As a resident of the state of Wisconsin who occasionally listens to football games on the radio, I have become quite familiar with Green Bay play-by-play announcer Wayne Larrivee’s trademark phrase, “And there is your dagger!” This exclamation is invariably shouted with gusto toward the end of a game in which the Packers have just made a victory-clinching play. Although I’m not at all a fan of the team, I have to admit I do like the “dagger cry”. It’s so final, so certain. It means the battle is done; triumph is assured.
The book of Hebrews has a “dagger passage” that I have come to love. While memorizing it for a class recently, I was in awe of the beautiful finality presented in the verses. Read them slowly and out loud. I added some bolded text where I like to especially emphasize the words.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:10-14
I still get chills when I read these verses. Can you get any clearer than that? It’s over. Done. As our substitute, Jesus Christ paid it all; He triumphed over sin, death, Satan, and hell so completely that there is nothing any sinner on this earth can ever do to add to his work. We are to simply rest in who he is and what he did.
Jesus himself proclaimed that his sacrifice was sufficient for all sins when, while still on the cross, he cried out, “It is FINISHED!” (John 19:30)
And there is the ultimate dagger.
Made for Eternity 