15) Hebrews - Jesus as High Priest - The New
Notes
Transcript
For people to “Be Reconciled to God” What is their biggest need?
Deal with Root and Fruit Sin “Unbelief, Pride, Selfishness”
Gathering - Community Announcements
Love offerings / New Member class /
Call to Worship
Saving Faith
3. This faith may exist in varying degrees so that it may be either weak or strong.11 Yet even in its weakest form, it is different in kind or nature (like all other saving graces) from the faith and common grace of temporary believers.12 Therefore, faith may often be attacked and weakened, but it gains the victory.13 It matures in many to the point that they attain full assurance through Christ,14 who is both the founder and perfecter of our faith.15
Corporate Prayer -
Worship through Song
Scripture Reading
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Worship through Song
Worship through Song
Sermon
Prayer
Introduction
Introduction
Life is full of questions. Philosophers has spent entire lifetimes trying to quantify and rationalize the the world we live in. Even today we people continue to ask questions?
It is good to ask questions but what is the purpose to our asking? We should question everything. I don’t know if this is a new trend or not but today we live amongst people who don’t seem to question anything. They put themselves under this idea or that ideal. They are part of this religion or that one, they belong to this political party or another. What ever that entity says is true is unquestioned. I am amazed at the loyalty to some of these ideals and organizations. I believe this is a dangerous place to be and not the mindset of the true believer in Jesus. We are to seek to explore and to question.
Why? because those who believe in that God is truth and that the Word of God is truth lives in the reality that there is fiction everywhere else. Many times sugar coated and dressed up to appeal to the foolishness of man. Believers are to seek and question. Seek the truth but when we ask questions there are some things we must keep in mind.
The first is why do we ask the question? Why do we seek? we do this to challenge or confirm our ideas and thoughts. We are deceived constantly. We have learned fiction and the humble recognizes that much of what we have learned in our lives could be polluted fiction and we must find out what parts.
We are constantly told what to think and why to think that way but is it correct is it true? I think one of the most important parts about our journey to find truth is knowing where truth is found. I know no other place for truth. My favorite preachers and teachers are not truth. My professors and my friends are not truth. Men and women may be vessels of transferring truth but the truth does not come from the person it comes from the power of the Words of God.
The Jewish Christians that the author is writing to are seeking the answers to many questions. They are struggling to know what is the truth. They are being challenged that even though God had spoken in the OT through the Prophets that they failed to understand what that truth ment.
So the author comes to them to convey the truth that God has conveyed to him through the work of the Holy Spirit as he records these words.
One of the major changes to the Jews that became Christ’ followers was what do I do now that I am no longer able to seek the priest for the atonement of my sin. The heart of the book of Hebrews is the focus on Jesus as the new high priest. Jesus as the new mediator between men and God. Jesus as the final mediator between men and God.
Last week we started Chapter 5 of Hebrews where God speaks of the requirements of the High Priest in the old testament.
Each priest was taken from men, not from angles. That they were appointed to offer both the gifts and sacrifices of the people to God. The stood before God as a representative of the people and they stood before the people as the representative of God.
They were to deal gently with those that had sinned. They were able to relate to the people because they also had to give the offering for his own sin as well. The priestly office was not a position that one earned or applied to. It wasn’t something someone aspired to. The priests where called by God just as Aaron was. He has established to stand as the foundation for the proof that Jesus meets these but in a perfect way.
Where the OT priests were appointed by God so is Jesus.
Where the priests dealt gently because of their weakness, Jesus deals gently because of his suffering.
Where the Levitical Priests performed the offerings and sacrifices that woulds appease God’s wrath and would atone for sins, it was not permanent and had to be repeatedly performed day after day and year after year. Where as Jesus would give the perfect offering and therefore atone for all of God’s wrath once and for all for all men.
Where the old priesthood was temporary the new one is of another order, of another pattern. That of a priest king.
