Tag: high priest

Jesus Our Great High Priest

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Today, we are concluding a series of messages on the theme of the priesthood. This has been an enlightening Bible study. Honestly, it’s a theme that can seem nebulous and can mean little to Christians today. Maybe you’re like me and didn’t grow up in a culture or system with priests. I was born into a Catholic family. However, priests were more like pastors. They were different from the priests we read about in the Bible.

In the Bible, the priesthood is one of those threads that helps us to understand God and His redemptive plan. The Scriptures are like a beautiful golden tapestry on a loom. The loom represents the span of human history, from creation to the eventual fulfillment of God’s promises. Each thread represents a specific event, character, or theme within the Bible. God is like an artist weaving each thread. The threads sometimes seem out of order, but ultimately they interconnect with the overall design. 

Corrie Ten Boom reflected on this through a poem called the The Tapestry. It was a testimony of her experiences in a WWII concentration camp and how she connected with God in such. hard place. As she held a small tapestry in her hand she would say,

“Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow; / And I in foolish pride / Forget He sees the upper / And I the underside.”

Looking from the backside of a tapestry can seem like a mess, but from the front it’s a masterpiece. Today, we can see most of God’s tapestry from the upper, but there is still some that remains a mystery. However, what we can see is sufficient to help us know God and His plan for mankind.

When God laid out His plan, He took His time. He didn’t rush history. Before the creation of the world, he wove history with redemption story (cf. Revelation 13:8). Why would God wait so long to unveil His plan? Like a Master Storyteller, he laid down the perfect script. He introduced and developed key characters. He followed patterns to build up a climactic moment. The moment came at the most opportune time and revealed His ultimate purposes.

The Bible, especially the OT, gives categories and identities that help us to know and understand who God is. The three primary categories are Prophet, Priest, and King. Embedded within these categories are central descriptors and identities. We must grasp these categories from Scripture. We must also understand their context within biblical history. Otherwise, our understanding of God will be impersonal. It will also be superficial. These categories help us to see what God is like and why He came to do, did, and does now.

As the Bible progresses, there are touch-points on the loom. These points help us to see and know God as a priest. As we follow the thread, God’s purpose for the priesthood becomes clear. Notice how the characters model the priesthood. Observe how God acts as a priest. Each story touches on a promise.

  • Adam was given the role of caregiver of creation and the first family. It was a priestly and kingly role. When he sinned, God becomes the Sacrificer who covers sin and shame. God promised a future self-sacrificing Messiah who’d rescue mankind.
  • Abel was like a priest who gave an honoring sacrifice for God sees the heart.
  • Melchizedek is described as a priest-king of Salem (Peace) who foreshadowed the future Messiah.
  • Abraham was like a priest who willingly offered his only son on the altar. God provided a substitute sacrifice and promised a Messiah who’d come from Abraham’s lineage.
  • Moses becomes a mediator between the people and God. During the last plague, the people of Israel sacrificed lambs. They painted the lambs’ blood on their doorposts. This was to protect them from the Passover. This event would be memorialized by the Jewish sacrificial system and within the tabernacle/temple.
  • Aaron & Levites were chosen and designated as imperfect human priests to guide the people in worship of the Lord.
  • David acted like a new type of priest-king when he ate the bread from the tabernacle. He marched into the city of Peace with the ark of the covenant. God approved and later promised the Messiah who’d come from David’s lineage.
  • OT Zechariah was robed in priestly garments as a picture of the future Messiah.
  • NT Zechariah’s priestly prayers were answered as he’d be the father of the forerunner to the Messiah.
  • Jesus came and performed priestly acts—He healed, forgave sins, called people to worship God, and claimed to be the Messiah.
  • Today, Jesus sits in heaven as the intercessor who promises to come back as the Priest-King.

Imagine if you didn’t have any of these stories or their contexts. Your understanding of the priesthood of God would be quite vanilla or incomplete. Instead, these stories add color and comprehension to who God is and they signal His plan.

