Correct.

And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. Hebrews 9:15-18 (NAS)    

Last Will and Testament

Let's say that you have a relative, an uncle, who decides to make out a last will and testament before his death.  In the will and testament, he decides to give you all that he owns.  You then are the one to inherit what he promises in the will.  But you do not receive the inheritance before the relative dies; rather, it is after his death.

In a spiritual sense, Jesus was the mediator of the new covenant...also called the new testament or new will of God (see Hebrews 9:15 above).  In this new covenant, there are people who will receive the promise of eternal life...also called the eternal inheritance (see Hebrews 9:15).  But they do not receive the inheritance before the covenant is in effect...the new covenant is only in effect after Jesus' death (see Hebrews 9:16-17).  The Law of Moses and the New Covenant were both inaugerated with blood (Hebrews 9:18).

The High Priest Enters the Holy of Holies

In the Old Covenant (the Law of Moses), the high priest would go into the tabernacle and enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the people. When Jesus died, in this New Covenant he entered the Holy of Holies once for all mankind. Consider the following scriptures:

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." Hebrews 9:11-15 (NAS)

In the Old Testament tabernacle (tent), the Holy of Holies (the most sacred part of the tabernacle) was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain. Only the High Priest could enter to make sacrifices for the people of Israel:

"And you shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies." Exodus 26:33 (NAS)

When Solomon built the temple, a similar curtain separated the Holy of Holies.

Jesus Enters Into the Presence of God as a Sacrifice for Our Sins

When Jesus died on the cross, this curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom:

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many." Luke 23:44-46 (NAS)

"And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." And having said this, He breathed His last." Mark 15:37-39 (NAS)

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ⁵¹ And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, ⁵² and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:50-54 (NAS)

How do you feel about Jesus entering into the presence of God as a blood sacrifice for your sins?

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