The Qualified One

Introduction

Be bold in your approach

He was great, human, and unique.

Verses 14-16 have two concluding statements.

First, verse 14

Hebrews 4:14 HCSB

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession.

What is the confession they they are holding fast to? It seems to be two things.

First, that according to 3:1, He is the one, great high priest.

Second, that there is in the Christian faith a great need the people to confess.

When we hear confession, we think of a personal admittance, and this isn’t wrong. But confession is much more than that.

The Christian must know and recognize that the priesthood of Jesus offers us all the resources we need.

We are called to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We are called to confess our sins. We are called to confess to the grace that endures us through trials. We are called to confess our uncertainties and emotions to God.

What we can’t understand brings pleasure to God. When we confess that which we don’t know, we essentially demonstrate our limitations and need for God to bring clarity.

But then in verse 15, we see the humanity of Jesus, our great high priest.

Hebrews 4:15 HCSB

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.

One of the greatest resources we need as people is a compassionate ear. Jesus sympathizes with our weakness because, as a man, He felt their reality. He fully resisted temptation and because of that, he knows better than any of us the extent of its force. Think of it this way, if you apply force to a bridge, at some point, it will break. And when it breaks, there’s no longer a need to apply force. But what happens if it never breaks under the pressure, the weight will continue to be greater and more force applied. At the same moment, Jesus has a greater capacity for compassion than any of us could have for one another, and He is ready for us to bring the weight to Him.

Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)

Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

When we got to the throne, we don’t just throw stuff - we get something back! We get what we need when we need it.

We inform God of what we think should be done in the world and in the process God reminds us of our role in doing it.

Jesus fulfills the requirements

What requirements?

It is a divine appointment - he was appointed and called by God.

Hebrews 5:1 tells us that every high priest was appointed, and in two directions - from God and to God, a reminder from Hebrews 3. He is the attorney that of us could ever afford and desperately need.

The high priest must be a person - this fact seems obvious to us but questions of Jesus’ humanity have been around a while. The high priest must be a person who identifies in nature and interest with the people they represent. If Jesus wasn’t man, then He wasn’t the high priest.

Their priorities are offering gifts and sacrifices. Oh this is so powerful if we don’t read past it. The high priest would offer gifts of the fruit of the fields. The best gifts. At best, the high priest could make himself a dedicated servant. Jesus offered Himself as a gift. And at the same time, He offered a sacrifice. Sacrifice isn’t simply making a place for a better something of lesser value.

Sacrifice is about giving up that which is irreplaceable.

A person of compassion

Hebrews 5:2 HCSB

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.

Deal gently. Dealing gently means exactly what you think it means. Deal means to moderate one’s passions. It means to be compassionate.

Compassionate today has become synonymous with pushover. I believe that Lt. Amanda preached a sermon on Biblical compassion some time ago and she mentioned it in her message. Compassion does not equal doormat. It means measured and appropriate. It means disciplined hearing and responding. This is how Jesus was above the great Aaronic priests, the high priests of Israel. People are subject to being sharp or being soft, and having limited capacity to what lies in the middle. Jesus was neither harsh nor pampering. And, it would be even harder to maintain a ‘deal gently’ attitude with those who were ignorant or going astray.

Self-aware

sympathetic but not a sucker

controlled emotions

avoids swinging to extremes

Jesus is the perfect representative of God’s law and love.

Humble

Jesus is still active

The Aaronic line of priests were limited. They were limited in every scope. Aaron was neither omniscient enough to understand nor carried unlimited divine authority to discipline. Jesus has both. This is why the author of Hebrews quotes from two Psalms, Pslams 2:7 and 110:4. Psalm 2 declares that there will be a Davidic heir who will rule the nations, so a King. And Psalm 110 declares that the person would also be a priest.

Hebrews 5:6 HCSB

also said in another passage, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek is a great character in the Bible, and the reference here is for comparison. He is referenced more in Hebrews 7, but he is known as the King of Righteousness and Peace, and he is called the superior priest, even superior to the Levites. His priesthood is based not on genealogy, but on an indestructible life.

Jesus role as our great high priest is unlimited in duration and authority.

Are we accessing Him yet today?

Are you confidently approaching Jesus the great high priest?