That brings us to the Letter to the Hebrews. Hurrah for Hebrews! This lengthy letter helps connect and complete a lot of threads and strands between the Messiah of the OT to Jesus of the NT. It’s the one NT book that wrestles with the OT categories, characters, and processes. It helps us to make sense of the Bible’s tapestry. It all points to Jesus. He is the One toward whom the whole story, history, and the Scriptures are supremely about. Even Jesus said it, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

So let’s unravel this thread by seeing the what, the so what, and the now what of Hebrews 4:14-16. This text pierces the chaos of our crazy-busy lives. It touches our brakes. We stop and consider how wonderful our Jesus really is as a priest.

WHAT?

“We have a great high priest.” In case you and I didn’t know, we have a priest. This title tells me that we don’t need a greater something. We need a greater Someone. We need a priest. We need Jesus as a priest. Why a priest? (cf. 5:1-3, high priest job description) Overall, a priest was a symbolic service. First, a priest was chosen among men and called by God. Second, a priest represented God to the people, and the priest represented the people to God. Think of them as links between heaven and earth with a divine and human function. Third, a priest offered sacrifices to God for the sins of the people. Fourth, a priest was someone who embodied the compassion and gentle-heart of God towards others. This last point is what endears us to the role of a priest compared to a prophet or king. He isn’t cold or ceremoniously religious. We see the priest’s heart.

Jesus isn’t an ordinary priest. He is a “high” and “great” priest. A high priest, different from an ordinary priest, was chosen to offer the annual sacrifice. This sacrifice occurred on the Day of Atonement for the sins of all the people. Also, he isn’t just a high priest, but he’s The-Great-High-Priest. To be “Great” means that there isn’t anyone like him. He is far superior. He is in a category of his own. When we see Jesus as this Great High Priest, we see one who was chosen by God. He represented God to humanity. He loved mankind compassionately and gently. He also sacrificed once and for all for all people. Jesus connected all the loose ends of history. He joined them with God’s story. This was done to show Jesus as the great high priest. It is meant to be an ah-ha moment!

Since serving in Chad, I have enjoyed walking with seekers and BMBs through the OT. In the process, we cover many of these threads along the way. By the time we arrive at the NT, Jesus makes so much more sense. The most rewarding moments in discipleship are when you see eyes widen. Lights turn on. Fingers point back. Mouths say “ah ha!”

SO WHAT?

We get it that Jesus, the great high priest is like no other. So what? So there is more that we need to know about Him to make sense of Him. Hebrews 4:14-16 expands the so what:

1) Jesus had “gone through the heavens.”

We get a glimpse into Jesus’ cosmic journey. An earthly priest would pass through the temple courts. They would push back the veil to enter into the holy of holies. We get an image of the heavenly temple in Isaiah 6, where the train of his robe fills the temple and all are calling the Lord “Holy”. Jesus has access to the holiest places on earth and heaven. Again, Jesus is in a category of his own as the “Son of God.”

2) Jesus can “sympathize with our weaknesses.”

Sympathy is a psychological word. Our English definition is narrow than the biblical definition which includes sympathy, empathy and compassion. Literally in the Greek it means “to suffer with”. Jesus feels for, feels with, and feels in it with us. This is what theologians call solidarity. Jesus has a witness and nearness to us. Jesus got down to earth and really felt it with you. Listen, Jesus gets you. He’s been where you are. He knows what it’s like to live with nagging weakness, probing pain, loss and rejection, exhaustion from serving others, and daily struggles. Jesus understands. He lived it. He was exactly there. Jesus knows the intimate terrors, tensions, and toils of life—and moves to heal them. If you’re like me, then that truth gives me more sympathy for the weaknesses of others. Jesus’ perfect sympathy shapes my approach to those I serve and lead.

This week I took became more aware of my weaknesses and jotted them down each day in my journal. Here is a sampling of the weaknesses that stuck out to me:

  • I’m not able to be present with each of my four kids and my wife at the same time.
  • I’m tired and not ready to be hospitable or generous to my neighbor knocking at the door.
  • I’m tempted to compare myself with a colleague.
  • I’m seriously considering a shortcut to success.
  • My mind is cloud and I can’t for the life of me get my daughter’s algebra story problem.
  • During Friday prayer group, I’m discouraged praying for the same thing for five years with little visible results.
  • I saw the cooling system of another laborer and envied it.

