The Great High Priest

Greet Woodland

Last week,

“If God needed to rest.” Friends, we serve an all powerful God. He didn’t need to rest, He chose to rest to model for us healthy rhythms of life.

Hebrews 4:14–5:10 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 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.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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.

2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.

4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 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”;

6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 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.

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Compared to Perfection:

I want you to imagine living a disciplined life that is focused on being great at one thing. Whether it be your parenting, your job, a sport or even a video game. Imagine giving all your time energy and effort in that singular direction. I think athletics is a valuable analogy for us this morning. Because anyone who has truly been great in athletics, had to more disciplined, more focused, more committed to bettering themselves every day.

Do you know what Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Kobe Bryant have in common?

You might start by saying, “They are some of the most accomplished athletes in history.”

On multiple occasions, each one of them has articulated that they never felt that they could prove themselves. Even though they have won medals and championships, they always struggled internally, feeling that they always had more to prove to themselves. But their accomplishments were never enough.

Tom Brady openly talked about never being seen as “the most talented or athletic.” After winning his third super bowl in four years, he famously talked about how there must be more, and that he was still trying to find himself as a person.

Simone Biles talks about the pressure to perform from within. That there has always been this self doubt.

Kobe Bryant couldn’t help but feel he needed to earn his spot by working extra hard in practice because he wasn’t good enough.

I think in some senses for many of us, it is astonishing to know that all of these top athletes, some of the best in history, have had such a mental struggle. I think we wrongly assume that they have it all. That they don’t deal with insecurity, they don’t stress about the things we stress about. Their so accomplished, how could they? They are so wealthy, what struggles could they have?

Friends, it does not matter how much money you make. It does not matter how revered or respected you are in the eyes of others. It does not matter if you go down in history as one of the greatest human beings to ever exist. You will still face the same human struggle’s that we all face.

The reason is because, no matter how much you try, you will always be aware of your own shortcomings and imperfections. As a result, there will always be a sense of self doubt. An unsettled anxiety that lives on in the depths of your soul and from time to time, it will re-surface. Reminding you that it’s still there.

It’s that subtle, inner fear or doubt, that sense of not measuring up that enables us to make silly choices. If left unchecked, we can fall into all kinds of reactive decisions based on how we feel. If left unchecked, you can start rearranging priorities in your life that simply don’t fit where you are trying to place them. Some call this a mid-life Crises, but we do it in small ways all the time.

You see, there is a measure of solidarity across the entire human race.

The Great High Priest

As we study this passage today, we find a new comparison. First, we saw Jesus to the prophets and the angels. Then we saw Jesus compared to Moses. Now, we see jesus compared to Aaron and all of the high priests from Aaron’s line. So this comparison is not just Jesus to Aaron, but Jesus to the whole. To every high priest throughout Israel's history.

In chapters 2 and 3 we talked about the High Priest. They were established by God to serve as representatives on behalf of the people. Mediating between the people of Israel and God. They were responsible for teaching the people how to uphold God’s law in a way that directed their hearts towards God. So, it was not just following the law, it was also posturing themselves for a life of worship.

Which is something we desperately need today. We live in a generation that simply seeks the right answers, but knows little about their posture before God. Which means, there are subtle shifts in our priorities.

Today, our author directly compares the value of Jesus as our High Priest to the value of other people as our high priest.

I want to start by Reading Hebrews 2:17-18 where we were introduced to Jesus as our High Priest and then continue from there into Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews 2:17–18 (ESV)

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 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. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

As we consider Jesus as our Great High Priest, there is much to consider, but here we find one topic that we have to give our attention:

His incarnation. He became a man

What we find in these two passages is that Jesus had to become a man in order to perfectly represent us as a High Priest.

Firstly, we needed Him to conquer death on our behalf. We had no ability to conquer death. It is the curse of sin that has come upon all creation. Mankind has always tried to find eternity, has always aimed to extend life. We are terrified of death because it is unnatural. Kings claimed to be gods and tried to act like one, others believed they could be immortal by being remembered. But life came to end for all of them. We needed someone who could pass through death and defeat it by coming back to life.

We have solidarity with Jesus First because He became one of us.

We could not go recruit a heavenly being to be our mediator. It had to be one of us, to represent all that we are. Just as we are tempted so, was he. Just as we experience urges so did He. He experienced every form of temptation but never gave into it. Which is much more difficult than giving into temptation. It is always easier in the moment to say “yes” to sin. Why, because it offers a sense of release. We don’t have to continue to battle the temptation. Because we get what our wicked heart wants - weather it be pleasure, attention, or protection from our actions. It is always easier to say yes to sin. But Jesus never did. He resisted to the point of sweating drops of blood.