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness. 3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people. 4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, 6 also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus Appointed
Jesus Appointed
5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, 6 also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
If we look back into verse 4 we see that no one took the honor of being a priest on himself but were called by God. And in the same way Christ did not put this title on himself. He did not claim to be the new High Priest. In this same way it was God who exalted him to this office and position. Jesus said in John
54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me.
The author once again goes to the old testament to answer the question. How do we know that God appointed him. He quotes Ps 2:7 for the 2nd time
7 I will declare the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
and Ps 110:4
4 The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”
Both of these would be known to the Jewish Christians to be referring to the Messiah to the Christ that would come.
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One: 3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.” 4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them. 5 Then he speaks to them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath: 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will declare the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery.” 10 So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. 12 Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for his anger may ignite at any moment. All who take refuge in him are happy.
God speaks of the kings of the nations. That plot in vain. The conspire together to conspire against the Lord and his Anointed One. The Anointed one will be King on Zion. Zion was used as another name referring to Jerusalem and sometimes the nation as a whole. This is where the Anointed one will be seated as king. To the anointed one God says “ You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth you possession.
The author connects this messianic foretelling of the future with the Christ with Jesus. He has already made the case that Jesus is the Son and the inheritance of all things have been given to Him. He is the Son and he sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high and the King.
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
And he also said in Ps 110
A psalm of David. 1 This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion. Rule over your surrounding enemies. 3 Your people will volunteer on your day of battle. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth belongs to you. 4 The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his anger. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up corpses; he will crush leaders over the entire world. 7 He will drink from the brook by the road; therefore, he will lift up his head.
We see the scepter ans the rule from Zion again. In this one God speaks to the king and says “you are a priest forever according the the pattern of Melchizedek”
The author is the only one to refer to this person Melchizedek and the only one to quote this scripture and he will quote it many times throughout this book.
The Jews believed that the Messiah would be a king and a high priest. This was something that they not only knew but would have longed for. Especially under the oppression of the Romans. But now their idea of what a king was and what a priest did are completely upside down. This conquering King did not enter in a grand chariot but simple colt. He did not take over the leadership of the Levitical priests and run it forever but he would perform the work that ended the need for them.
Because God as anointed Jesus as this High Priest and not in the pattern of the Levitical Priesthood but in the pattern or order of Melchizedek.
This man will be delved into through out the next few chapters of Hebrews but lets open the window of who this man was a little here.
18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High.
He was a king and a priest in the time of Abraham. We know nothing of his ancestry but we know that Salem was an ancient name for Jerusalem and he was a priest of the God Most High. The priests in the Levitical Law were not kings. They did not hold the office of both king and priest. The Levitical priesthood was a temporary priesthood and in just about 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus the temple, the alter, and the place of the work of the priesthood would be completely destroyed. Ending the ability of the priest to mediate between man and God. They would not have known this at the time.
The author says that Jesus is the High priest now and that the pattern is of a different order. One spoken of by God from the beginning.
Jesus has fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament as he was appointed by God to sit in both high offices.
And how is this possible?
Jesus Suffered
Jesus Suffered
7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
The Levitical Priest dealt gently with the people because he was like them in his own weakness to sin. He had to take offerings to God before how could take offerings to God for the people but Jesus. But Jesus was sinless.
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
During his earthly life. From the time he was born to the time of his death and resurrection is what the author is referring to. Jesus has maintained his human nature after the Resurrection as he tells his disciples to touch his hands to show that he is not some spirit.
39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
Jesus existed from the beginning
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
But during the incarnation he took on a second nature a nature of humanity where he was fully God and Fully human. During that time Jesus was the perfect example of prayer with the Father. As you read the scriptures you will see that it was a very common part of his earthly life. He was recorder praying regularly and He would have prayed many times that were not recorded and in reality he was always in prayer. Whether outward or inward.
How does God sympathize with our humanity. The priests were in the same boat but Christ was God and sinless so how does he sympathize with man. The author brings them to the prayer in the Garden.
39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.