Speaking of cooling systems, I recently read a NASA study that said that when temperatures are above 100 F (37 C) our work productivity is about 40%. That’s humbling, especially living in a place like Chad where it is hot most of the time. Sometime I think about my solar batteries and inverter that shutdown under the heat and I think that I can do better. My body is just as limited and my brain is defective trying to to power through. Weakness remind me that I’m not omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Not even close. I forget meeting times. I sometimes step on toes. I accidentally leave doors open. Sometimes, I burn the rice on the stovetop.

3) Jesus “has been tempted in every way.”

Some can hear that and think, “Sure, well, Jesus was tempted, but He was God. He had all the power to resist.” While that is true, it is one side and incomplete. Like Frodo on Mount Doom, the closer he got, the heavier the ring became. Jesus knows well the fullest weight of temptation because he withstood all of it. Only the sinless can know its full intensity. The one who falls yields before the last strain. We will never know temptation’s full intensity as Jesus knows. He understands the battle because He enlisted in the war. Jesus went through it so much worse because He did not yield to it. He took it to the cross!

You’ve likely faced some terrible and intense temptations. These are the kind where you sweat and agonize through the night. You might pace the room and weigh the consequences. God promises that He won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can endure. This promise is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. You don’t have to hack through the jungle as Jesus has already made a path. He has lit the exit signs to show you the way out.

4) Jesus “was without sin.”

This is where Jesus was unlike all other human priests. He never had to cleanse Himself or wear bells on His ankles. Jesus was both a Priest (consecrated one) and a Lamb (sacrifice for others). Jesus as “our great high Priest” revealed to us what God considers to be our greatest need. We need someone to make us righteous before God. We also need to be reconciled with God. Without Him, we would be stuck in a symbolic and cyclical system of sacrifices without end. Jesus ended it! There is no more need of it.

NOW WHAT?

The priesthood might seem like an archaic and irrelevant system. However, it is hugely important to understanding who Jesus is. It explains why He and His work are important. It also shows how you and I can interact with Him today. Hebrews 4:15-16 gives two clear applications of what this means for us now:

First, “let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Herein, there is an action and a belief. We believe that Jesus is God and man. We believe that Jesus is prophet, king, and priest. As the Great High Priest, we believe that forgiveness is costly, the punishment due to sin was death, and without the shedding of blood, there can be no removal of sin. We believe that Jesus is both the priest and sacrifice. These are the beliefs that must act by grasping onto and professed among one another. Let’s fix our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Second, “let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.” Herein, we see our role and place with God. Where is God now? He’s on His throne. He is both in a heavenly and bodily temple. Both are His holy sanctuaries. Most holy places are only accessible by holy people, God considers you as such. He offers you a life-transforming invitation, “Come to the throne!” His throne is always open! Jesus is always there. He is always available and always attainable. He is always attentive and always listening. He is always joyful to see you. He is always caring and always loving.

You can approach the throne because you are a priest and you are a holy place. God dwells within you. Your body is the temple where God dwells. You are living stones being built up into a spiritual house. You are a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:5,9) AND in God’s story, God wraps you in His priestly robe. You represent God before the people. You represent the people before God. You may be a team leader, project manager, embassy staffer, teacher, translator, visitor, hospital worker, or church planter. Yet, you are also priests in the order of the Lord Jesus Christ. You mediate, sacrifice, intercede, heal, reconcile, serve, bless, care, love, and call others around you to worship.

PRAYER

Take a moment to step into the presence of Jesus, your Great High Priest. How do you feel in His presence? … What is His face toward you? … Would you approach his throne of grace with confidence? … What do you need from Him as your priest today? Compassion? Gentleness? Forgiveness? Purification? Restoration? Salvation? … What is He asking you to hold onto firmly? To profess about Him? … Who is He calling you to serve? What is He nudging you to do? Who is He calling you to be?

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. – Hebrews 13:20-21

PRAYER

DIG DEEPER

What happens when we consciously or unconsciously leave out one of Jesus’ categories or identities? How can you see this playing out in Christian communities?

How can we guard against striping Jesus from some of His hats and at the same time striping ourselves from our responsibility in imitating Jesus?

While Jesus is the Great high Priest, what does it look like in your day being and serving as a priest?

