In the book of Hebrews, the blood of Jesus is the blood of the New Covenant in contrast to the blood of animals which ratified the Old Covenant.

The Old Covenant as referred to in the book of Hebrews, and elsewhere in the New Testament is the Law of Moses. This is not the covenant that God made with Abraham, but rather, the covenant that God made with Abraham’s descendants when he delivered them from Egypt (Hebrews 8:8-10).

In chapter 8, The writer of Hebrews tells us that if Jesus were on earth, he would not be a priest, because those priests serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. ~ Hebrews 8:5

He then tells us that Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much he also is the mediator of a better covenant.

The covenant is better for one reason alone: Jesus!

Jesus lived a sinless life and pleased God from his heart in every thing he said and did. In contrast, the Old Covenant priests were ritually purified, and served in a system that was only as a shadow of something greater. Thus they were required to offer the same sacrifices over and over again, that could never take away sins.

When Moses read the words of the covenant to the children of Israel at Sinai, he said, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. ~ Hebrews 9:20

I think that sometimes we underappreciate the reality that we are in covenant with God, not by the blood of animals, but by the blood of Jesus. 

Everything we read regarding the Old Testament priesthood, sacrifices, and the tabernacle was but a foreshadowing of something greater that was to come,

Since that covenant was established with the blood of calves and goats, it served as a type and shadow of something greater. It did not have the power to purify the conscience and bring God’s people into his abiding presence.

Thus, it could only point God’s people to a greater blessing, a blessing that would be found in the New Covenant established in the blood of Jesus. But what is it that makes the blood of Jesus so powerful and such a blessing?

Well, for one we know that Jesus had no sin, but this is far more than Jesus being the only person in history to keep all of the rules and never miss the mark. I think we might sometimes think of Christ’s sinlessness in such ways.

The sinlessness of Christ is much more than never missing the mark. Jesus never sinned because he lived his life to always please the Father.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ~ Hebrews 10:5-7

In the reference above, the writer of Hebrews is citing from the Psalms.

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. ~ Psalm 40:7-8

Jesus came to do the will of God, not out of duty, but out of joy, for he says, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

This disposition in the man, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of the New Covenant as the writer of Hebrews explains.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ~ Hebrews 10:8-10

The words, He taketh away the first, is a reference to the first covenant, and contextually that is the Old Covenant (the law of Moses).

He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. The second is a reference to what is said next, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

Notice the contrast. The first was the continual offering of animal sacrifices that could never take away sins. This was the first covenant. The second that is established is, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

This is what the writer of Hebrews is referring to when he says, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

By the will that was in Jesus, that delighted to do God’s will, (through that will in Jesus) we are sanctified by the offering of his body once and for all!

The power in the blood of Jesus is not just that it cleanses us from past wrongdoings only, but it also cleanses to serve the Living God.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ~ Hebrews 9:13-14

Notice that the blood of Christ not only cleanses us from, but also unto. This is why there is a renewing within the heart to please God when we truly seek for cleansing by the blood of Christ. Paul touched on this in his second letter to the Corinthians.

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:11 

The cleansing that comes through the blood of Christ frees the conscience into service and fellowship of the Living God. This is because the disposition that was in Christ when he laid down his life for us was one of complete consecration to God, one that says, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

We sometimes say Jesus paid it all, and that certainly is true, but we might also add, he paid it forward as well, because the same Spirit that was in Jesus, to love the Father and to please him always, is the Spirit we receive when we are cleansed in his precious blood.

This is the Spirit of the New Covenant, and the New Covenant is better because Jesus is better!