Jesus's High Priestly Heart
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week we saw Christ as our impeccable High Priest! We were told by the author of Hebrews that he is a sympathetic High Priest. The author of Hebrews initially was trying to tell us this “We have a High Priest that is Like none other!” A High Priest that understands our suffering, our pain, and our sorrows. This morning, we will look at Christ as our...
1) Compassionate Priest
2) Humble Priest
3) Everlasting Priest
4) Enduring Priest
1) Our Compassionate Priest
1) Our Compassionate Priest
Friends as we look at verses 1-4 we are reminded once more that Christ is not the like other High Priests. We are reminded again of the vast difference between Christ and the Earthly priests here.
We are once again in verse 1 of the role of a Earthly High Priest Hebrews 5:1
Hebrews 5:1 (ESV)
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.
Now, after making that clear he moves to display the heart of an earthly priest after he just finished describing in the last chapter the heart of our savior. Remember what he said about Christ in the last verses of chapter 4?
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Friends, we were told that our High Priest is able to Sympathize what does that mean? The Greek word means he has compassion or pity on us.
Friends, our Compassionate High Priest is not like the earthly priests. Look at how the earthly priests are described in verse 2
Hebrews 5:2 (ESV)
He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
Deal Gently= To moderate Anger, Beset= Surrounded with Weakness—> or natural limitations
Earthly Priests have to moderate their anger against those who act foolishly, those who are easily led astray. Led astray by every wind of doctrine and every idolatrous desire. They are constantly surrounded by not only their own sin, but those of the people. Hebrews 5:3
Hebrews 5:3 (ESV)
Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
Friends, Our High Priest is not like the earthly priests. He is compassionate, he is not short fussed, he is gentle and lowly in heart Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
A yoke is the heavy crossbar laid on oxen to force them to drag farming equipment through the field. Jesus is using a kind of irony, saying that the yoke laid on his disciples is a nonyoke.
Why is it a nonyoke? Friends, because it is a yoke of compassion and kindness. Who could resist this kind of yoke? This kind of compassionate priest!
It’s like telling someone who is desperately sick to burden themselves with taking lifesaving medication. Only to hear him shout back, “No way! Not me! This sickness is hard enough. The last thing I need is adding the burden of taking a lifesaving medication!!”
What happens when you fill a balloon with helium? It rises not flattens down. In the same way, Christ’s yoke revives and elevates our weary souls!
So Friends, Cling to this compassionate priest in your time of need! He will not weigh you down with burdens you can not bear! He is gently and compassionate, depend on him. Do not see him as addition to your burden, but as the only one who can deliver you from all of your burdens!
2) Our Humble Priest
2) Our Humble Priest
The author of Hebrews quotes to prove a very important point! Earthly High Priests exalted themselves or appointed themselves to the position Christ emptied him self!
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
He emptied himself!
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Friends, Let us be like our Savior!
Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility, and so prepares the mind for true divine light without darkness, and so clears the eye to look on things as they truly are.” Jonathan Edwards
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
3) Our Everlasting Priest
3) Our Everlasting Priest
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
He is quoting Psalm 110:4
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
All other priests died and had a beginning and end Christ does not!
Jesus’ kingdom will never end, because Jesus has conquered death. God promised Mary that Jesus would rule forever ! Look at Luke 1:33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
4) Our Enduring Priest
4) Our Enduring Priest
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.
All the virtues which appeared in Christ shone brightest in the close of His life, under the trials He then met. Eminent virtue always shows brightest in the fire. Pure gold shows its purity chiefly in the furnace. It was chiefly under those trials which Christ endured in the close of His life that His love to God, His honor of God’s majesty, His regard to the honor of His law, His spirit of obedience, His humility, contempt of the world, His patience, meekness, and spirit of forgiveness towards men, appeared. Indeed, everything that Christ did to work out redemption for us appears mainly in the close of His life. Here mainly is His satisfaction for sin, and here chiefly is His merit of eternal life for sinners, and here chiefly appears the brightness of His example which He has set us for imitation. Jonathan Edwards
The heart of Christ became like a reservoir in the midst of the mountains. All the tributary streams of iniquity, and every drop of the sins of His people, ran down and gathered into one vast lake, deep as hell and shoreless as eternity. All these met, as it were, in Christ’s heart, and He endured them all. Spurgeon
Application:
Application:
Remind yourself of your Compassionate Priest this week. Regardless of what you have done in the past and what struggles you currently have now he is compassionate he understands your weakness. Cling to him! Also, how have you been compassionate towards those around you? Your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. If you have not, this is the time to do! Imitate your savior and King!
Remind of yourself of your Humble Priest this week. Though he could have exalted himself, instead he chose to humble and empty himself by becoming a slave. In what way can you likewise empty yourself and humble your self this week? There are many of us that love to be right and we want others to recognize us and our intellect and wit. Maybe instead of that elevate someone else this week, encourage someone and point out their giftings. Friends, Imitate your king do not exalt yourself, but empty yourself.
Remind yourself of your Everlasting Priest this week. Though Heaven and Earth may pass away his throne and dominion will never end. Regardless of what happens in this world, his kingdom and his intercession goes from everlasting to everlasting towards those who love him!
Remind yourself of your Enduring Priest. Though he could have trampled all the people under foot he himself endured with much patience and endurance the wrath of God for you. In what ways will you endure this week? Many of us this week may be bombarded with temptation, suffering, pain and slander. However, in the midst of that will you endure? Or will you grumble and complain? Friends, Imitate your king and joyfully endure for the Glory of God.