Missing Jesus: Caiaphas

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There is a story of an 11th Century king of England with Viking roots named Cnut. His advisors would often say, “King, you are the greatest man that has ever lived. There can never be another man so mighty as you. There is nothing in the world that dares disobey you.” In order to prove his power Cnut ordered that his throne be carried onto the seashore at low tide. He then sat on his throne and ordered the tide to stop rising. The tide, of course, didn’t listen. It literally dampened the mood, his robe, and his kingly honor.

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The resurrection of Christ is the story of a tide rising. More than the tide it was a tsunami that couldn’t be stopped. The resurrection allows us to dive into the Gospels and discover the story of Jesus. Like a Where’s Waldo book we find Jesus and others in the story. This happens on two levels: First, we find our story—our redemptive story—is in Jesus. Second, we find ourselves in the characters surrounding Jesus. Sadly, like many of them we can miss Jesus in the resurrection story.

When you think of a character that missed Jesus in the story who do you think of? Last week we saw Judas. Today we will look at Caiaphas. If we’re honest, there is a little bit of Caiaphas in all of us. Like Caiaphas we feel the tension to resist God and guard what is important to us no matter the cost. We strive for control, even if it be a little control. We are tempted to resist the God we say we trust and guard what we think is important.

Let’s be honest. Have you resisted God? You know you should stop doing this thing, but this is so fascinating and addicting. You know you should start doing that. You know you shouldn’t go there. You know you shouldn’t spend your money on those things, but you just this once. You know you should forgive, but the hurt seems to big. Everything in you tells you it’s wrong yet it feels so right. You find yourself resisting God when you know you are best-off trusting him.

What do those outside the church call this? They call it hypocrisy. We in the church call it hypocrisy too. Meaning we don’t actually do what we say or believe. In all fairness, it is difficult to surrender to a God we cannot see. Except we can see him. When Jesus stepped into the world he was God with skin on—the invisible God made visible. He certainly looked and acted different than many imagined God looking and acting, particularly to the religious people.

Joseph Caiaphas was the religious poster child. He grew up in a wealthy, political, and aristocratic family who controlled the temple. He was groomed to be a Sadducee (Sad-You-See!). He married the daughter of the high priest Annas. He himself became high priest between 18-36 AD, which was during most of Jesus’ life and all of his ministry. He was the most powerful man in Israel and the most influential man in Jerusalem. He was the go-between Israel and Rome. Other than Roman oppression, things went well for Caiaphas. Until a carpenter turned rabbi from Galilee started gaining notoriety with crowds.

The problem Caiaphas had with Jesus were his crowds. Everywhere Jesus went the crowds went too. Sometimes 1000’s of people came to hear Jesus speak. He spoke with authority. People also came from all over the nation bringing sick to be healed by him. The crowds were a threat to peace for Rome and a threat to the Jewish order. They had reason to worry since Jesus didn’t have a good rapport with the Jewish leaders. He made their questions seem foolish. He called them names,

“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:33)

You wouldn’t let your kids talk like that nor kiss their mama with a mouth like that! But that’s Jesus talking. Jesus echoes Jeremiah,

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:1)

Jesus had big issues with the Jewish leaders as they were responsible for leading the people to God. And Caiaphas had big problems with Jesus, his crowds, and his criticism! Ironically, it was Caiaphas who was oppressing the people by funding the temple and scheming against God.

The final straw that broke Caiaphas’ back was not a conversation or confrontation with Jesus, but it was an act of compassion by Jesus (like Judas, both at Bethany). Have you ever been frustrated or jealous when someone was shown compassion? Like Caiaphas, we can miss what God is doing in front of us because we are nearsighted. We are raging when we should be rejoicing. We are grudge-filled when we should be grateful. Our spiritual eyes are blurry and blind to what God is doing. We lose perspective and only see what we want to see. We don’t see the whole story.

Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The crowds swelled in Bethany to see the miracle man and the Miracle Maker. The crowds marveled and believed. Jesus had raised a man from the dead! Wow! That would be enough reason to follow Jesus,

“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what [Jesus] did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council (The Sanhedrin; three groups who couldn’t agree) and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people (really?), not that the whole nation should perish.” (John 11:45-50) Italics are my thoughts.