It enables Him to be merciful and faithful. You might say, “Well, He is God, isn’t all merciful? Isn’t He all faithful.” Of course the answer to that is yes. But He did it for us. You see, this is part of the marvelous beauty in the gospel that is often neglected.

If God told us that Jesus His son would represent us, we would never believe Him or trust him. Because He doesn't know what it means to be human.

But Jesus does know what it like to be human. In fact, He can sympathize with everyone of our weaknesses.

The original Greek word ‘Sympatheo’ means that He has suffered with us, just as we have suffered.

What a gift from God. That He would take on suffering, not some suffering, but intentionally experienced it in every way so that He can represent us in full.

Sometimes, when we can fall into the belief that other people do not understand. There are certainly some who don’t but there are also others who do understand. Jesus is one of them.

Friends, the incarnation - Jesus becoming man is a beautiful act of love and care for His people. Every trial, every temptation, every form of suffering.... He knows how to represent. He understands exactly what you are going through. He is perfect in every way, He meets you right where you are at. “If you hear His voice today,” there is no need to harden your heart.

The Second reason we have solidarity with Jesus is that He died.

it’s not just those who come after Jesus. Those who had faith prior to the coming of Jesus had to make sacrifices. But what we find is that the sacrifices could not save them. Rather, they simply prolonged God’s judgment on their sin until it was placed on Jesus. Thus, the purpose for Jesus coming as a man and defeating death was for the salvation of all who would believe - Past and Present.

What we see in Hebrews, is that when it comes to being the Great High Priest, it is not just that Jesus is dominate in the field of High Preists. He is not coming in as one of the greats. The Tom Brady’s within the priesthood are of no comparison. Jesus is not only superior to them in every way but is perfect as our mediator. He is the perfect one to stand on our behalf before the Father. When we embrace a life of faith in Jesus. Where we have surrendered to Him as Lord of our lives - the Father looks to us with forgiveness, because He see’s the righteousness of Jesus in us. His wrath was placed on Jesus at the cross.

It’s because Jesus received God’s wrath for us, that we can draw near to Him with confidence.

Sometimes, people try to portray God as an angry God to appease. But what they are doing is misunderstanding that He is perfect. It is because He is perfect in Mercy and in justice and they do not understand how both can be true. They are both true because of Jesus. God is not angry, His wrath has already been dealt with.

Which means, there is no reason for you to run from God. Sometimes in our guilt and in our shame we run from God when we stumble. We pretend it never happened, we don’t seek forgiveness from Him. Because we are uncomfortable coming to Him.

Friends, for the last two weeks, we have evalutated how we have a terrible tendency to drift. To stumple, To mix up our priorities. What we see here is a gracious call........ when you fail - Run to Him! He is waiting for you to come and be restored to a right relationship. Confess, repent, and allow Him to lift the weight off your shoulders so that you can move forward in the freedom of the cross.

It is from this perfect representation, this perfect solidarity that our author moves on to speak about any other option for a high priest.

Hebrews 5:1–4 “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. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.”

We take note of several differences here.

To be a high priest was an honor and gift from God. Priests did not choose to be the High Priest, they were selected by God Himself. It is a huge role, a great honor, with tremendous responsibility.

As people, we all have a form of solidarity with one another. In the OT the High Priest would be able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, but the only reason being because he also is beset with weakness. Beset with weakness means to “wear the weakness like clothing.” His weaknesses as a human being are constant, never a moment of perfect strength, never a moment of perfect wisdom, or compassion.

Personally, when it comes to representing myself before God, I don’t want another person to represent me. I want Jesus. Who has no weakness and is perfect in every way.

The last point is that these High Priests all had to make sacrifices for their sin. Which is a major difference because Jesus was so perfect in every way that He became the sacrifice for our sin.

There is not a person of sound mind who would not choose Jesus to represent them before the Father. He is supreme over all others.

Hebrews 5:5–6 “5 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”;

6 as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.””

Just as every high priest was chosen by God, so was Jesus. Hand selected to be the permanent fix to what is otherwise our eternal damnation.

What we see here is that Jesus is so uniquely different than every other high priest, that He doesnt come from Aaron’s order. It was Aaron’s order that represented the people for the entire Old Testament. Instead, Jesus comes from the Order of Melchizedek. A mysterious Priest King who rules with governing and spiritual authority.

It is symbolic for Jesus ruling in our lives. His ways supersede any type of man made system or authority. His word is what brings enrichment to our soul. When you make Him Lord of your life, He is to be over every area of you life.

Dresser.

Hebrews 5:7–10

“7 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. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”

Communion

Matthew 26:26–29 “26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.””