This is Walking with Jesus, a devotional journey through books of the Bible, brought to you by Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. I'm Jason VanBemel. We are continuing in the book of Hebrews. This is day 24 of our Hebrews devotional, and that brings us to the end of Hebrews chapter 7. Today, we're going to be looking at Hebrews 7, verses 18 through 28, and asking this question, what's so much better about the new? Here's our scripture reading. For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law made nothing perfect. But on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath. But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him, the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever. This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing office. But he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted to the heavens. He has no need like those high priests who offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a son who has been made perfect forever. Love that. That's Hebrews chapter 7, verses 18 through 28 in the English Standard Version. Well, I love old cars. I love reading magazine articles about old cars. American Pickers is one of my favorite TV shows, especially when they're looking at and talking about old cars and motorcycles. We even have a family membership to the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, PA. And yet, if I'm honest, I have to admit, along with Jay Leno, who also loves old cars, that the newer cars of today really are better. They're better in every way. They have better performance, better handling, they're more reliable, they have better safety features and pollution control, so they're better for people and for the environment. Ah, but I still do love those old cars. What about the Old Testament? You see, the people who first received the book of Hebrews as a letter, they were being tempted to think that the old was better. and to go back to it. They were tempted to think that the sacrifices, the ceremonies, the dietary laws, holy days, and regulations of the Old Covenant age were good enough. Certainly better than being persecuted for their Christian faith. But was it better? Not at all. In fact, Hebrews 7.18 says that the Mosaic Law and the Levitical priesthood were weak and useless, for they made nothing perfect. So it was set aside, and a better hope was introduced in Jesus. But now, is the hope we have in Jesus better? How? What's so much better about the new? Well first, we have a better hope. The first better introduced in today's passage is a better hope. The better hope comes because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He lives forever as our high priest because his life is indestructible in his resurrection glory. So our hope is better because it is a hope stronger than death. Second thing is a better oath. God has made a better oath to the high priest of the new covenant, Jesus. He has sworn to make him a priest forever, not just for a few years. Under the old covenant, a change of priesthood brought uncertainty because the new high priest might be unfaithful and reliable, but we never need to fear this. For God has sworn a better oath to keep Jesus as our high priest forever. Third, a better intercession. One of the key roles of a priest is to make intercession for the people. The priest pleads before God for mercy for the people of God. And because Jesus lives forever, he is able to never stop praying for us. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him. Fourth, a better high priest. Our high priest not only makes a better intercession because he lives forever, but he is also better because he is holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He's the Son of God. and he's the son of God forever. And finally, fifth, a better sacrifice. Jesus is not only a better high priest, but he offered a better sacrifice. He does not offer a daily sacrifice. He offered himself once for all, accomplishing all that was needed for our salvation in that one supreme act. And so the new is indeed better than the old. And our salvation is as complete and perfect as our Savior. Now does that make the Old Testament useless? Of course not. In fact, it's impossible to properly understand the New without the foundation provided by the Old. But the fulfillment of the Old Covenant brought by Jesus brings a better salvation to God's people forever.