Caiaphas’ strategy of discrediting Jesus publicly had failed. The priest’s questions towards Jesus backfired too many times. Now it was time for a final plan. Caiaphas’ agenda was clear: kill Jesus and the problem will go away. He was sincere and he believed he was acting on behalf of God (John 11:51-53). It was a plan that the Jewish House, Senate, and Supreme Court all agreed upon. Unknown to them, they were actually facilitating the will of God (John 10:17-18). And all Caiaphas could think about was getting Jesus to lose his crowds,

“The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him (1/3 of world Christian; spreading like a wildfire that couldn’t be contained).” (John 12:17-19)

Interestingly, later in Acts, we discover that many of the priests and Jewish leaders became followers of Christ. This is how John got his insider information on Caiaphas. Certainly, many Jewish leaders knew they were resisting what God was doing through Jesus, yet they held tightly to their plan because it would mean letting go of their power, their prestige, their pride, and their piety—everything that was important to them. Trusting Jesus was too costly.

When you decide to follow Jesus it will cost you something. It may cost you relationships, position, respect, money, standard of living, time, beauty, GPA or entertainment. The cost is too high for too many people. And therein lies the tension. It can be a wrestling match between what Jesus values and what you value. Many tap the mat to get out of the ring. You either consider the cost or you don’t. You are either hot or cold. You are all in or you aren’t.

If you’re a parent you’ve likely heard your kids plot out their future. I hear my daughters say, “When I grow up I am going to work at a Thai restaurant that way you can eat Thai food whenever you want.” “When I am an adult I am only going to eat all the candy I want.” “My house is going to be a barn so I can live with horses.” As parents we smile and laugh. We also know those plans will change as they get older. They may change moment to moment. Do you think God has a similar response to our adult plans and the ways we resist his plans? Do you think he shakes his head when we try to make our own plans? Do you think it breaks his heart when we ignore his wisdom being the Creator and Author of life?

Caiaphas couldn’t just get rid of Jesus. He didn’t have the authority to crucify him. He needed the permission of the Roman government. He needed case. He needed a legitimate charge against Jesus to show he was a threat to the empire. He needed to catch Jesus confessing that he was god or king (John 8:37-40; 10:31-39). So Jesus was led to Annas, Caiaphas’ father-in-law (18:12-14). Jesus turned the question back on Annas and he was slapped for it (18:19-24). Then Jesus was sent to Caiaphas where he was interrogated,

“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am (ego emi; John 8:58), and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62)

That’s what Caiaphas needed. He had his case. He had witnesses. Without hesitation Caiaphas took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate thinking it was a petty issue punted Jesus back to the Jews (18:28-32), but the Jews persisted, twisted and tied Pilate’s political arms. Pilate still wasn’t convinced Jesus’ title “King of the Jesus” was a threat, until he heard the rumble of the crowd. By this time Caiaphas owned the crowd (or mob). Pilate opted for peace and willingly traded Jesus for Barabbas the murder (18:40). The case that Jesus was a self-proclaimed King—a threat to the empire worked (19:7). Pilate brought Jesus before the crowd,

“He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (Really?) So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.” (John 19:14b-16)

Pilate wrote a sign that hung above Jesus that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19b) Can you feel the rejection? Can you hear the mockery? It was irony—a blood bathed resistance.

Jesus would die on a cross in a matter of hours. He would be buried in a borrowed tomb. But 3-days later, on a Sunday morning 2,000 years ago, a squad of the Roman guards would come huffing into Caiaphas’ house, march down the hall to where he was and say, “The tomb where Jesus was buried is empty.” (John 20:1-10) Can you feel the weight of that? Can you see Caiaphas’ face drop and go pale? His worst fear realized. Jesus was raised from the dead as he said. Within days there would be sightings of Jesus all around Israel (1 Corinthians 15). Caiaphas’ plan crumbled with the resurrection of Christ, yet he still resisted. He paid hush money and created a story that the disciples stole Jesus’ body (Matthew 28:11-15).

