Hebrews 10:11-14 explains the difference: Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He (Jesus), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
For those who accept His payment on their behalf, only one sacrifice remains. It’s not an animal or grain or drink offering. And it’s not penance or saying some arbitrary number of prayers.
Then what is this remaining sacrifice? We offer Him our thanks: By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15 KJV). In light of all Jesus accomplished for us, thanking Him is the easiest sacrifice of all. We can rest in the knowledge of His complete forgiveness and love.
So, as you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal, reflect on His sacrifice as you bring yours. An amazing thing happens as you express heartfelt thanks. All your troubling distractions and burdens, those things that have weighed on your soul, fade in importance as you focus on and express gratitude for your many blessings—making you feel lighter! Just in time for that big dinner.
