The Superior High Priest
Notes
Transcript
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
The High Priest
The High Priest
Exodus 28 describes the garments for the high priest
Breastpiece - gold (heavy) with precious stones with names of the tribes, representing those who are precious to God, and bearing the weight of the people’s sins, bear the names over the heart, seeking decisions from the Lord
ephod - bear the names of the people on his shoulders
blue robe with bells - warning that approaching the Holy God is dangerous, remember what you are doing
turban with gold plate, “Holy to the Lord,” bearing the guilt so that the sacrifices will be acceptable
Linen tunic - pure, clean, remain covered
Dignity and honor
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
One of Us
One of Us
selected from among the people
representative for us to God
Offering gifts and sacrifices for sins
He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
One of Us - To Deal Gently
One of Us - To Deal Gently
deal gently - between anger and apathy
ignorant
going astray
He is subject to weakness
for human high priests, they had their own sin
And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
Called by God
Called by God
No democratic election
No looking for who is the best
No vying for position
No pride in winning the position on one’s merit
Called by God - To Serve Humbly
Called by God - To Serve Humbly
What about Jesus?
What about Jesus?
While the high priest was ornately dressed, and impressive…
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
How could this man be superior to the High Priest?
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus, Called by God
Jesus, Called by God
Jesus truly did not take this honor for himself
He was called by God
Psalm 2:7, also quoted in Heb 1.5.
begotten - used of birthing, but also used figuratively for setting, appointing, causing to be something
Psalm 2:7 is Messianic, looking to the King to come in the line of David, and goes back to 2 Samuel 7:14 when God told David about his heir who would be King would be called God’s Son
I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
But if this is referring to Jesus being called by God to be King, how does it relate to him be High Priest?
Hence the quote from Psalm 110, which was also previously referred to in Hebrews.
The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Here we see the future King will also be priest, just like Melchizedek had been.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
I love that he brought out bread and wine… a fellowship offering for Abram.
This is exactly what Jesus, our High Priest gave to us, bread and wine to have fellowship with the Father through Him.
But more on this later…
Jesus - Called by God, to serve Humbly
Jesus - Called by God, to serve Humbly
Jesus is the High Priest Called by God to be a priest forever!
He did not take this honor for himself, though he was worthy and could have.
No, Jesus humbled himself. He waited for God to glorify him.
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Jesus - One of Us!
Jesus - One of Us!
offered up prayers and petitions
Often going off to pray by himself - first time we saw this was at the temptation
Last time we see this is Gethsemane
God could save him from death
Jesus knew he was going to be crucified and rise again. He predicted it.
Heard because of his reverent submission -
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Jesus - One of Us, To Deal Gently
Jesus - One of Us, To Deal Gently
your will be done
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Not in the order of Aaron, a sinful, broken line that was called by God, but had given in to pride
Not in the order of Aaron, who though one of us, thought themselves better, and ruled over others
Not in the order of Aaron, who served and were replaced
In the order of Melchizedek, who is mentioned only in Genesis, and Psalm 110:4. Not a glory hound. Humble.
In the order of Melchizedek, who is never replaced… more about that in coming weeks.
In the order of Melchizekek, identifying with us, yet was without sin.
What about me?
What about me?
The High Priest is the way for us to approach a Holy God, a way for us to find rest, soul rest.
Do I use the High Priest, or do I try other means?
Do I recognize Jesus as the One who was called by God to be my One High Priest, my one way to approach God to find rest?
Do I recognize Jesus as the High Priest who truly is one of us? Who truly knows what we go through?
Do I think God does not care?
Do I think He does not understand?
Jesus understands.
Jesus cares.
Jesus knows what it is like to obey when it is hard.
Jesus knows what it is like to endure God’s will, and not my own—to pray for a change of circumstance, a change of the road we are on, and be heard, though there is no change. He knows what it is like to endure because God is at work in ways we cannot see through the pain. He knows what it is like to die to self, and live for God.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.