Following the resurrection we only hear about Caiaphas one-time,

“And as [Peter and John] were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducee’s came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody…But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day…Annas the high priest and Caiaphas…and all who were of the high-priestly family…inquired,

“By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man (an act of compassion), by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:1-12)

Caiaphas tried to muzzle their mouths, but it was futile. The name, reputation, and resurrection of Jesus was spreading like a tsunami. He couldn’t stop it. From that moment on, we hear no more about Caiaphas, but we hear a lot more about Jesus.

Remember King Cnut? I left out an important detail from his story. Sitting on his throne in the sea he was making a point. He knew he couldn’t stop the tide from rising. He knew he was just a man. He knew he wasn’t more powerful than God. We can be quick to judge the old king in a wet robe, but listen to what he said, “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings. For there is none worthy of the name but God whom heaven and earth and sea obey. There is only one King who is all-powerful and it is he who rules the sea and hold the ocean in the hallow of his hand. It is he whom you ought to praise and serve above all others.”

Caiaphas stood in the presence of the Savior of the world, but refused to abandon his quest for control. As a Sadducee, Caiaphas acted as a Judge, but his judgment of Jesus was wrong. Jesus is the Judge. He said, “The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” (John 12:48) His judgement is sure and final. If only Caiaphas humbled himself and bowed his knee to the King of kings and the Great High Priest whom he represented. Caiaphas should have said sorry, retired from his job, and joined the world changing movement, yet he resisted to give up his hat.

Can you relate to Caiaphas? Are there hats you’re holding onto? Generally, your greatest regrets are connected to attempts to preserve something that isn’t even a part of your life anymore. Pressure to preserve or prop it up will eventually drive you to extremes that harm you or others. And what you try to preserve will always disappoint and eventually disappear.

Caiaphas’ story of resisting Jesus illustrates the futility of resisting God. Resistance is futile (Borg, Vogon). You know well that resisting Jesus is futile. It’s easy to dismiss Caiaphas, but you and I are also prone to resist God by putting something else in his place. And those things quickly diminish in value.

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Accepting Jesus will cost you something, but resisting him will cost you more. It may cost you a relationship, position, respect, standard of living, time, etc. Jesus died and rose for that! Those things won’t be important 100 years (or 1,000 generations) from now, but Jesus will. Don’t miss seeing and believing in Jesus!

 

Jesus is the Greater Priest

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Each of us carry a weigh of responsibility. Whether we are spouse, parent, student, or employee we have people around us or under us that can demand our care.

Up until 70 AD Israel had high priest who would bear the weight of responsibility of the entire nation of Israel and plead to God on their behalf for the forgiveness of their sins. What an enormous responsibility and yet he was just a mere man chosen among men to act on behalf of men (v.1).

“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” – Hebrews 5:1-10

Interestingly, every high priest was weak and inadequate for the job and needed to seek forgiveness for his sins before he could ask for the forgiveness of the sins of the nation (vs.2-3). No priest was perfect or chosen for the job because he was somehow super spiritual. The honor of the high priest, including Aaron (the first Levitical priest), was not earned, but given by God (v.4).

Jesus was also given the title of high priest (v.5). Unlike other priests, He obeyed God in all things and was sent to earth to be the sacrifice for sin (vs.5, 7-8). A sacrifice that was once and for all. Jesus is unique among high priests in that he did not need to atone for his own sins because he is sinless (v.9). This makes Jesus the greater high priest; your great high priest.

 

Questions for Reflection:

  • What was the job of the priest? How was this a compassionate job?
  • How did the priest prepare for his job? Why did he need to deal with his own weakness?
  • How is Jesus more compassionate and prepared for the job?
  • How does Jesus’ suffering and sympathy help you to have confidence in God?
  • How does Jesus’ example encourage you to show compassion to another sinner?
  • Dig Deeper: Who was Melchizedek? (Gen. 14:17-20; Ps. 110:4) What does it mean that Jesus is in the order of Melchizedek? What does the relationship between Jesus and Melchizedek tell you about God’s orchestration of history?

 

Side Notes: Scholars don’t know much about Melchizedek. He is a symbolic picture of Jesus Christ. Long before Moses, Melchizedek was a Canaanite priest-king in a city that centuries later became Jerusalem and he was the head of an order of Jerusalem priests older than Moses’ brother Aaron.