Jesus took prayers and appeals to God. With loud cries and tears. The prayer here is described him in anguish and even an angel came to strengthen him in this agony. He prayed to the one who “was able to save him from death” The words can be translated as “out of death” and that is probably a better representation of the Greek. Jesus was not likely praying to not die as that is why he came.
27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour.
There is a tension here because when we look to Jesus’ prayer we instantly put ourselves into the text and we imagine a form of our own agony in prayer but I think that is an inappropriate way to see this. What Jesus experienced coming to the cross, in anticipation of the sin of man being put on him, as he would die and all of the wrath of God would be satisfied as it was applied to him and in those moment he was human and tempted and test in his humanity and in all of that he was sinless. Which means that we cannot relate to what he experienced but what the text says is that through that He can relate to everything that we will ever experience. He prayed in agony. He prayed and he was heard because of his reverence. Because of his piety. Because of his faith in God’s will to be done.
He went to the cross.
7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
Because
8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
Through the suffering that Jesus and only only Jesus suffered he learned obedience. Not that he was disobedient but that he experienced the and learned the experience of being obedient in faith. and in doing so. Even though he was the Son he was still called to suffer.
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. 5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Perfected
Jesus Perfected
9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,
Jesus was perfect as God and Perfect as a man but it was through his suffering and obedience of faith and to the law that he became qualified as the prefect sacrifice and Priest. He gave the final offering to God and that offering was the perfect sacrifice and that was himself.
Jesus was both priest and the sacrifice. Providing eternal salvation. The people were not saved by the sacrifices they were saved by belief in the hope that one would come to provide salvation. Save by faith through grace.
The vail, the curtain that separated God’s presence from the people was torn. Not only was God’s wrath appeased by the sacrifice of Jesus but humanity no longer needed a mediator. Men and women can go to the Father.
No amount of sacrifices could accomplish this work until something was given. The sacrifices in the old testament took life. There was no life given. It was an appeasement not a salvation. It was the imputed perfect human life of Christ that is given to those saved by faith that allows man to sand before the most Holy Father God. To stand in that place is not due to our work but his work on the cross.
We may now enter his presence by our faith.
29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
The result of this faith is eternal salvation. The completed work of the priest. Not the continuing work. There are no more sacrifices to be made. The debt has been paid and now we have one High Priest who sits as king as the perfecter of our faith. And this is available to the obedient.
Faith leads to obedience. Look a doctors for a minute. Who is old enough to remember Doogie Houser? I was a kid so i am not sure if I ever watched it but it was about a kid who is a doctor. If Kayson walked into your pre-surgery consultation and he gave you instructions would you listen to them? No you have no trust in him as a doctor but if a doctor that has been practicing medicine for decades comes in and he went to school you would obey him.
Jesus Is The New and Final High Priest
Jesus Is The New and Final High Priest
10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The final priest has been declared.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There are so many questions that must be asked and Hebrews is just loaded with great deep answers to those questions. Many of the answers bring context and foundation to the work of our savior. We live in a time and country that has not had a king or in a time period that had priests to mediate for us. Without this context we can miss much of what Christ accomplished and what he is doing today.
There are those that have come from other countries that may have a more clear understanding of what it is like to live under a king in this world. there are some who have been a part of the Catholic Church with its priests. But if you understand what God says in Hebrews there is no other priesthood in scripture other than Melchizedek, Levitical, and the completed work of Christ Who sits as high priest. Any one who claims to stand between man and God is not in line with God’s word.
We have a God, a savior, a high priest that completely sympathizes with us. He has been the one who performed the final atoning sacrifice that reconciled men back to God. Something the Levitical Priests could not accomplish. He sits as king. A king like no other over all of the nations. He has given his perfect life to those who have faith in him.
Where are you at today? Do you have questions? Lets dig into those. Last week I put forth the challenge to read Leviticus and Numbers. I know some of you are doing that And I would be shocked if that did not bring up more questions. I will leave the same challange out there today. Read Leviticus and Numbers and write down your questions.
Eternal salvation is given by the work of Jesus to all of those who obey. Those whose faith leads to obedience.
As we come to the table today...
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.